WT Athletics

[BuffaloChip]

Hopefully he retained all of the 2024 signing class. There's some talent there.

I heard he retained them all. The big inside girl from Hereford works occasionally for one of the posters on here. She told him they really like the new coach. Old coach was a good coach but not great with personal relationships. New coach is an old-time "kick 'em in the butt then pat 'em on the back" type of coach. He is very personable, approachable, and likable according to the player.

[Rockofwesties]

WT men’s sports are mediocre at best, irrelevant in most cases in regards to competition for championships.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

WT men’s sports are mediocre at best, irrelevant in most cases in regards to competition for championships.

I think the most frustrating part to all of this is WT getting their a$$ses handed to them by programs that didnt exist and/or werent D2 several years ago (UTPB, LCU, Tyler).

I get there are ebbs and flows to sports but WT as a whole seems to be stuck (except for volleyball and softball) while other LSC programs are passing them by.

[GoBuffs]

You can’t say all men’s programs are losing. WT track just won its 5th consecutive LSC championship. WT men’s basketball was down this year but won the LSC championship last year and has been strong since Tom Brown arrived 11 years ago. Baseball had a down year this year but has consistently been at the top of the LSC. I can’t speak for soccer. The big loser is football and it seems to paint a bad picture for all the other sports. When (and if) it improves, it will impact not only the athletics program at WT but the entire university will benefit.
Unfortunately women’s basketball also is dismal now and certainly not the power it once was 10 years ago. And I don’t see much hope for the future under Prock.

[BuffaloChip]

I think the most frustrating part to all of this is WT getting their a$$ses handed to them by programs that didnt exist and/or werent D2 several years ago (UTPB, LCU, Tyler).

I get there are ebbs and flows to sports but WT as a whole seems to be stuck (except for volleyball and softball) while other LSC programs are passing them by.

You must have sleep-walked thru the last 10 years of men's BB. WT has dominated the league, winning 6 LSC championships and 2 national runners-ups with Tom Brown.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

You must have sleep-walked thru the last 10 years of men's BB. WT has dominated the league, winning 6 LSC championships and 2 national runners-ups with Tom Brown.

This wasnt directly at Mens BB (UTPB-Football, LCU- Womens Basketball, Tyler - Softball) and we are talking about recently. Is this an one off or is this a trend toward the middle of the pack?

[Rockofwesties]

This wasnt directly at Mens BB (UTPB-Football, LCU- Womens Basketball, Tyler - Softball) and we are talking about recently. Is this a agree with you point that one off or is this a trend toward the middle of the pack?

Personal I believe WT athletics is on a projected path to be behind ASU, LCU and UTPB in success and championships. Something needs to change or we’ll be watching D2 championship tournaments and playoffs with Western New Mexico fans talking about Volleyball.

[MooseLodge]

Personal I believe WT athletics is on a projected path to be behind ASU, LCU and UTPB in success and championships. Something needs to change or we’ll be watching D2 championship tournaments and playoffs with Western New Mexico fans talking about Volleyball.

Meh. WT generally still dominates the LSC. Maybe not this year, but I don't see any sort of trend. WT volleyball won the Colorado Premier and the LSC, both golf teams won the LSC easily if I recall correct. Men's golf going to the national championship tournament, softball is strong, track is strong. Men's basketball had a down year after what, 6 straight LSC titles? Baseball wasn't bad. The real shocker is the apparent decline in women's basketball. Haven't kept up with soccer.

Women's basketball was pretty middling after Schneider until Mark Kellogg came along. He got it back going. Kristen was actually decent, then followed by Josh. Everyone got used to Mark Kellogg results. He in P5 now and doing well. Tom Brown is a first ballot WT Hall of Champions coach even if he quit today.

[GoBuffs]

Yes, women’s basketball was decent under Gerlich. Then it was good under Kellog for 2 years but went south badly under Mattio and has gotten even worse under Prock. The players are frustrated and embarrassed especially after going 0-4 versus LCU this year.

[MooseLodge]

Yes, women’s basketball was decent under Gerlich. Then it was good under Kellog for 2 years but went south badly under Mattio and has gotten even worse under Prock. The players are frustrated and embarrassed especially after going 0-4 versus LCU this year.

Gerlich did very well while Emily Brister was there, and pretty mid after that. I wouldn't be too bearish. Some pretty strong transfers coming in. If things were so bad, they wouldn't be coming.

[GoBuffs]

IMO, it’s not been the quality of the players. It’s the quality of the coaching. Prock has had good talent but that’s as far as it goes. He just trying to save his job now.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

IMO, it’s not been the quality of the players. It’s the quality of the coaching. Prock has had good talent but that’s as far as it goes. He just trying to save his job now.

I think a lot of these things in multiple sports have been "covered up" because only the RMAC and LSC make the regionals in the "secondary" sports (Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball).

Both WT basketball teams backed their way into regionals due to this so it was easier to justify keeping Prock.

If the MIAA and GAC join the region party next year then it goes down to 2 teams at most from the LSC and currently WT isnt top 2 in mens/womens basketball and baseball.

[Rockofwesties]

D2 had an identity crisis. It seems to a model that works for Midwest schools but struggles to find value elsewhere.

[MooseLodge]

D2 had an identity crisis. It seems to a model that works for Midwest schools but struggles to find value elsewhere.

D2 is an enigma. It's neither fish nor foul. It combines much of the expense of D1 with the obscurity of D3. In fact, I could make the case that D3 is known more nationally than D2.

Quite a weird phenomenon to me, and always has been. If I was a school president, I would either be D1 or D3. A good case could be made for either. D2 is a tougher case to sell.

Might do D3 football but D1 for the rest of the sports. A lot of schools have the support for D1 in the non-football sports. If I was the Lone Star Conference, this would be my direction.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

D2 is an enigma. It's neither fish nor foul. It combines much of the expense of D1 with the obscurity of D3. In fact, I could make the case that D3 is known more nationally than D2.

Quite a weird phenomenon to me, and always has been. If I was a school president, I would either be D1 or D3. A good case could be made for either. D2 is a tougher case to sell.

Might do D3 football but D1 for the rest of the sports. A lot of schools have the support for D1 in the non-football sports. If I was the Lone Star Conference, this would be my direction.

You bring up a great point. It seems like we hear more about Mary Hardin Baylor in football more than we would hear about Angelo State for non D1 schools when I live in the Austin and Houston areas.

I dont see how WT would entertain moving to D3 after building a brand new on campus football stadium.