About Us
Established in 2014, Austin Honey Badgers Track Club (HBTC) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, located in Austin, Texas that promotes youth development, growth and personal awareness through a comprehensive track and field program.
MISSION
The mission of Austin Honey Badgers Track Club (HBTC) is to provide youth athletes ages 5-18 with the opportunity to reach his or her full potential by developing speed, endurance, and strength while fostering high self-esteem, personal accountability, self-discipline, goal setting, and goal achievement. HBTC seeks to develop well-rounded individuals who aspire to achieve in leadership, discipline, integrity, and excellence for education and athletics.
VISION
The Austin Honey Badgers Track Club was created with a vision for youth who desire to learn and compete in track and field on a local, state and national platform. We instill in our athletes that all things are possible if you believe that you can achieve and eliminate their own personal fears. Our motto is fearless.
PHILOSOPHY
Our club philosophy revolves around cultivating a safe, positive, family environment where our athletes will increase their leadership skills, public speaking, critical thinking skills, and community service opportunities. Members of the HBTC track club will grow in their sense of ownership and decrease in their sense of entitlement.
OUR HISTORY
Brandon and Candice Cooper founded the Austin Honey Badgers Track Club (HBTC) in August 2014. The Coopers fell in love with youth track, in December 2010 after seeing their then five-year-old daughter Jayden Cooper run and complete a 5k (3 mile run) for a charity event. Recognizing their daughter’s talent, tenacity for reaching her goal and competitive nature, they joined the Flight International Track Club under the leadership of Head Coach Leonard Brantley.
For four years, track and field became the Cooper’s life. They’ve become proficient in best practices and lessons learned, while building lasting relationships throughout the track community in Central Texas and beyond.
During their four-year journey, summer 2014 proved to be their most successful. Brandon Cooper as assistant Coach with Flight International Track Club was successful in 14 out of 16 athletes trained by him qualified and competed in the 2014 AAU Jr. Olympics National Competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Several athletes placed top twenty in the Nation while one brought home the top eight medal.
After announcing their vision to start their own track club. Supporters, volunteers and parents offered to join the Austin Honey Badgers Track Club. The HBTC family continues to grow and develop. We are excited for what the future holds.
