RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Athletic Department is taking a look back at a historic calendar year through a series of stories titled, "Year In Review."
 
This is the seventh installment of the series which has reviewed our facilities enhancements, competitive excellence, fan support, academic success, community engagement, and consumables during 2024.

This is the seventh installment of the series which has reviewed UTRGV's facilities enhancements, competitive excellence, fan support, academic success, community engagement, and consumables in 2024.



Betsy Graham Named First Head Women's Swimming & Diving Coach
 
In March, UTRGV announced the hiring of head swimming & diving coach Betsy Graham to lead the program through its inaugural NCAA Division I season in 2024-25.
 
In nearly nine months, Graham constructed a roster of 18 student-athletes, hosted the team's first-ever practices, started traditions, hosted the program's first NCAA DI Meet in front of 631 fans at the City of Pharr Natatorium, and earned five team wins before the new year.
 
The upstart program has made waves on campus with their infectious personalities and have extended their reach outside of the pools as the student-athletes can be seen engaging with the community and attending a variety of university events. To learn more about Graham, click here.
 


UTRGV Names Kahil Fennell as Men's Basketball Head Coach
 
Kahil Fennell is just eight months into his tenure with the men's basketball program but is already making his impact felt not just on the program but in the Rio Grande Valley as well.
 
Coach Fennell has the community buzzing about the Vaqueros here in the 2024-25 season. He has already led the Vaqueros to a multiple team event win, something that hasn't been in the program since 2016, as they were crowned the Greenbrier Tip-Off River Division Champions.
 
Also, the Vaqueros have been featured in a couple of nationally televised games against No. 15 Creighton and No. 19 Wisconsin and are already garnering attention across the country with their play.
 
This is Coach Fennell's first head coaching gig and it's something he has been working towards since getting back into basketball. He has been around some winning programs the last several seasons making the NCAA Tournament with BYU and Louisville.
 
That is the culture that he is trying to instill here in the Rio Grande Valley. To read more about Fennell, click here.

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