Tyler Junior College Ranked Eighth in Conference Poll

The Apaches enter the new season with a fresh roster under the leadership of first-year head coach Riley Davis.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration of a basketball player in navy and gold dribbling a ball on a hardwood court. — Tyler Junior College men's basketball is ranked eighth in the Region XIV preseason poll as new head coach Riley Davis takes the helm. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Region XIV head coaches have ranked the Tyler Junior College men's basketball team eighth out of 11 teams in the conference preseason poll. The team enters this season under the direction of new head coach Riley Davis.

Why it matters

The ranking signals a transition period for the program as it moves forward without long-time leader Mike Marquis, who recorded 461 wins over 25 seasons.

The roster features 14 players, including three sophomores and 11 freshmen, with five Texas natives and five international recruits. The team conditioning regimen has included 2.2-mile runs at Tyler State Park.

The players

Riley Davis

He is the 10th head coach of the Tyler Junior College men's basketball team and is entering his first season leading the program.

Mike Marquis

He previously served as the head coach for Tyler Junior College for 25 seasons, during which he accumulated 461 career wins.

The details

Riley Davis is the 10th head coach in the program's history and leads a squad that currently contains no players from the previous tenure. The team is preparing for its season debut following a rigorous conditioning schedule.

Riley Davis was hired as head coach on April 24, 2026.
Riley Davis was introduced to the public on May 19, 2026.
The Region XIV Conference Basketball Media Tipoff occurred on October 14, 2026.
The season opener against Pratt Community College is scheduled for October 31, 2026.
The conference opener against Angelina College is set for December 2, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The transition to a new head coach following a quarter-century of leadership fundamentally reshapes the program's identity and long-term expectations. This overhaul of the roster and coaching staff positions the team to redefine its competitiveness within a deep Region XIV field.

The team will debut its new roster at home against Pratt Community College on October 31. Fans should note that the conference schedule officially begins with a home game against Angelina College on December 2.

The takeaway

The team faces a significant rebuilding phase as the new coaching staff integrates 14 new players into the system. Success this season will likely depend on how quickly this young roster adapts to collegiate-level play before the conference schedule begins in December.