The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Assistant Coach Travis Mays
10.23.2006 | Women's Basketball
Full Name: Travis Mays
Date of Birth: June 19, 1968
Hometown: Ocala, Florida
High School: Vanguard HS
College: University of Texas, 1986-90 (B.A. in psychology)
One of the most acclaimed players in Texas men's basketball history returns for his third year on the UT sidelines. Travis Mays, the number two scorer in UT men's basketball history, a first-round NBA draft pick and one of the greatest players and ambassadors in Texas Athletics history, enters his third year as assistant coach. He joined Jody Conradt's staff in May of 2004.
With his varied experience and knowledge as a player at all levels and as a WNBA coach, Mays continues to bring tremendous insight to the Longhorns sideline. Mays' primary duties are working with UT's guard play and recruiting.
In the last two years of recruiting, he has been instrumental in signing three nationally-ranked recruiting classes and bringing four McDonald's All-Americans to the Forty Acres (sophomores Erika Arriaran and Crystal Boyd, redshirt freshman Earnesia Williams and freshman Brittainey Raven). Arriaran also was tabbed National Player of the Year by the WBCA/State Farm and Parade Magazine, while Boyd (Arkansas), Williams (Oklahoma) and Raven (Texas) each claimed Gatorade State Player of the Year honors as seniors.
Mays played at UT from 1986-90 and helped resurrect Longhorns basketball in the latter years of the Southwest Conference.
Prior to his arrival back on the Forty Acres as assistant coach, Mays spent the 2002 and 2003 seasons coaching and scouting for the WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars franchise. He was assistant coach during the 2002 season and spent the last year as head scout for the Silver Stars. He also coached AAU boys' basketball for the Tennessee/ Alabama "Pump" team in the summer of 2003.
Mays was an Associated Press Second Team All-American as a senior. He ranks second in UT men's basketball all-time scoring (2,279 points) and also is second in Southwest Conference all-time scoring. Mays' career scoring average was 18.4 ppg. He scored in double-figures in 100 of 124 career games, and is the only UT men's player in history to score more than 700 points in a season; he did that with 743 points as a junior and 772 as a senior.
In his final two seasons at Texas, Mays was part of the most prolific guard scoring trio in Texas history, alongside Joey Wright (1,819 points) and Lance Blanks (1,322). They came to be known as "BMW-The Ultimate Scoring Machine" and led Texas to the Elite Eight in 1990 before UT's three-point loss to Arkansas.
Mays led Texas to the 1990 Final Eight, scoring 24.1 ppg. Against Georgia in the first round of the 1990 tourney, Mays poured in 44 points, which still stands tied for the 11th-best single game scoring effort in NCAA Tournament history.
He was the first player in SWC history to earn back-to-back Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior (in 1989 and 1990).
Mays holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from UT.
A first-round NBA draft pick in 1990 by the Sacramento Kings, chosen 14th overall, Mays spent his first year in the NBA with the Kings (1991) and then spent two years with the Atlanta Hawks (1991-93). He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, averaging 14.3 ppg in his first pro season.
Two games into his second season, Mays ruptured both tendons in his right ankle and was out for the season before returning for his final NBA season the next year. Mays had a NBA career scoring average of 11.1 points per game.
Mays' pro career extended to European basketball as he played in Greece, Israel, Turkey and Italy. Highlights of his European career include selection to the European All-Star Game, leading Panionious (Greece) to the European Championship final eight with 27.5 ppg, and First Team All-Star selection (1999-2001) on Italy's Siena squad.
He was inducted into the University of Texas Men's Athletics Hall of Honor in 2002.
Mays is a native of Ocala, Florida where he was a scholastic All-America standout at Vanguard High School.
He resides in Austin, with his wife, Mirella, and daughter, Cherrell, 13.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE/HONORS
University of Texas ... 1986-90
Associated Press All-America (second team) ... 1989-90
Southwest Conference Player of the Year ... 1988-89, 1989-90
Three-year All-Southwest Conference ... 1987-90
UT Men's Athletics Hall of Honor ... 2002
NBA: Sacramento Kings (First Round Pick) ... 1991
NBA: Atlanta Hawks ... 1991-93
NBA All-Rookie Second Team ... 1991
European Pro Leagues (Greece, Israel, Turkey and Italy) ... 1993-2001
European All-Star Game ... 1994, 1995
First Team All-Star (Italy) ... 1999-2001
COACHING EXPERIENCE
WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars Assistant Coach ... 2002-03
WNBA San Antonio Silver Star Head Scout ... 2003-04
Assistant Coach, The University of Texas ... 2005-present