Abilene Christian Wildcats

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.

Abilene Christian Wildcats
UniversityAbilene Christian University
ConferenceSouthland Conference
NCAADivision I
Athletic directorAllen Ward
LocationAbilene, Texas
Varsity teams16
Football stadiumAnthony Field at Wildcat Stadium
ArenaMoody Coliseum
Baseball stadiumCrutcher Scott Field
Softball stadiumPoly Wells Field
Soccer stadiumElmer Gray Stadium
MascotWillie, the Wildcat
NicknameWildcats
Fight songACU Fight Song
ColorsPurple and White[1]
         
Websitewww.acusports.com

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
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBeach volleyball
Cross countryCross country
FootballSoccer
GolfSoftball
TennisTennis
Track and field†Track and field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

A member of the Southland Conference, Abilene Christian sponsors teams in seven men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports.

Baseball
Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats baseball

Basketball
Main articles: Abilene Christian Wildcats men's basketball and Abilene Christian Wildcats women's basketball

Football
Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats football

Softball
Main article: Abilene Christian Wildcats softball

Championships

Cross Country (Men's)

Total: 2

Football

Total: 2

Golf (Men's)

Total: 1

Track and Field (Indoor)

(Men's)

Total: 14

(Women's)

Total: 12
  • NCAA Division II: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Track and Field (Outdoor)

(Men's)

Total: 24
  • NAIA Division I (5): 1952, 1954, 1955, 1978, 1982
  • NCAA Division II (19): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011

(Women's)

Total: 10

Baseball
Total: 7

Basketball
(Men's)
Total: 3
(Women's)
Total: 8
  • Lone Star Conference: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99

Cross Country
(Men's)
Total: 26
  • Lone Star Conference: 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)
Total: 15
  • Lone Star Conference: 1983, 1984, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Football
Total: 4

Golf (Men's)
Total: 9

Soccer (Women's)
Total: 1

Tennis
(Men's)
Total: 11
(Women's)
Total: 22
  • Lone Star Conference: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010

Track and Field
(Men's)
Total: 28
  • Lone Star Conference: 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, 2011, 2012
(Women's)
Total: 23
  • Lone Star Conference: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008

Volleyball
Total: 2

Notable non varsity sports

ACU currently has club sports in Men's Lacrosse, Men's Rugby, Men's Soccer, and Co-Ed Golf. ACU Athletics took over all club sports on the ACU campus in January 2017 and named Todd Rogers as the Director of Club Sports, who oversees all 4 sports. Todd is an Abilene native and a December 2016 graduate of Texas Tech University. As the Director of Club Sports, Rogers will oversee the university's nationally competitive program with the hopes of driving enrollment and adding more club sports in the future.

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

[4]

References
  1. "Colors of Master Logo - Office of University Marketing". Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  2. All divisions/collegiate total championships ncaa.org, Chipionship History (through June 2, 2013), p.1. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  3. "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
  4. "Staff Directory". Abilene Christian University Athletics.
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