COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – As Texas A&M track and field coach Pat Henry addressed 100-or-so fans that made their way to the front steps of E.B. Cushing Stadium, he held an air of confidence that only comes from winning 25 team outdoor national championships in his half-century at the helm.

Another NCAA Championship, this year from the men’s squad, wasn’t a surprise, but an expectation for his program.

And yet, with all of that experience in the sport, Henry said he was taken pleasantly by surprise when he heard how the House settlement would change his program.

As Henry builds his roster for a 2026 outdoor title defense, he will be able to offer scholarships to the full roster of men’s and women’s track athletes, both he and athletic director Trev Alberts confirmed with KBTX Monday.

“When I was told how the scholarships were going to work moving forward, it hit me too,” Henry told KBTX. “It’s kind of a shock and I’m excited about this opportunity.”

For A&M’s run to the men’s NCAA title, Henry had 12.6 scholarships to divide among 52 athletes. The women’s squad, who finished third at the NCAA Championship, had 18 scholarships divided among 55 athletes

For the 2023-24 athletic season, the most recent reported, A&M spent $632,601 for those 12.47 scholarships that were divided among 45 athletes, according to the school’s NCAA financial reporting documentation obtained by KBTX via open records request. For the women’s squad, the total was $894,136 for 17.46 scholarships divided among 41 athletes. Those figures also include indoor track and cross country.

Now, both men’s and women’s outdoor track will have 45 full or partial scholarships per program, which matches the new roster limit enforced by the House settlement.

Beyond the added scholarships the House settlement provides athletes in different programs, it also allows universities to enter into revenue sharing agreements. Trev Alberts previously stated that six programs at A&M will receive revenue sharing in the first year of the settlement term beginning July 1.

Track will not be one of those programs, Henry confirmed with KBTX.

Alberts has emphasized that revenue sharing will go to the six programs that can help grow revenue for the athletic department.

“What sports do you have additional seats? Where do you have attendance, right? Alberts said at the Southeastern Conference Spring Meetings in late May. “And so, you can sort of figure some of that out and the rest of our sports, you can look at scholarship increases, those type of things.”

It is assumed that some of A&M’s biggest revenue drivers will make up five of those revenue-sharing programs: football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. Volleyball will be the last, a source with knowledge of the revenue sharing model confirmed with KBTX Monday. Soccer will not receive revenue sharing, but will have scholarships for its full roster of 28 athletes. For all programs, A&M will provide approximately 200 more scholarships for the 2025-26 year than the seasons prior, Alberts said at spring meetings.

The programs that receive revenue sharing can change year-to-year, Alberts confirmed Monday.

As of its last NCAA financial documentation for the 2023-24 season, football was the only Aggie program that produced a profit. Football led in revenue at $118.5 million, followed by men’s basketball ($12.2 million), baseball ($5.6 million), soccer ($2.6 million), volleyball ($1.2 million), women’s basketball ($1.2 million) and softball ($1 million).

Men’s and women’s tennis, as well as men’s and women’s golf produced the lowest profit deficit, followed by men’s basketball (-$2.1 million), men’s swimming (-$2.3 million), soccer (-$2.4 million) and volleyball (-$2.4 million). Softball’s deficit was -$3.3 million, followed by baseball (-$3.6 million) and women’s basketball (-$6.2 million).

Men’s and women’s track (which includes outdoor, indoor and cross country) were near the top in profit deficit at -$3.4 million and -$3.6 million, respectively, while pulling in $328,888 in revenue for the men and $343,726 for the women.

Henry said he understands the reality of how the revenue-sharing pie is cut, hoping that they can put more fans in seats in the coming years to make their case for a portion.

However, many schools around the country won’t have the money to provide scholarships for full rosters of Olympic sports, which can be as much of a competitive edge for those programs in recruiting as revenue sharing.

“We have an AD that wants to win in all sports and he’s going to give us that opportunity,” Henry said.

Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.

Track is on its own at Washington State University — and in abridged form, too.

The school has announced that field events will be eliminated from the program’s offerings, and that sprints and hurdles will be scaled back in favor of a “distance-focused approach.”

“This change gives the WSU Track and Field program the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels in distance events in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field,” read a statement issued by the school Monday afternoon.

WSU athletic director Anne McCoy and director of track and field and cross country Wayne Phipps refused to make themselves available Monday to provide details on the cuts to the program — historically, if not recently, one of the school’s most successful athletic endeavors. The two met with track and field athletes earlier in the day.

