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Arkansas Tech University athletic teams
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Athletic teams representing Arkansas Tech University
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns
Logo
UniversityArkansas Tech University
ConferenceGAC (primary)
NCAADivision II
Athletic directorAbby Davis
LocationRussellville, Arkansas
Varsity teams12 (4 men's, 8 women's)
Football stadiumThone Stadium at Buerkle Field
Basketball arenaTucker Coliseum
Baseball stadiumBaswell Field
Softball stadiumChartwells Women's Sports Complex
Other venuesHull Building
MascotJerry the Bulldog
NicknameWonder Boys (men)
Golden Suns (women)
ColorsGreen and gold
   
Websitearkansastechsports.com

The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns are the athletic teams that represent Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. They are a charter member of the Great American Conference of the NCAA Division II.

Conference affiliations

NAIA

NCAA

Sports sponsored

Arkansas Tech currently fields 10 sports at the NCAA Division II level.

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Football Golf
Golf Softball
Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball

Wonder Boys sports

Football

Main article: Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football

Basketball

Tech's greatest men's basketball success came under the guidance of head coach Sam Hindsman, who led the Wonder Boys from 1947–66. Hindsman, who also won two AIC football titles at Tech during the 1950s, was ahead of his time with an up-tempo style that dazzled fans and opponents. Hindsman and the Wonder Boys won seven consecutive AIC basketball titles from 1949–55. In 1954 and 1955, Tech reached the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament. Tech's only other NAIA Final Four berth in men's basketball came in 1995.

In all, Hindsman won 11 conference men's basketball titles and 355 men's basketball games to set school records that are unlikely to ever be eclipsed.

Tech returned to men's basketball prominence for the first time in more than a decade during the 2008–09 season. The Wonder Boys finished 23–9 overall, won their first-ever Gulf South Conference men's basketball title and qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament in men's basketball for the first time ever. The Wonder Boys defeated Benedict College 63–62 in their first-ever NCAA tournament game on March 14, 2009. Florida Southern ended Tech's season 95–92 in overtime the following evening.

The Wonder Boys won their second consecutive GSC Tournament title in 2010 and they returned to the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament in both 2010 and 2011, reaching the regional semifinals on both occasions.

