Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns explained

Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys
Name2:Golden Suns
University:Arkansas Tech University
Association:NCAA
Conference:GAC (primary)
Division:Division II
Director:Abby Davis
Location:Russellville, Arkansas
Teams:12
Mens Teams:4
Womens Teams:8
Stadium:Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field
Basketballarena:Tucker Coliseum
Baseballfield:Baswell Field
Softballstadium:Chartwells Women's Sports Complex
Arena2:Hull Building
Nickname:Wonder Boys (men)
Golden Suns (women)
Mascot:Jerry the Bulldog
Pageurl:https://arkansastechsports.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.[1]

Conference affiliations

NAIA

NCAA

Sports sponsored

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

Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Golf
Golf Softball
Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball

Wonder Boys sports

Football

See 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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
R.K. Lindberg1914–154–30–0
Bill Cowan1922–237–10–0
E.O. Brown1923–245–20–0
1924–254–80–0
1925–261–50–0
1926–277–80–0
1927–287–54–5
1928–298–85–7
1929–3010–38–3
1930–3111–47–4
1931–329–73–5
1932–331–41–4
Truman McEver1933–346–61–5
1934–355–133–9
Henry Hudson1935–366–62–6
1936–376–81–8
1937–389–55–3
1938–395–93–8
1939–404–163–13
Howard Godfrey1940–415–115–11
Raymond Burnett1941–427–140–0
John Tucker1944–4514–813–3
1945–4614–58–3
Homer Spragins1946–4712–116–7
Sam Hindsman1947–4812–89–7
1948–4917–413–3 *
1949–5025–2 #18–0 *
1950–5124–7 #16–2 *
1951–5225–4 #17–1 *
1952–5324–1 #16–0 *E.C. O'Neal
1953–5428–3 %16–0 *E.C. O'Neal
1954–5529–6 %16–0 *Donovan Horn
1955–5615–9 #11–5
1956–5713–130–0
1957–5820–510–0 *Ronnie Kennett
1958–5913–110–0
1959–6019–614–4 *
1960–6121–316–2 *J.P. Lovelady
1961–6220–714–4 *Kenny Saylors
1962–6319–9 #11–7Kenny Saylors
1963–6417–1013–5
1964–656–195–13
1965–668–194–14
Deward Dopson1966–6712–148–10
1967–6814–1311–7
1968–6919–913–5
1969–7022–10 #15–3
1970–7120–516–4
1971–7212–1612–8Terry Hankton
1972–734–222–16
Ted Lyons1973–748–203–15
1974–758–174–14
1975–764–201–17
George Jones1976–7711–178–10
1977–787–165–13
1978–797–214–14
1979–8013–147–11
1980–8112–158–10
Danny Ebbs1981–8215–149–9Joe Bob Wise
1982–8313–149–9
1983–841–50–0
Wesley White
(interim)		1983–849–12
(10–17 α)		7–11
(7–11 α)
John Widner1984–8522–812–6 *
1985–869–176–14
1986–8712–148–12
Marty Barnes1987–8822–1114–4 *
1988–8920–1212–6Alan Cozart
1989–9024–914–4
1990–9116–158–10Maxie Mathis
1991–9220–1211–7Maxie Mathis
1992–9323–1012–4 *Maxie Mathis
Eric Burnett
1993–9426–813–1 *Thayer McKinley
David Bevis
1994–9529–6 %14–2 *David Bevis
1995–9619–10 #7–5Chad Keaster
1996–9714–138–4Bryan Hodges
1997–989–176–6
1998–999–175–7
Robert Thompson1999–0016–108–4
2000–014–222–14
2001–0212–148–8
2002–0311–164–12
Rick McCormick2003–047–204–12
2004–0510–173–13
2005–0611–162–14
Mark Downey2006–076–211–13
2007–0818–118–6
2008–0923–9 #9–5 *
2009–1030–2 #13–1 *Brandon Friedel
Doug Karleskint2010–1125–6 #13–1 *
2011–1226–6 #13–3 *Johnie Davis
2012–1318–12 #13–7
2013–1421–10 #15–5 *
2014–1518–14 #11–9 *
2015–1615–1410–12
% 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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
W.A. Isgrig19125–8–10–0
E.H. Shinn191310–40–0
19145–90–0
19153–20–0
E.O. Brown19231–40–0
John Tucker19402–30–0
Raymond Burnett194810–36–2
19499–38–2
195013–48–1 *
195111–310–2
Sam Hindsman19532–102–8
19547–95–7
195510–67–5
19565–115–7
Raymond Burtner19574–40–2
19588–48–4
Don Dempsey19593–93–9
19602–6–12–6–1
196110–105–5
196214–67–3
196310–116–6
196414–78–4 *
196512–106–6
196611–97–5
19673–151–9
19687–10–25–7
196913–86–6
19708–116–4
Doyle Wallace197116–158–8
Ted Lyons19727–146–10
197311–13–15–8–1
197412–138–8
Rick Thone19757–135–11
Robert Pledger197622–1411–3 *Tommy Hester
197713–128–6
197810–106–8
Robert Campbell197917–179–5
198016–148–6
Jim Franks198121–1111–3 *
198225–159–5
198316–127–7
198424–189–5
198526–1616–4 *
198619–1711–9
198723–1317–11
Dale Harpenau198829–1718–6 *
198917–248–16
199022–16–114–10
199130–1716–8
199225–1617–7 *
199326–1711–11
199434–14–120–4
199533–1820–6
199626–197–10
199730–11–110–6
199830–16–112–5 *
Billy Goss199922–2111–6
200022–227–11
200132–2014–9John Paul Davis
200216–317–16
200329–2418–14
200431–2313–10
200528–2217–7
200619–296–17
200722–32–110–10
200822–239–11
200922–309–12
Dave Dawson201035–1914–6
201132–1913–6Matt Johnson
201226–2713–11Jonathan Finnegan
Landon Sullins
201332–2118–12Cesar Abreu
201444–1225–5 *
201530–2116–10Patrick Castleberry
201624–3112–21
  • 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.

