The UVU Rodeo Team’s purpose is to promote recruitment and retention of UVU students through scholarship opportunities that reduce the cost of tuition and develop a sense of community and belonging within a team setting that teaches them to balance school, work, practice, competition, and play.
UVU Rodeo does not host tryouts, but we require all team members to have previous rodeo experience to reduce risk. Student athletes provide their own horses, equipment, and feed, and the UVU Rodeo program houses students’ horses in our facilities. Learn more about program requirements.
Our rodeo team is part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). As a rodeo college, we participate in all ten college rodeos per year in the Rocky Mountain region, which consists of southern Idaho, western Colorado, and all of Utah.
UVU Rodeo has eight full tuition waivers for students per academic year. We divide these waivers as needed for our student athletes. The program also raises money for any additional rodeo scholarships we are able to award to athletes.
Throughout the year, UVU Rodeo gives back to the community and support the younger generation of rodeo. We recognize that the opportunities to be part of the western lifestyle are becoming harder to come by, and we want to keep those opportunities alive. We visit one school each year to talk about our program. In addition to school visits, we connect individuals to schools and resources to help them get started.
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Shane Draper, born and raised in Genola, Utah, has been the Head Coach of the Utah Valley University Rodeo Team for nine years, showcasing his expertise and dedication. With a background as a rodeo cowboy, he brings a wealth of experience. He has competed at various levels and even served as a rodeo judge. Draper holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education and has transitioned into a career as a math teacher alongside his coaching role.
Known for his motivational coaching style, Draper is admired by his team, school, and community. His passion for rodeo extends beyond coaching, as he actively participates in local events and enjoys training and riding horses.
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Utah Valley University’s rodeo team was founded in 1968 as the school’s first athletics program and has been going strong ever since. Since the rodeo college program was started, we have had six national champions and 52 athletes finish in the top 10 in the nation. UVU Rodeo alumni have moved on to earn spots at the professional National Finals Rodeo, with some winning several World Championships.
We got our start as an all-volunteer rodeo program, with athletes practicing on their own until our first coach was hired in 2002. With support from donors and the university, we have purchased a temporary arena and cattle to practice on.
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No CNFR due to Covid-19
