Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns

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[1]
   
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.[2]

Conference affiliations

[edit]

NAIA

NCAA

Sports sponsored

[edit]

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

[edit]

Football

[edit]
Main article: Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football

Basketball

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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
# National Tournament

Golden Suns sports

[edit]

Cross country

[edit]
Cross country seasons

Volleyball

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

Golf seasons
# National Tournament

Softball

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  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.
[edit]
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