The terse, two-paragraph release said that any impacted athletes “will have their scholarships honored should they choose to remain at WSU.

“WSU understands the significant impact this decision has on Cougar student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

What it does is gut a program that’s responsible for one of two NCAA team championships won by the school — indoor track and field in 1977 and boxing in 1937.

It’s also the first announced cut to scholarship offerings — and possibly coaching staff — since 10 members of the Pac-12 departed in August 2024 and the conference television money for the remaining schools, WSU and Oregon State, took a massive hit. A reconstituted Pac-12 is in the process of negotiating a television deal to begin in the 2026-27 school year, with what will be a significantly reduced payout.

The school’s statement did not address how many track/cross country scholarships the school will offer in the future, how much in savings will be realized, whether other sports will face scholarship or roster hits and the status of assistant coaches.

Previously, NCAA schools were allowed to award track and field rides in the equivalent of 12.6 men and 18 women. Under the recent House vs. NCAA settlement, caps will only exist on roster size — 45 for each gender — and scholarships can be awarded to all, though how many will be dependent on a school’s financial muscle.

Sources indicated WSU track was already facing a scholarship reduction even before the Monday announcement.

The House settlement is expected to cut deeply into Olympic and non-revenue sports on campuses, as direct payments to athletes figure to come mostly in football and basketball.

For WSU’s 2025 season, field event athletes accounted for 31 of 89 roster spots, with sprinters and hurdlers another 18. Among the 30 Cougars who qualified for NCAA regional competition, there were nine distance runners, 10 sprinters and hurdlers and 11 field event athletes.

But before the breakup of the Pac-12, five of WSU’s last seven men’s champions and seven of the last eight women’s champs came from the field events. Twenty of the school’s 45 track Olympians have been jumpers, throwers and multi-event athletes.

The school’s track tradition has always been heavily invested in the distance races, beginning with the arrival of Spokane’s Gerry Lindgren on campus in 1964 and the eight NCAA championships he won. Coach John Chaplin’s Kenyan pipeline brought the likes of world record setter Henry Rono, Olympic gold medalist Julius Korir and multiple-medalist Bernard Lagat.

Phipps has revived that connection in the last few years, notably with Evans Kurui, who recently finished fifth in the NCAA 10,000 and won the West Coast Conference title last fall. Even so, the Cougars finished third in both WCC men’s and women’s races behind Portland and Gonzaga.

WSU’s last top-half finish in Pac-12 track — since the 2011 expansion — was in 2015 for women and 2009 for the men.

NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) – Ready to turn up the fun and make unforgettable memories this summer? Plano, Texas is your go-to destination for summer adventures with family and friends. Whether you’re planning epic outings with the kids or lively nights out with your crew, Plano serves up the perfect blend of excitement and charm. Dive into our top must-do activities this summer and discover why this North Texas hotspot should be at the top of your vacation list.

Make a Splash

The Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West’s third floor oasis includes a rooftop swimming pool + spa, with large, resort-style umbrellas along the perimeter. Complete with a bar and grill, it’s easy to lose track of time. Looking for more fun? Secure your space with a cabana rental. Available for reservations through Resort Pass or directly at the hotel, these cabanas allow you to stay shady all summer.

Swim across Texas at the historic Texas Pool, a 168,000 gallon saltwater pool shaped like the great State of Texas. It’s also a National Landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places! The pool is open Memorial Day to Labor Day and features a diving board, two water slides, and an island with a shallow “South Texas” wading area for small children and parents. Cook out on their BBQ grills or enjoy the snack bar. There are also picnic tables and a beach volleyball court. Visitor passes are available.

Stay cool this summer by visiting one of Plano’s indoor and outdoor pool locations: Carpenter Park Recreation Center (indoor), Jack Carter Pool (outdoor), Liberty Recreation Center (outdoor), Oak Point Recreation Center (indoor and outdoor), and Plano Aquatic Center (indoor pool and outdoor splash pad). Admission to the pools is included in Plano Recreation Center memberships. Non-members and guests can pay a minimal daily admission fee at each pool. Check individual rec center pages for hours of operation.

Hit the splash pad at Liberty Playground at Windhaven Meadows Park, Jack Carter Pool, and Plano Aquatic Center.

