As women’s basketball head coach Chris Minner earned his 500th career victory yesterday, the milestone reflected more than longevity. It marked sustained success across multiple levels of collegiate basketball and underscored the rapid rise of Texas A&M University–San Antonio’s women’s basketball program under his leadership.
Now in his second season at A&M-San Antonio, Minner reached the 500-win mark as one of the most experienced coaches in the Red River Athletic Conference. The achievement adds to a résumé spanning NCAA Division I and II, NAIA, and junior college programs across more than two decades.
“It means that I have been coaching for a while and have had really good players who can handle tough coaching and high demands,” Minner said.
That experience proved invaluable when Minner was tasked with launching A&M–San Antonio’s women’s basketball program in January 2024. Starting from scratch, the Jaguars posted an 18–12 overall record in their inaugural season and earned a spot in the RRAC Tournament. Building on that momentum, the team secured a 21-7 record for the 2025-26 season, earning their second tournament appearance.
Individual honors mirrored the team’s success. Last season, Evelyn Lorenzo secured All-Conference First Team recognition following an impressive campaign, while Natalia Trevino earned RRAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year honors after averaging 18.2 points per game and recording 108 assists, 84 steals and 57 3-pointers, ranking fourth in the conference in scoring.
For Lorenzo, a senior kinesiology pre-physical therapy major, playing for Minner has brought daily intensity and energy.
“It’s exciting, and it’s always something new every day,” Lorenzo said. “Everybody sees how fired up he is on game days, and we just enjoy it a lot, just getting coached really hard.”
The program’s debut also generated strong community support. Nearly 1,300 fans filled the University’s new recreation center in October 2024 for the Jaguars’ first home games, signaling excitement for the new era of basketball on campus.
Athletics Director Dr. Darnell Smith said Minner’s 500-win achievement reflects the broader impact he has had on the University.
“Five hundred wins is a major milestone,” Smith said. “It represents years of hard work, commitment, and consistency. But more than the number, it speaks to the impact Coach Minner has had on so many young men and women over the years.”
For Minner, the path to 500 wins has been defined by adaptability. He has served as head coach at Texas A&M–Texarkana, Midway University and Our Lady of the Lake University, leading Midway to back-to-back NAIA national tournament appearances. His career also includes assistant coaching roles at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M International.
When reflecting on his journey, Minner points to both growth and consistency.
“The thing that stands out the most is the fact that I have been able to do this at all levels and at numerous places,” he said. “I will always try to improve myself as a coach and leader.”
Assistant head coach Laramie Schwenke said it’s been an unforgettable experience helping Minner guide the team to success.
“It’s been awesome,” Schwenke said. “Coach Minner is one of the best in the business, and I’m just super grateful that he gave me this opportunity to come work with him and help not only start the program at TAMUSA but continue to build it."
Minner is quick to credit others for the milestone.
“I have had some really good, champion mindset student-athletes who were unselfish and wanted to win,” Minner said. “I’m also grateful for my former athletic directors who took a chance and hired me.”
For a young program still building its identity, having a 500-win coach provides immediate credibility and energizes a team on the rise. But for Minner, the milestone is less about looking back and more about sustaining momentum.