John Simmons

UTRGV Football

The inaugural football season for UTRGV kicks off in the Fall of 2025. But hear what the Director of Football Operations, John Simmons, has to say about what goes on behind the scenes for the program! His past experience with UTSA in the infancy of that program will help guide his decisions. Learn more in this episode.

Original Air Date: June 16, 2023

Mire Chatman

UTPA Men's Basketball

Mire Chatman is one of the best to ever play at UTPA. He is an even better person. A father, a coach, a mentor, and a friend. From his time at the university, his playing days overseas in Russia and Turkey with Allen Iverson, and now as a player development coach with the RGV Vipers. Mire shares all the stories that help make him one of the most interesting guests we have had on the podcast.

Original Air Date: June 9, 2023

Tony Forina

The Voice of Rio Grande Valley Sports

The voice of Rio Grande Valley Sports, Tony Forina, joins the show this week. Tony drops countless stories on how his opportunity started with calling University athletic events, his love for his radio days, and his denial of helping populate the Rio Grande Valley with his ‘Midnight Magic’ DJ days on B104!

Original Air Date: June 2, 2023

Veronica 'Ronnie' Pena-Perez

UTPA Sports Medicine - Student Trainer

Momma Doc, aka Ronnie Pena-Perez, joins the show this week to talk about her time at the University, her first encounter with Jim Lancaster, and the first time she saw snow!

Original Air Date: May 26, 2023

Jonah Goldberg

UTRGV Athletic Department

The man of many talents and even more stories, Jonah Goldberg, joins the show this week! Listen to him talk about Jim Lancaster saving the tournament with his unique talents, who is the most famous person in his phone contacts and where he loves to eat with his kiddos.

Original Air Date: May 19, 2023

Monica Cuellar

UTPA Cheerleader - NCAA National Champion 00'

Monica Cuellar joins the show this week. She is a National Champion Cheerleader with UTPA in 2000 and an avid sports enthusiast. Listen to how she and the team felt going into that Orlando competition, where she grew up, and what Monica is doing now with her businesses. She is killing it!!

Original Air Date: May 12, 2023

John Amour

UTPA Men's Golf

John Amour, a former Men’s Golf athlete in the late 90s at the University of Texas-Pan American, joins the show this week. Listen to him share about mental health as an athlete, what he is doing now in the Rio Grande Valley area with his business, and how he feels about this show!

Original Air Date: May 5, 2023

Brian Molina

UTPA Men's Basketball

Brian Molina joins the show this week and talks about his time playing basketball for the Broncs. He touches on his future plans after coaching the Harlingen South Hawks and some of his favorite memories growing up and at the University.

Original Air Date: April 28, 2023

Christine Phillips

UTPA Volleyball

Christine Phillips joins the show this week! Hear why she came to the University from Long Beach, CA, and why she now loves it so much in the Rio Grande Valley. Find out that she witnessed Snoop Dogg videos being filmed at Tower Records in LBC and her ties to ‘Saved By The Bell’. You don’t want to miss this episode!

Original Air Date: April 21, 2023

Eladio Jaimez

UTPA Student Sports Writer/Editor for The Pan American

Eladio Jaimez, may not be known as an athlete for the University, but the athletes that did play know who Eladio is. This man is a staple in the community and an unbelievable human filled with great stories! Enjoy the show!

Original Air Date: April 17, 2023

Lalo Rios

UTPA Men's Basketball

An icon in the Rio Grande Valley basketball scene and a staple in the community, Lalo Rios, joins the show this week. You will hear him discuss his motivation growing up, the Gonzaga and La Tech games, who is the toughest player he faced and what he is doing now! Let’s goooooo! See, Subscribe & Share right now!

Original Air Date: April 7, 2023

Nevil Shed

Texas Western Men's Basketball - Naismith H.O.F.

Nevil Shed is a member of the National Basketball Hall of Fame and one of the essential members of the Texas Western Men’s Basketball National Championship. He is a friend of the Saddle Up Podcast and a remarkable piece of history in the landscape of Basketball. From Pat Riley to Bill Russell, Nevil is a jewel. Enjoy the show!

Original Air Date: Mar. 31, 2023

Bianca Torre

UTPA Women's Basketball - UTRGV Hall of Fame

The newly inducted UTRGV Hall of Famer, Bianca Torre, joins this week’s show! Her very first interview since being inducted! She talks about growing up in Harlingen, being introduced to the game of basketball, and where the game has taken her. You don’t want to miss this episode.

Original Air Date: Mar. 24, 2023

Coach Mo Molina

Rio Grande Valley Hall of Fame Basketball Coach

Coach Mo Molina joins the show to lend his stories of Pan American College and growing up with baseball as his first love. Coach Mo is truly a treasure for Rio Grande Valley basketball. Sit back and enjoy the show as we travel down memory lane.

Original Air Date: Mar. 17, 2023

Gabe 'The Wizard of Weslaco' Valdez

UTPA Men's Basketball

Local Legend and UTPA standout, Gabe Valdez, joins the show! He is known as the “Wizard of Weslaco” for a reason! Find out why he chose UTPA initially, his favorite spot to eat in college and how he feels about being an idol to other local greats in the Rio Grande Valley.

Original Air Date: Mar. 10, 2023

Lisa Yanez

UTPA Volleyball Stadout

You are welcome! that is all we have to say about this episode. Lisa Yanez will entertain and drop jewels on today’s hiring process and how her collegiate athletic experience playing Volleyball for UTPA has helped her succeed in life as a ‘Boss Lady’ now!

Original Air Date: Mar. 3, 2023

Jim Lancaster

Former UTPA Head Trainer

Former Athletic Trainer of UTPA and UTRGV, THE absolute LEGEND of the University for decades… Jim Lancaster, joins our show for the second episode. He started back in 1980 and never looked back! Watching Michael Jordan play against UTPA in the early 80’s, seeing Matt Palmquist play for all 4 years of his collegiate career, and witnessing Gonzalo Garza score all of 13 points and 5 steals during his career at Pan American. Jim Lancaster is a walking legend and encyclopedia of UTPA Bronc athletics! Join us for this episode!

Original Air Date: Feb 24, 2023

Chasse Conque

UTRGV Athletic Director

Welcome to the Saddle Up Podcast, where we explore the world of college athletics and the stories of the people who make it all happen. In this episode, we are honored to have Chasse Conque, the Athletic Director for UTRGV athletics, as our guest. Join us as we dive into Chasse’s journey in the world of college athletics, from his early years as a student-athlete to his current role as Athletic Director. We’ll learn about his leadership style, his vision for UTRGV athletics, and the challenges he’s faced along the way.

Original Air Date: Feb 17, 2023

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