UTEP men’s basketball coach Joe Golding will be inducted into the Abilene Christian University Sports Hall of Fame.
Abilene Christian University announced on Tuesday, July 14. He’ll be inducted in October.
Golding coached ACU to the greatest team win in athletics history, a 53-52 upset of Texas in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The victory capped a 10-year tenure in which Golding elevated ACU from a struggling program to a nationally respected Division I contender.
Golding went 158-144 as head coach and led the Wildcats to Southland Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2019 and 2021.
Golding’s 2018-19 team finished 27-7 and earned the program’s first Southland title and NCAA Tournament berth. After the 2019-20 postseason was canceled, Golding’s final ACU team went 24-5, captured a second conference championship in three seasons and stunned Texas on the national stage.
Golding played point guard at ACU from 1994-98 and was a part-time starting guard in his junior and senior seasons.
What Joe Golding said
“I have lots of great memories of Abilene Christian,” Golding said. “Being there helped shape me. We had lots of great players and people who helped in our success. Making the NCAA Tournament twice was special, beating Texas was an amazing win and experience. It’s an honor to be recognized and there will be others following me who will get honored like this.”
Golding inherited a program that had won nine games the season before his arrival and guided ACU through its transition to Division I, while building one of the nation’s premier mid-major programs. His teams became known for their relentless defense, toughness and championship culture.
A former Wildcat player from 1994-98, Golding remains one of the most influential figures in ACU basketball history.
Golding was named the 20th head coach in UTEP men’s basketball history on April 13, 2021. Golding experienced immediate success in his first year on the sidelines with UTEP, directing the Miners to a 20-14 record. He also guided UTEP to 18 victories and runner-up honors at the 2024 CUSA Championships.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP men’s basketball coach Joe Golding earns Hall of Fame induction
Reporting by Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
