Trenia Tillis Hoard Begins 27th Season at Tyler Junior

Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard enters her 27th year at Tyler Junior College with 592 career wins to her name.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a basketball in motion towards a hoop, capturing the energy of a collegiate game. — Tyler Junior College women's basketball coach Trenia Tillis Hoard begins her 27th season leading the program with 592 career victories. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Trenia Tillis Hoard is set to begin her 27th season leading the Tyler Junior College women's basketball program. With 592 career victories, she is closing in on the 600-win milestone as the season approaches.

Why it matters

The program enters a restructured landscape following Coastal Bend's decision to drop its team, leaving seven squads to compete in Region XIV. This realignment requires teams to play each other three times throughout the upcoming season.

Coach Trenia Tillis Hoard currently holds 592 career victories, needing just eight more to reach 600. The region now consists of seven teams, necessitating a format where opponents face each other three times.

The players

Trenia Tillis Hoard

She has served as the women's basketball coach at Tyler Junior College since the 2000-01 season.

Dale Pruitt

He was a longtime basketball scorekeeper who passed away in 2023.

Trinity Valley Community College

The institution is currently favored in the coaches' poll to win the Region XIV title.

The details

Tyler Junior College will honor the late scorekeeper Dale Pruitt by renaming its basketball classic in his memory, with the event scheduled at Wagstaff Gymnasium. The team aims to qualify for the national tournament held in Lake Charles this March, despite Trinity Valley being favored to win the region in the coaches' poll.

October 31, 2026: TJC opens the season against Bryant & Stratton.
November 13-14, 2026: The Dale Pruitt Classic occurs at Wagstaff Gymnasium.
March 2027: Region XIV Tournament occurs at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Season Trajectory

The reduction of Region XIV membership to seven teams significantly alters the competitive schedule by requiring three matchups per opponent. This shift forces teams to adapt their strategies for a more repetitive and high-stakes conference slate throughout the season.

The new conference schedule means fans will see the same regional opponents three times, increasing the intensity of familiar rivalries. The team's pursuit of the 600-win milestone for Coach Tillis Hoard will be a focal point of coverage throughout the winter games.

The takeaway

The team must navigate a tighter regional field if they hope to secure a spot in the upcoming national tournament. Consistent performance against familiar conference rivals will be essential for the squad to reach their goals in March.