Catch Live Music

When it comes to finding live music in Plano, Legacy Hall knows how put on a show! All summer long they are throwing out all the tunes of all genres. From Taylor Swift to Queen, Legacy Hall has all the best tribute concerts covered this summer. Check out all their upcoming shows and events on their calendar.

Another music hotspot is McCall Plaza in the Downtown Plano Arts District. Enjoy free live music all summer long. Don’t miss out on all the fun in downtown Plano; check upcoming events on our event calendar listing.

The Plano Community Band is also bringing back their Mondays in the Park concert series at Haggard Park in the Downtown Plano Arts District on June 16, July 3 and July 14.

Celebrate July Fourth

Celebrate Independence Day in Plano with several patriotic events throughout the day. On July 4, swim across Texas at The Texas Pool and enjoy food, traditional pool games and legendary fun in the sun. Admission is $10 per person; veterans and active-duty military get in FREE with an ID.

Then, come out to Oak Point Park for Plano’s free All American 4th celebration. The event opens at 6pm with the Rotary Clubs of Plano parade and fireworks will begin at 9:30pm. Parking will be available at Collin College.

Shop Till You Drop

One thing is for sure when it comes to Plano, there are endless shopping options to experience. Dallas may be known as one of the top shopping destinations in the U.S., but just 20 miles north, you can continue the one-of-a-kind shopping adventure in Plano.

From Legacy West, The Shops at Legacy, The Shops at Willow Bend to the Downtown Plano Arts District and everywhere in between – Plano is brimming with shopping areas. Check out Plano’s shopping adventure here.

Don’t miss the new luxury shopping at Legacy West. The line-up of the best-of luxury retail includes: Gucci, CHANEL Beauty, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Golden Goose, David Yurman, and Louis Vuitton.

Downtown Plano Arts District will celebrate the season at Summer Fest Market in the heart of Downtown Plano on June 22 from 11am-5pm. Enjoy a vibrant day of local shopping, live entertainment, and family fun.

Walk the boardwalk

Day or night, The Boardwalk at Granite Park makes for a special dining experience! Nestled in the middle of the Granite Park corporate business center sits a 30,000 square foot restaurant park called The Boardwalk. With restaurants of all types, a casual family-friendly atmosphere, entertainment, and an amazing waterfront view, The Boardwalk is the perfect place for a patio brunch date with friends, a fun family dinner, or a late night date spot. Grab a beverage from one of the restaurants on The Boardwalk and relax with friends on the waterfront!

Dodge the heat at Crayola Experience

Beat the heat at Plano’s most colorful attraction, the Crayola Experience at The Shops at Willow Bend, an amazing place where families can explore 22 hands-on attractions in a 60,000 square foot space that Parents Magazine calls one of the “Top 10 Trips to Take Before Your Kid Turns 10.”

Fly high at Go Ape

The first treetop adventure course in Texas is just minutes from the Downtown Plano Arts District at Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve. This vast area of natural beauty sits on 800 acres and features more than just a canopy tour. Go Ape includes five individual sections with rope ladders and 39 exciting crossings.

Fowl-On at Fowling Warehouse

Fowling is a unique and entertaining game that merges football with bowling, and in Plano at Fowling Warehouse, older kids and their parents can have a blast playing this new sport. It’s as easy as throwing a football at ten bowling pins until someone knocks them all down.

Have a Laugh

Enjoy a boutique comedy experience in Plano’s Legacy neighborhood. With a playful nod to Robin Hood, Mic Drop Comedy offers a vibrant, intimate setting where laughter and connection take center stage. Check out their upcoming shows and grab your tickets for an unforgettable night.

Be a Plano Foodie

Visit Plano has a FREE and limited-time foodie pass! Now through September 30, 2025, you can accumulate points just for checking in at participating restaurants and redeeming coupons, then you can cash in your points for “I’m a Plano Foodie” swag. But that’s not all! Be an over-achiever and check in at 20 restaurants to be automatically entered into the “Fit for a Foodie” sweepstakes for a chance to win ultimate foodie experiences. Sign up now and start your delicious journey! Sign up at visitplano.com/tasteofplano.

Check out a food tour too! Lone Star Food Tours provides an immersive journey through Downtown Plano’s food culture, offering visitors and locals alike a chance to taste their way through downtown’s eateries, while also learning about its history and culture.

Find more things to do and unique places to eat in Plano by exploring our website The Most Amazing Places to Visit in the City of Plano and blog.