Basketball seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
R.K. Lindberg 1914–15 4–3 0–0
Totals 4–3 (.571) 0–0 (–)
Bill Cowan 1922–23 7–1 0–0
Totals 7–1 (.875) 0–0 (–)
E.O. Brown 1923–24 5–2 0–0
1924–25 4–8 0–0
1925–26 1–5 0–0
1926–27 7–8 0–0
1927–28 7–5 4–5
1928–29 8–8 5–7
1929–30 10–3 8–3
1930–31 11–4 7–4
1931–32 9–7 3–5
1932–33 1–4 1–4
Totals 63–54 (.538) 28–28 (.500)
Truman McEver 1933–34 6–6 1–5
1934–35 5–13 3–9
Totals 11–19 (.367) 4–14 (.222)
Henry Hudson 1935–36 6–6 2–6
1936–37 6–8 1–8
1937–38 9–5 5–3
1938–39 5–9 3–8
1939–40 4–16 3–13
Totals 30–44 (.405) 14–38 (.269)
Howard Godfrey 1940–41 5–11 5–11
Totals 5–11 (.313) 5–11 (.313)
Raymond Burnett 1941–42 7–14 0–0
Totals 7–14 (.333) 0–0 (–)
John Tucker 1944–45 14–8 13–3
1945–46 14–5 8–3
Totals 28–13 (.683) 21–6 (.778)
Homer Spragins 1946–47 12–11 6–7
Totals 12–11 (.522) 6–7 (.462)
Sam Hindsman 1947–48 12–8 9–7
1948–49 17–4 13–3 *
1949–50 25–2 # 18–0 *
1950–51 24–7 # 16–2 *
1951–52 25–4 # 17–1 *
1952–53 24–1 # 16–0 * E.C. O'Neal
1953–54 28–3 % 16–0 * E.C. O'Neal
1954–55 29–6 % 16–0 * Donovan Horn
1955–56 15–9 # 11–5
1956–57 13–13 0–0
1957–58 20–5 10–0 * Ronnie Kennett
1958–59 13–11 0–0
1959–60 19–6 14–4 *
1960–61 21–3 16–2 * J.P. Lovelady
1961–62 20–7 14–4 * Kenny Saylors
1962–63 19–9 # 11–7 Kenny Saylors
1963–64 17–10 13–5
1964–65 6–19 5–13
1965–66 8–19 4–14
Totals 355–146 (.709) 219–67 (.766)
Deward Dopson 1966–67 12–14 8–10
1967–68 14–13 11–7
1968–69 19–9 13–5
1969–70 22–10 # 15–3
1970–71 20–5 16–4
1971–72 12–16 12–8 Terry Hankton
1972–73 4–22 2–16
Totals 103–89 (.536) 77–53 (.592)
Ted Lyons 1973–74 8–20 3–15
1974–75 8–17 4–14
1975–76 4–20 1–17
Totals 20–57 (.260) 8–46 (.148)
George Jones 1976–77 11–17 8–10
1977–78 7–16 5–13
1978–79 7–21 4–14
1979–80 13–14 7–11
1980–81 12–15 8–10
Totals 50–83 (.376) 32–58 (.356)
Danny Ebbs 1981–82 15–14 9–9 Joe Bob Wise
1982–83 13–14 9–9
1983–84 1–5 0–0
Totals 29–33 (.468) 18–18 (.500)
Wesley White
(interim)
1983–84 9–12
(10–17 α)
7–11
(7–11 α)
Totals 9–12 (.429) 7–11 (.389)
John Widner 1984–85 22–8 12–6 *
1985–86 9–17 6–14
1986–87 12–14 8–12
Totals 43–39 (.524) 26–32 (.448)
Marty Barnes 1987–88 22–11 14–4 *
1988–89 20–12 12–6 Alan Cozart
1989–90 24–9 14–4
1990–91 16–15 8–10 Maxie Mathis
1991–92 20–12 11–7 Maxie Mathis
1992–93 23–10 12–4 * Maxie Mathis
Eric Burnett
1993–94 26–8 13–1 * Thayer McKinley
David Bevis
1994–95 29–6 % 14–2 * David Bevis
1995–96 19–10 # 7–5 Chad Keaster
1996–97 14–13 8–4 Bryan Hodges
1997–98 9–17 6–6
1998–99 9–17 5–7
Totals 231–140 (.623) 124–60 (.674)
Robert Thompson 1999–00 16–10 8–4
2000–01 4–22 2–14
2001–02 12–14 8–8
2002–03 11–16 4–12
Totals 43–62 (.410) 22–38 (.367)
Rick McCormick 2003–04 7–20 4–12
2004–05 10–17 3–13
2005–06 11–16 2–14
Totals 28–53 (.346) 9–39 (.188)
Mark Downey 2006–07 6–21 1–13
2007–08 18–11 8–6
2008–09 23–9 # 9–5 *
2009–10 30–2 # 13–1 * Brandon Friedel
Totals 77–43 (.642) 31–25 (.554)
Doug Karleskint 2010–11 25–6 # 13–1 *
2011–12 26–6 # 13–3 * Johnie Davis
2012–13 18–12 # 13–7
2013–14 21–10 # 15–5 *
2014–15 18–14 # 11–9 *
2015–16 15–14 10–12
Totals 123–62 (.665) 75–37 (.670)
All-Time
Records
1278–989 (.564) 726–588 (.553)
% National Tournament Final Four
# National Tournament
* Conference Champion
α Full Season Record

Baseball

Tech won AIC baseball titles in 1950, 1964, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1988, and 1992. The Wonder Boys captured a share of the GSC West Division baseball crown in 1998. Tech won a school record 44 games in 2014 while winning the Great American Conference championship.

