Abilene Christian Wildcats

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Abilene Christian Wildcats
Logo
UniversityAbilene Christian University
ConferenceWAC
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorAllen Ward
LocationAbilene, Texas
Varsity teams16
Football stadiumAnthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
ArenaMoody Coliseum
Baseball stadiumCrutcher Scott Field
Softball stadiumPoly Wells Field
Soccer stadiumElmer Gray Stadium
MascotWillie, the Wildcat
NicknameWildcats
Fight songACU Fight Song
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Websitewww.acusports.com

Abilene Christian Wildcats (variously ACU or ACU Wildcats) refers to the sports teams of Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on July 1, 2021 after having spent the previous eight years in the Southland Conference. The nickname "Wildcat" is derived from the mascot of the team.

History[]

On July 1, 2013, Abilene Christian returned to the Southland Conference as one of four new members. The university, a charter member of the Southland Conference, left the Southland in 1973 to join the Lone Star Conference (LSC) of NCAA Division II. The Wildcats remained members of the Lone Star Conference from 1973 until returning to the Southland Conference in 2013.

Overall, the Wildcats have won a combined 62 team national championships, including 57 as a member of the NCAA trailing behind UCLA, Stanford, USC and Kenyon College for the most NCAA team championships.[2]

In 2007, the LSC included 33 ACU current and former student athletes in its 75-member all-sports team commemorating the conference's 75th anniversary.[3]

On August 23, 2017 the NCAA Board of Directors voted to pass ACU through to full Division I status, thus making them eligible for postseason play.

On January 14, 2021, ACU was one of five institutions announced as future members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), alongside three other Southland members from Texas (Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin) plus Big Sky Conference member Southern Utah.[4] Initially, all five schools were to join in July 2022, but the entry of ACU and the other Texas schools was moved to 2021 after the Southland expelled its departing members.[5]

Sports sponsored[]

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Beach volleyball
Cross country Cross country
Football Soccer
Golf Softball
Tennis Tennis
Track and field† Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Western Athletic Conference, Abilene Christian sponsors teams in seven men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

Baseball[]

Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball

Basketball[]

Main articles: Abilene Christian Wildcats men's basketball and Abilene Christian Wildcats women's basketball

Beach Volleyball[]

Cross Country[]

Football[]

Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats football

Golf (Men's)[]

Soccer (Women's)[]

Softball[]

Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats softball

Tennis[]

Track and Field[]

Volleyball[]

Championships[]

National Championships[]

Cross Country (Men's)[]

Total: 2

Football[]

Total: 2

  • NAIA Division I: 1973, 1977

Golf (Men's)[]

Total: 1

Track and Field (Indoor)[]

(Men's)

Total: 14

(Women's)

Total: 12
  • NCAA Division II: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Track and Field (Outdoor)[]

(Men's)

Total: 24
  • NAIA Division I (5): 1952, 1954, 1955, 1978, 1982
  • NCAA Division II (19): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011

(Women's)

Total: 10

Conference Championships[]

Baseball[]

Total: 7

Basketball[]

(Men's)
Total: 3
(Women's)
Total: 8
  • Lone Star Conference: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99

Cross Country[]

(Men's)
Total: 26
  • Lone Star Conference: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
(Women's)
Total: 15
  • Lone Star Conference: 1983, 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Football[]

Total: 4

Golf (Men's)[]

Total: 9

Soccer (Women's)[]

Total: 1

Tennis[]

(Men's)
Total: 11
(Women's)
Total: 22
  • Lone Star Conference: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010

Track and Field[]

(Men's)
Total: 28
  • Lone Star Conference: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
(Women's)
Total: 23
  • Lone Star Conference: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008

Volleyball[]

Total: 2

Notable non-varsity sports[]

ACU currently has club sports in Men's Lacrosse, Men's Rugby, Men's Soccer, and Co-Ed Golf. ACU Athletics took over all club sports on the ACU campus in January 2017 and named Todd Rogers as the Director of Club Sports, who oversees all 4 sports. Todd is an Abilene native and a December 2016 graduate of Texas Tech University. As the Director of Club Sports, Rogers will oversee the university's nationally competitive program with the hopes of driving enrollment and adding more club sports in the future.

ACU Athletes in halls of fame[]

College Football – Wilbert Montgomery (1996).

Drake Relays – Bobby Morrow, (1959).

Lone Star Conference – Wilbert Montgomery, football (1996); Billy Olson, men's track and field (1997); Wally Bullington, football (1999); Wes Kittley, track and field (2006).

U.S. Olympic – Bobby Morrow, men's track and field (1989).

Texas Sports – Bobby Morrow (1960), Tonto Coleman (1983), Eck Curtis (1985).

U.S. Track and Field – Bobby Morrow (1975)

WWE – John Layfield (2020; played football at ACU)

Athletic administration[]

  • Allen Ward, Director of Athletics
  • Dave Kinard, Deputy Director of Athletics
  • Drew Long, Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations
  • Lance Fleming, Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations (Football, Men's Basketball)
  • Chris Macaluso, Assistant Director of Media Relations (Baseball, Women's Basketball, Cross Country, Track & Field, Volleyball)
  • Lisa Gilmore, Senior Associate Director of Athletics / SWA
  • Cory Driskill, Associate Director of Athletics for Sports Performance
  • Bret Miguez, Director of Strength and Conditioning
  • Alicia English, Assistant Director of Athletics for External Operations

[6]

Media[]

All Abilene Christian athletics are broadcast on ESPN+ and KHXS.

References[]

  1. ^ "Colors of Master Logo - Office of University Marketing". Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  2. ^ All divisions/collegiate total championships ncaa.org, Chipionship History (through June 2, 2013), p.1. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  3. ^ "Wildcats lead way as LSC honors all-time top performers," ACU Today, Summer 2007, p.32. Retrieved 2008-09-22. Archived October 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "WAC Announces Expansion, Plans to Reinstate Football" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. ^ "Staff Directory". Abilene Christian University Athletics.

External links[]

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