Abilene Christian Wildcats
Abilene Christian Wildcats | |
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University | Abilene Christian University |
Conference | Southland Conference |
NCAA | Division I |
Athletic director | Allen Ward |
Location | Abilene, Texas |
Varsity teams | 16 |
Football stadium | Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium |
Arena | Moody Coliseum |
Baseball stadium | Crutcher Scott Field |
Softball stadium | Poly Wells Field |
Soccer stadium | Elmer Gray Stadium |
Mascot | Willie, the Wildcat |
Nickname | Wildcats |
Fight song | ACU Fight Song |
Colors | Purple and white[1] |
Website | www |
Abilene Christian Wildcats (variously ACU or ACU Wildcats) refers to the sports teams of Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. The Wildcats play 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.
Sports sponsored
Men's sports | Women's sports |
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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 |
Championships
They have national championships in:
Football (2) (NAIA Division I: 1977, 1973)
Men's Cross Country (2) (NCAA Division II: 2006, 2007)
Men's Golf (1) (NCAA Division II: 1993)
Men's Indoor Track and Field (14) (NCAA Division II: 1988, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011); NAIA (1978)
Women's Indoor Track and Field (12) (NCAA Division II: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Men's Outdoor Track and Field (14) (NCAA Division II: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); NAIA: (1952, 1954, 1955, 1982)
Women's Outdoor Track and Field (10) (NCAA Division II: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2008)
Conference
They have conference championships in:
Football (1973, 1977, 2008, 2010)
Men's Cross Country (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 Cross Country (1983, 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Men's Basketball (1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87)
Women's Basketball (1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99)
Golf (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2010)
Men's Track and Field (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)
Women's Track and Field (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Men's Tennis (1988, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010)
Women's Tennis (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010)
Baseball (1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010)
Volleyball (2004, 2005)
Women's Soccer (2010)
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).
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
References
- ^ Abilene Christian University Branding and Editorial Style Guide. July 1, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ All divisions/collegiate total championships ncaa.org, Chipionship History (through June 2, 2013), p.1. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
- ^ "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
- ^ Abilene Christian University Athletics – Staff Directory