Baseball seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
W.A. Isgrig 1912 5–8–1 0–0
Totals 5–8–1 (.393) 0–0 (–)
E.H. Shinn 1913 10–4 0–0
1914 5–9 0–0
1915 3–2 0–0
Totals 18–15 (.545) 0–0 (–)
E.O. Brown 1923 1–4 0–0
Totals 1–4 (.200) 0–0 (–)
John Tucker 1940 2–3 0–0
Totals 2–3 (.400) 0–0 (–)
Raymond Burnett 1948 10–3 6–2
1949 9–3 8–2
1950 13–4 8–1 *
1951 11–3 10–2
Totals 43–13 (.768) 32–7 (.821)
Sam Hindsman 1953 2–10 2–8
1954 7–9 5–7
1955 10–6 7–5
1956 5–11 5–7
Totals 24–36 (.400) 19–27 (.413)
Raymond Burtner 1957 4–4 0–2
1958 8–4 8–4
Totals 12–8 (.600) 8–6 (.571)
Don Dempsey 1959 3–9 3–9
1960 2–6–1 2–6–1
1961 10–10 5–5
1962 14–6 7–3
1963 10–11 6–6
1964 14–7 8–4 *
1965 12–10 6–6
1966 11–9 7–5
1967 3–15 1–9
1968 7–10–2 5–7
1969 13–8 6–6
1970 8–11 6–4
Totals 107–112–3 (.489) 62–70–1 (.470)
Doyle Wallace 1971 16–15 8–8
Totals 16–15 (.516) 8–8 (.500)
Ted Lyons 1972 7–14 6–10
1973 11–13–1 5–8–1
1974 12–13 8–8
Totals 30–40–1 (.430) 19–26–1 (.424)
Rick Thone 1975 7–13 5–11
Totals 7–13 (.350) 5–11 (.313)
Robert Pledger 1976 22–14 11–3 * Tommy Hester
1977 13–12 8–6
1978 10–10 6–8
Totals 45–36 (.556) 25–17 (.595)
Robert Campbell 1979 17–17 9–5
1980 16–14 8–6
Totals 33–31 (.516) 17–11 (.607)
Jim Franks 1981 21–11 11–3 *
1982 25–15 9–5
1983 16–12 7–7
1984 24–18 9–5
1985 26–16 16–4 *
1986 19–17 11–9
1987 23–13 17–11
Totals 154–102 (.602) 80–44 (.645)
Dale Harpenau 1988 29–17 18–6 *
1989 17–24 8–16
1990 22–16–1 14–10
1991 30–17 16–8
1992 25–16 17–7 *
1993 26–17 11–11
1994 34–14–1 20–4
1995 33–18 20–6
1996 26–19 7–10
1997 30–11–1 10–6
1998 30–16–1 12–5 *
Totals 302–185–4 (.619) 153–89 (.632)
Billy Goss 1999 22–21 11–6
2000 22–22 7–11
2001 32–20 14–9 John Paul Davis
2002 16–31 7–16
2003 29–24 18–14
2004 31–23 13–10
2005 28–22 17–7
2006 19–29 6–17
2007 22–32–1 10–10
2008 22–23 9–11
2009 22–30 9–12
Totals 265–277–1 (.489) 121–123 (.496)
Dave Dawson 2010 35–19 14–6
2011 32–19 13–6 Matt Johnson
2012 26–27 13–11 Jonathan Finnegan
Landon Sullins
2013 32–21 18–12 Cesar Abreu
2014 44–12 25–5 *
2015 30–21 16–10 Patrick Castleberry
2016 24–31 12–21
Totals 223–150 (.598) 111–71 (.610)
All-Time
Records
1287–1048–10 (.551) 660–510–2 (.564)
* Conference Champion

Golf

Arkansas Tech's men's golf team was AIC champions in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Tech became the first school from Arkansas to win the GSC Championship in men's golf in 2004. The 1998 Wonder Boys reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament for men's golf. Tech made its sixth men's golf NCAA Division II Regional Tournament appearance and finished as GSC Tournament runner-up in 2009. Bill Bailey was a four-time All-AIC selectee in golf (1973–76). In 2021, the Wonder Boys won the NCAA Division II men's golf national championship, which was the third national championship won by an Arkansas Tech team, and the first for any Wonder Boys teams.

