Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, competes in the Southland Conference and enjoyed its basketball peak in the early 1980s under coaches Billy Tubbs and Pat Foster. The Cardinals made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1979-1981, establishing Lamar as a mid-major power in that era.
The Cardinals name was adopted for the bird's red plumage, matching the school's primary color of red, which has been associated with Lamar since its founding.
The 1980 NCAA Tournament run where Lamar advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, upsetting Weber State and No. 2 seed Oregon State before falling to Clemson.
Lamar's Montagne Center was one of the loudest mid-major arenas in the Southland Conference, with passionate fans creating a difficult road environment.
The Lamar Cardinals compete in the Southland and hold an all-time record of 833–838 (.499 winning percentage) across 58 recorded seasons dating back to 1968-69.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 12-19 | 7-15 (Southland) | Alvin Brooks | |
| 2024-25 | 20-13 | 14-6 (Southland) | Alvin Brooks | |
| 2023-24 | 19-14 | 12-6 (Southland) | Alvin Brooks | |
| 2022-23 | 9-22 | 5-13 (Southland) | Alvin Brooks | |
| 2021-22 | 2-27 | 0-16 (WAC) | Alvin Brooks | |
| 2020-21 | 10-18 | 7-10 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2019-20 | 17-15 | 10-10 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2018-19 | 20-13 | 12-6 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2017-18 | 19-14 | 11-7 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2016-17 | 19-15 | 10-8 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2015-16 | 11-19 | 3-15 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2014-15 | 15-15 | 9-9 (Southland) | Tic Price | |
| 2013-14 | 4-26 | 3-15 (Southland) | Pat Knight,Tic Price | |
| 2012-13 | 3-28 | 1-17 (Southland) | Pat Knight | |
| 2011-12 | 23-12 | 11-5 (Southland) | Pat Knight | |
| 2010-11 | 13-17 | 7-9 (Southland) | Steve Roccaforte | |
| 2009-10 | 14-18 | 5-11 (Southland) | Steve Roccaforte | |
| 2008-09 | 15-15 | 6-10 (Southland) | Steve Roccaforte | |
| 2007-08 | 19-11 | 13-3 (Southland) | Steve Roccaforte | |
| 2006-07 | 15-17 | 8-8 (Southland) | Steve Roccaforte | |
| 2005-06 | 17-14 | 9-7 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 2004-05 | 18-11 | 9-7 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 2003-04 | 11-18 | 5-11 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 2002-03 | 13-14 | 10-10 (Southland) | Mike Deane | |
| 2001-02 | 15-14 | 11-9 (Southland) | Mike Deane | |
| 2000-01 | 9-18 | 7-13 (Southland) | Mike Deane | |
| 1999-00 | 15-16 | 8-10 (Southland) | Mike Deane | |
| 1998-99 | 17-11 | 11-7 (Southland) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1997-98 | 15-14 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1996-97 | 15-12 | 10-8 (Sun Belt) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1995-96 | 12-15 | 7-11 (Sun Belt) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1994-95 | 11-16 | 6-12 (Sun Belt) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1993-94 | 10-17 | 6-12 (Sun Belt) | Grey Giovanine | |
| 1992-93 | 15-12 | 9-9 (Sun Belt) | Mike Newell | |
| 1991-92 | 12-19 | 7-9 (Sun Belt) | Mike Newell | |
| 1990-91 | 15-13 | 4-8 (ASC) | Mike Newell | |
| 1989-90 | 7-21 | 1-9 (ASC) | Tony Branch | |
| 1988-89 | 12-16 | 3-7 (ASC) | Tony Branch | |
| 1987-88 | 20-11 | 5-5 (ASC) | Tom Abatemarco | |
| 1986-87 | 14-15 | 4-6 (Southland) | Tom Abatemarco | |
| 1985-86 | 18-12 | 6-6 (Southland) | Pat Foster | |
| 1984-85 | 20-12 | 8-4 (Southland) | Pat Foster | |
| 1983-84 | 26-5 | 11-1 (Southland) | Pat Foster | |
| 1982-83 | 23-8 | 9-3 (Southland) | Pat Foster | |
| 1981-82 | 22-7 | 7-3 (Southland) | Pat Foster | |
| 1980-81 | 25-5 | 8-2 (Southland) | Pat Foster | AP #19 |
| 1979-80 | 22-11 | 8-2 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 1978-79 | 23-9 | 9-1 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 1977-78 | 18-9 | 8-2 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 1976-77 | 12-17 | 6-4 (Southland) | Billy Tubbs | |
| 1975-76 | 10-14 | 6-4 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1974-75 | 7-16 | 4-4 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1973-74 | 6-19 | 0-4 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1972-73 | 11-13 | 4-8 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1971-72 | 12-14 | 6-2 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1970-71 | 11-13 | 5-3 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1969-70 | 15-9 | 7-1 (Southland) | Jack Martin | |
| 1968-69 | 20-4 | Southland | Jack Martin |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|