TYLER, TEXAS – Coming off historic seasons for both the men's and women's programs, the UT Tyler cross country teams have announced their 2026 schedules as head coach David Kaiser enters his eighth season leading the Patriots.
Kaiser returns for his eighth season at the helm and will once again be joined by assistant coach Kirby Shepherd.
The Patriots will open the season by hosting the UT Tyler Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 5 before traveling to the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station on Sept. 11.
UT Tyler continues its regular season on Oct. 3 at the prestigious Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas, before making its final tune-up at the DBU Old Glory Gallup on Oct. 17 in Dallas.
The postseason begins with the Lone Star Conference Championships on Nov. 7 in Lubbock, followed by the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Nov. 21, also in Lubbock. The season concludes at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Dec. 5 in Lawrence, Kansas.
The men's program enters the 2026 season after matching the best Lone Star Conference Championship finish in program history with a third-place finish in 2025 before placing 18th at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships. The Patriots also captured the team title at the UT Tyler Cross Country Invitational and have produced the Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year in each of the last two seasons.
The women's program also enters the season with momentum after claiming the team championship at the UT Tyler Cross Country Invitational, completing a sweep of the meet alongside the men's team. The Patriots recorded the best Lone Star Conference Championship finish in program history with a third-place finish before placing 13th at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships, the highest regional finish in program history.
With both programs returning from record-setting campaigns, the Patriots will look to continue their rise among the Lone Star Conference and South Central Region's top cross country programs during the 2026 season.