YearConferenceAll-American
19645th
19657th
19661st
19671st
19681st
19691st
19701st #
19716th
19725th
19733rd
19744th
19758th
19768th
19777th
19786th
19795th
19806th
19819th
YearConferenceAll-American
19826th
19832nd
19841st
19853rd
19863rd
19873rd
19882nd
19892nd
19902nd
19912nd
19921st
19931st #David Dyer
19941st #
19951st #
1996T-3rd
1997T-5th
19983rd #
19994th
YearConferenceAll-American
20005th
20012nd #Jeff Jenkins
20025th #
20034th #
20041st #Nick Quast
20054thNick Quast
20066th
20073rd
20085th
20092nd #
20104th
20118th
20122nd
20131st #
20142nd #
20153rd #
20162nd #
width=175 height=25
  1. National Tournament

Golden Suns sports

Cross country

YearConferenceRegionalAll-American
199510th
19966th
19975th
19985th
19995th14th
20003rd6th
20013rd8th
YearConferenceRegionalAll-American
200210th
20033rd7th
200410th14th
200511th16thAoife Cooke
200611th19th
20076thT-7th
20083rd4th
YearConferenceRegionalAll-American
20093rd4th
20104th
20113rd
20127th25th
20135th27th
20147th29th
2015T-5th30th