Golf seasons
Year Conference All-American
1964 5th
1965 7th
1966 1st
1967 1st
1968 1st
1969 1st
1970 1st #
1971 6th
1972 5th
1973 3rd
1974 4th
1975 8th
1976 8th
1977 7th
1978 6th
1979 5th
1980 6th
1981 9th
Year Conference All-American
1982 6th
1983 2nd
1984 1st
1985 3rd
1986 3rd
1987 3rd
1988 2nd
1989 2nd
1990 2nd
1991 2nd
1992 1st
1993 1st # David Dyer
1994 1st #
1995 1st #
1996 T-3rd
1997 T-5th
1998 3rd #
1999 4th
Year Conference All-American
2000 5th
2001 2nd # Jeff Jenkins
2002 5th #
2003 4th #
2004 1st # Nick Quast
2005 4th Nick Quast
2006 6th
2007 3rd
2008 5th
2009 2nd #
2010 4th
2011 8th
2012 2nd
2013 1st #
2014 2nd #
2015 3rd #
2016 2nd #

# National Tournament

Golden Suns sports

Cross country

Cross country seasons
Year Conference Regional All-American
1995 10th
1996 6th
1997 5th
1998 5th
1999 5th 14th
2000 3rd 6th
2001 3rd 8th
Year Conference Regional All-American
2002 10th
2003 3rd 7th
2004 10th 14th
2005 11th 16th Aoife Cooke
2006 11th 19th
2007 6th T-7th
2008 3rd 4th
Year Conference Regional All-American
2009 3rd 4th
2010 4th
2011 3rd
2012 7th 25th
2013 5th 27th
2014 7th 29th
2015 T-5th 30th

Volleyball

The Golden Suns volleyball program won AIC titles in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1987. The Suns captured GSC West Division volleyball crowns in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2008 and 2010. The 2000 team became the first from Arkansas Tech to qualify for the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament.

Volleyball seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
Jim Yeager 1977 7–14 0–0
1978 6–9 0–0
1979 4–11 0–0
1980 9–6 0–0
1981 7–8 0–0
Totals 33–48 (.407) 0–0 (–)
Jim Dickerson 1982 10–6 0–0
1983 26–4 12–0 *
1984 32–5 12–0 *
1985 34–7 13–1 *
Totals 102–22 (.823) 37–1 (.974)
Chris Poole 1986 21–15 11–3
Totals 21–15 (.583) 11–3 (.786)
Gaye Griffin 1987 25–8 12–0 *
Totals 25–8 (.758) 12–0 (1.000)
Natalie Alred 1988 18–18 7–5
1989 17–17 6–6
1990 17–18 5–7
1991 25–15 7–5 Stacy Burnett–Mallett
1992 20–17 3–7
1993 5–21 1–7
Totals 102–106 (.490) 29–37 (.439)
Shannon Burks 1994 12–15 4–6
1995 15–15 3–7
Totals 27–30 (.474) 7–13 (.350)
Tracy McWilliams 1996 17–18 3–7
1997 26–8 10–0 * Dong Mei Cui
1998 24–17 7–3
1999 34–7 10–0 *
2000 36–5 # 12–0 *
Totals 137–55 (.714) 42–10 (.808)
Amanda Thiessen 2001 19–12 9–3
2002 20–13 8–4 Ningning Liu
2003 4–25 1–11
Totals 43–50 (.462) 18–18 (.500)
Kristy Bayer 2004 13–17 5–7
2005 25–12 9–5
2006 20–16 5–7
2007 22–13 8–4
2008 31–5 11–1
2009 24–13 8–4
2010 31–5 11–1 Sarah Von Lienen
2011 35–4 # 16–0 * Laura Farney
2012 27–10 11–3
2013 25–12 # 9–5
2014 29–6 # 13–1 *
2015 26–7 15–1 *
Totals 308–120 (.720) 121–39 (.756)
All-Time
Records
798–454 (.637) 277–121 (.696)
# National Tournament
* Conference Champion