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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
Jim Yeager19777–140–0
19786–90–0
19794–110–0
19809–60–0
19817–80–0
Jim Dickerson198210–60–0
198326–412–0 *
198432–512–0 *
198534–713–1 *
Chris Poole198621–1511–3
Gaye Griffin198725–812–0 *
Natalie Alred198818–187–5
198917–176–6
199017–185–7
199125–157–5Stacy Burnett–Mallett
199220–173–7
19935–211–7
Shannon Burks199412–154–6
199515–153–7
Tracy McWilliams199617–183–7
199726–810–0 *Dong Mei Cui
199824–177–3
199934–710–0 *
200036–5 #12–0 *
Amanda Thiessen200119–129–3
200220–138–4Ningning Liu
20034–251–11
Kristy Bayer200413–175–7
200525–129–5
200620–165–7
200722–138–4
200831–511–1
200924–138–4
201031–511–1Sarah Von Lienen
201135–4 #16–0 *Laura Farney
201227–1011–3
201325–12 #9–5
201429–6 #13–1 *
201526–715–1 *
  1. 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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
Jim Yeager1977–785–183–15
1978–7924–416–2 *
1979–8029–2 #17–1 *Sherry Raney
1980–8129–316–2 *Sherry Raney
1981–8220–613–5 *Sherry Raney
Jim Dickerson1982–8322–710–2
1983–8423–910–4
1984–8523–811–5
1985–8623–317–1 *
1986–8729–6 %16–2 *Donna Brunson
Joe Foley1987–8829–5 %14–2 *Donna Brunson
1988–8935–2 %16–0 *Lanell Dawson
Cindi Patton
Kala Cooley
1989–9030–315–1 *Lanell Dawson
1990–9128–614–2 *Amanda Hill
1991–9235–1 !16–0 *Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
1992–9331–5 !12–4Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
Dawn Grell
1993–9430–3 #14–0 *Stephanie Strack
Alison Setliff
Dawn Grell
Carin Pinion
1994–9528–6 #15–1 *
1995–9623–9 #11–3Kim Stephens
1996–9729–4 %13–1Heather Campbell
Jennifer Richardson
1997–9826–5 #12–2 *Jennifer Richardson
1998–9931–7 %11–3
1999–0024–7 #13–1 *
2000–0123–8 #13–3
2001–0225–6 #13–3 *
2002–0329–4 #14–2 *
Carin Pinion–McNabb2003–0413–146–10
2004–0510–195–11
Todd Schaefer2005–0615–127–9
2006–0722–10 #11–3
Dave Wilbers2007–0826–6 #12–2Amanda Grappe
2008–0919–99–5Amanda Grappe
2009–1031–3 #12–2 *Jenny Vining
2010–1130–3 #13–1 *Natalia Santos
2011–1222–413–3
2012–1323–7 #17–3 *Roselis Silva
2013–1417–1112–8
2014–1523–7 #16–4Fatima Adams
2015–1627–4 #21–1 *Fatima Adams
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.

YearConferenceAll-American
2002No Tournament
20033rd
20043rd
20053rd
20064th
YearConferenceAll-American
20072nd
20085th
20095th
20104th
20111st
YearConferenceAll-American
20122nd #
20133rd #Rebecka Surtevall
20142nd #
20151st #Rebecka Surtevall
20161st #
width=175 height=25
  1. 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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
Kristie Betancur200321–90–0
200415–266–16
200527–2110–18
Gidget Pambianchi200622–2513–20
200712–355–22
200841–1720–9
200942–2119–9
201022–2612–18
201134–1923–7
201211–175–9
Kristy Bayer
(interim)		20125–14
(16–31 α)		3–9
(8–18 α)
Kristina McSweeney201326–2319–15Siarra Gomez
201431–2719–21
201541–22 #22–14
201649–11 #34–6Jalissa Gum
  1. 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.

CoachYearOverallConferenceAll-American
Natalie Alred19933–103–9
19944–84–6
Clarence Holley199514–111–1 *
Tom Olsen19964–131–8
19973–101–5
Mark Dannhoff19985–93–4
John Bateman19996–122–4
Brent Good20007–162–4
Shery Forrest20019–173–5
200214–11 #4–4
200312–114–4
20045–163–5
Abby Davis20057–163–5
20066–192–5
20076–161–5
200811–103–3
200917–54–2
201010–64–2
201110–73–2
201217–56–0 *
201312–65–1 *
201416–6 #5–1
201518–5 #5–1
201611–134–3
  1. National Tournament
    * Conference Champion

Notable athletes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arkansas Tech University . Arkansas Tech . NCAA.com. March 20, 2016.

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