Basketball

Arkansas Tech's two greatest moments of athletic glory were provided by the back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships captured by the Golden Suns basketball program in 1992 and 1993. The 1991–92 team finished with an overall record of 35–1. The 1991–92 Golden Suns won each of their final 28 games by 12 points or more, including an 84–68 win over Wayland Baptist University (Texas) in the national championship game. The Suns won their second consecutive national crown in 1993 by defeating Union University (Tenn.) 76–75. Joe Foley, Tech head women's basketball coach from 1987–2003, was the architect of both national championship teams.

Today, the Golden Suns basketball program ranks among the top five in NCAA Division II history in winning percentage and all-time wins. The Suns finished as NCAA Division II national runners-up in 1999, and they made it back to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in three years during the 2006–07 season. Tech made it back-to-back trips to the NCAA tournament when the Suns qualified for the event again in 2008. Arkansas Tech captured consecutive NCAA Division II South Region titles and back-to-back GSC Tournament championships in women's basketball in 2010 and 2011.

Basketball seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
Jim Yeager 1977–78 5–18 3–15
1978–79 24–4 16–2 *
1979–80 29–2 # 17–1 * Sherry Raney
1980–81 29–3 16–2 * Sherry Raney
1981–82 20–6 13–5 * Sherry Raney
Totals 107–33 (.764) 65–25 (.722)
Jim Dickerson 1982–83 22–7 10–2
1983–84 23–9 10–4
1984–85 23–8 11–5
1985–86 23–3 17–1 *
1986–87 29–6 % 16–2 * Donna Brunson
Totals 120–33 (.784) 64–14 (.821)
Joe Foley 1987–88 29–5 % 14–2 * Donna Brunson
1988–89 35–2 % 16–0 * Lanell Dawson
Cindi Patton
Kala Cooley
1989–90 30–3 15–1 * Lanell Dawson
1990–91 28–6 14–2 * Amanda Hill
1991–92 35–1 ! 16–0 * Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
1992–93 31–5 ! 12–4 Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
Dawn Grell
1993–94 30–3 # 14–0 * Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
Dawn Grell
Carin Pinion
1994–95 28–6 # 15–1 *
1995–96 23–9 # 11–3 Kim Stephens
1996–97 29–4 % 13–1 Heather Campbell
Jennifer Richardson
1997–98 26–5 # 12–2 * Jennifer Richardson
1998–99 31–7 % 11–3
1999–00 24–7 # 13–1 *
2000–01 23–8 # 13–3
2001–02 25–6 # 13–3 *
2002–03 29–4 # 14–2 *
Totals 456–81 (.849) 216–28 (.885)
Carin Pinion–McNabb 2003–04 13–14 6–10
2004–05 10–19 5–11
Totals 23–33 (.411) 11–21 (.344)
Todd Schaefer 2005–06 15–12 7–9
2006–07 22–10 # 11–3
Totals 37–22 (.627) 18–12 (.600)
Dave Wilbers 2007–08 26–6 # 12–2 Amanda Grappe
2008–09 19–9 9–5 Amanda Grappe
2009–10 31–3 # 12–2 * Jenny Vining
2010–11 30–3 # 13–1 * Natalia Santos
2011–12 22–4 13–3
2012–13 23–7 # 17–3 * Roselis Silva
2013–14 17–11 12–8
2014–15 23–7 # 16–4 Fatima Adams
2015–16 27–4 # 21–1 * Fatima Adams
Totals 218–54 (.801) 125–29 (.812)
All-Time
Records
961–256 (.790) 499–129 (.795)
! NAIA National Champion
% National Tournament Final Four
# National Tournament
* Conference Champion

Golf

Arkansas Tech won its first GSC championship in women's golf during the 2010–11 season.

Golf seasons
Year Conference All-American
2002 No Tournament
2003 3rd
2004 3rd
2005 3rd
2006 4th
Year Conference All-American
2007 2nd
2008 5th
2009 5th
2010 4th
2011 1st
Year Conference All-American
2012 2nd #
2013 3rd # Rebecka Surtevall
2014 2nd #
2015 1st # Rebecka Surtevall
2016 1st #

# National Tournament

Softball

Arkansas Tech won GSC West Division softball championships in 2008 and 2009 and finished as GSC softball tournament runner-up in both 2008 and 2009.

Softball seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
Kristie Betancur 2003 21–9 0–0
2004 15–26 6–16
2005 27–21 10–18
Totals 63–56 (.529) 16–34 (.320)
Gidget Pambianchi 2006 22–25 13–20
2007 12–35 5–22
2008 41–17 20–9
2009 42–21 19–9
2010 22–26 12–18
2011 34–19 23–7
2012 11–17 5–9
Totals 184–160 (.535) 97–94 (.508)
Kristy Bayer
(interim)
2012 5–14
(16–31 α)
3–9
(8–18 α)
Totals 5–14 (.263) 3–9 (.250)
Kristina McSweeney 2013 26–23 19–15 Siarra Gomez
2014 31–27 19–21
2015 41–22 # 22–14
2016 49–11 # 34–6 Jalissa Gum
Totals 147–83 (.639) 94–56 (.627)
All-Time
Records
399–313 (.560) 210–193 (.521)
# National Tournament
α Full Season Record

Tennis

The Golden Suns tennis program made four consecutive GSC Tournament appearances in from 2008–11 and established a new school record for tennis victories in a season (17) during the 2009 campaign.

Tennis seasons
Coach Year Overall Conference All-American
Natalie Alred 1993 3–10 3–9
1994 4–8 4–6
Totals 7–18 (.280) 7–15 (.318)
Clarence Holley 1995 14–1 11–1 *
Totals 14–1 (.933) 11–1 (.917)
Tom Olsen 1996 4–13 1–8
1997 3–10 1–5
Totals 7–23 (.233) 2–13 (.133)
Mark Dannhoff 1998 5–9 3–4
Totals 5–9 (.357) 3–4 (.429)
John Bateman 1999 6–12 2–4
Totals 6–12 (.333) 2–4 (.333)
Brent Good 2000 7–16 2–4
Totals 7–16 (.304) 2–4 (.333)
Shery Forrest 2001 9–17 3–5
2002 14–11 # 4–4
2003 12–11 4–4
2004 5–16 3–5
Totals 40–55 (.421) 14–18 (.438)
Abby Davis 2005 7–16 3–5
2006 6–19 2–5
2007 6–16 1–5
2008 11–10 3–3
2009 17–5 4–2
2010 10–6 4–2
2011 10–7 3–2
2012 17–5 6–0 *
2013 12–6 5–1 *
2014 16–6 # 5–1
2015 18–5 # 5–1
2016 11–13 4–3
Totals 141–114 (.553) 45–30 (.600)
All-Time
Records
227–248 (.478) 86–89 (.491)
# National Tournament
* Conference Champion

Notable athletes

  • Tanner Marsh, Former Canadian Football League quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes.
  • David Bevis, former professional basketball player.
  • Ed Meador, former NFL defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams

References

  1. Arkansas Tech University Academic Brand Identity & Visual Standards (PDF). January 15, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. Arkansas Tech University. "Arkansas Tech". NCAA.com. Retrieved March 20, 2016.

External links

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Sports teams based in Arkansas
Baseball Flag of Arkansas
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Soccer
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athletics
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