At long last football has been brought back to Wayland Baptist University, known for their online degree programs. It’s been 71 years but the wait is finally over.

The school announced on Thursday that there will be football at WBU starting in the fall of 2012. Over 100 athletes have already committed to the team and excitement is at a fever pitch.

“We are very enthusiastic,” said Dr. Greg Feris, Director of Athletics at WBU when asked about the reinstatement of the program and new head coach Butch Henderson. “[Butch] has a strong work ethic and knows West Texas football like the back of his hand.”

New head coach Butch Henderson comes to WBU as one of the most respected coaches in West Texas. “His knowledge of the game, his excellent coaching history, and his understanding of West Texas athletes and athletics are unsurpassed,” praised Feris. “[He’s] a profoundly compelling match for our new program.”

Henderson starts his tenure at WBU with over 32 years of coaching experience. Most of that time was spent coaching at Coronado High School where Henderson turned the program from a perpetual pariah into a yearly regional contender.

WBU hopes Henderson’s track record will continue, and fast. Henderson knows better than anyone that this program needs to take off running. “This gives me the opportunity to match what I really believe and start a football program from scratch, which is really exciting.”

Though the program’s first game will not be played until the fall of 2012, the team has already begun practicing. They will use the fall 2011 season to practice and shape their program and get ready for their first game in 2012.

Until now, WBU has largely focused on baseball, basketball and their online degree programs. They expect football to be a very popular addition to their athletic programs.

For additional information on WBU’s new football program or online degree programs please call 800-588-1928 or visit www.wbu.edu.

About Wayland Baptist University:

Wayland Baptist University and their online degree programs exist to educate students in an academically challenging, learning focused, and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong learning, and service to God and humankind with online degree options. Wayland offers a wide variety of opportunities unlike any other online Christian colleges, and is also home to one of the fastest growing online degree programs available. The university was among the first institutions in the country to offer military education online to meet the needs of those serving in the United States armed services.

Contact:

Wayland Baptist University
800-588-1928

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According to Dr. Greg Feris, WBU Director of Athletics, Henderson was the unanimous choice of the search committee. 

“Butch is an outstanding Christian gentleman and coach. He has a strong work ethic, knows West Texas football like the back of his hand, and is a perfect fit for who and what we are as a university.”

Last spring, Wayland announced the reinstatement of intercollegiate football to its athletic program after a 71-year absence. Over 100 athletes have already committed to form the Fall 2011 Leadership Class, which will practice, condition and work at the level of any other collegiate football program with the exception of playing a competitive schedule. The official WBU football season will begin in the Fall of 2012.

Henderson takes over the position from Jeff Lynn who resigned two weeks ago. WBU President Dr. Paul Armes says that the university is thankful for the good beginning foundation that Lynn left, and is thrilled and grateful that Henderson has accepted the invitation to continue to build that initial foundation into a vibrant and competitive football program.

“We are very enthusiastic about Coach Henderson’s arrival at Wayland. His knowledge of the game, his excellent coaching history, and his understanding of West Texas athletes and athletics are unsurpassed. Additionally, both the depth of his personal character and his strong faith commitment to Jesus Christ make him a profoundly compelling match for our new program.”

Henderson has over 32 years of coaching experience, the last 23 of which was spent at Coronado High School in Lubbock, Texas. Prior to his arrival in Lubbock in 1988, the Coronado High School football team had only six winning seasons and one playoff appearance in its first 22 years of competition. In the 23 years since, the Mustangs have had 11 playoff appearances and four regional/area championships.

In addition, as Athletic Coordinator at the Coronado campus, Henderson was instrumental in transforming the Mustang athletic program from having only one consistent winning team into being the strongest Class 5A program in the area that stretches from Amarillo to the north, Odessa to the west, and San Angelo to the south, according to a study by the Amarillo Globe News in 2010.

Henderson’s overall record as head football coach at CHS was 141-105. He won District Coach of the Year honors a combined six times at Borger High School and Coronado High, and was the South Plains/Top of Texas Coach of the Year eight times. Henderson was the recipient of the Coaches Care Award presented by Gatorade in 1992. He has served on the Texas High School Coaches Board of Directors, was on the THSCA selection committee in 1990, and was the coach of the North Team for the 2008 West Texas All-Star Game.

A graduate of Artesia (NM) High School, Henderson received his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern New Mexico and his master’s degree from West Texas A&M University. He was the secondary coach and head track coach at Borger and in New Braunfels before taking over the helm of a struggling Borger program in 1978. The Bulldogs appeared in the playoffs in four of the final six years that Henderson served as head coach.

Henderson and his wife, Karen, a speech therapist, have been married 36 years and have four children: Rex, a coach and teacher in Artesia, NM; Jodi, a former track and soccer star at Wayland who is teaching in Irving, Texas; Janna, a corporate fitness manager in Irving; and Rick, a freshman ministerial student at Howard Payne University.

The 22-year-old senior from Fort Worth Texas, is a standout student-athlete excelling in the classroom and on the track as a member of the Pioneers men’s indoor and outdoor teams. A talented and gifted musician McLean will earn a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and will serve as a leader as he travels his life road beyond the walls of Wayland Baptist and outside the lanes of NAIA competition.

McLean, who has become an extraordinary example of how to approach academic and athletic excellence, is well known for his accomplishments on the track, among them: 2010 Outdoor National Champion (team); 2010 NAIA Indoor National Champion (4×400M relay); and NAIA All-American on multiple occasions. He has been recognized with the UPS Scholarship, Spinning Wheel Award, Pioneer Scholarship and Rookie of the Year honors for International Choir. He is also a member of the Wayland Baptist Dean’s List and this past fall carried a lead role in production of the Big Bad Wolf. He is currently a founding member of the new gospel choir formed by student volunteers and will tour with the group leading worship in various venues across the Plainview community. His academic and athletic performance is setting the bar for future students at an extremely high level.

Asked if participating in sports helps with other aspects of his life, McLean says he believes that it does.

“Winning the team NAIA Championship last year was a dream come true, and so far it’s been the zenith of my college career, but winning it would not have been possible without a lot of hard work and responsibility – to myself, my school and to my teammates.”

“The definition of servant leadership is personified by Caleb’s many actions,” said associate head coach Rohn Thompson, who nominated McLean. “When Caleb arrived on campus, he was the first person to practice, the hardest competitor on the track and perhaps the most important thing of all, the biggest believer among all the athletes.”

“Caleb is the kind of man that both Wayland and the NAIA can be proud of,” added Dr. Ann Stutes, Dean of the School of Music. “Caleb’s music professors and his coaches continue to marvel at his ability to negotiate his complex calendar of work-outs, travel to competition, rehearsals, practicing, concert events and studying.”

McLean was selected as the national winner of the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award from an outstanding list of conference award winners. He will be recognized at the NAIA Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the 2012 NAIA Convention in Newport Beach, Calif. April 12-16. By recognizing outstanding student-athletes who set the standard with their approach in and out of competition, the NAIA furthers its mission to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics. To learn more about the NAIA visit www.naia.org.

PLAINVIEW, Texas — Wayland Baptist scored ten runs in its final two at bats to come from behind and defeat West Texas A&M 14-11 in nonconference baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Wilder Field.

Sophomore Chris Lee came off the bench to go two-for-two with five RBI, including a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning that gave the Pioneers their first lead of the game. Kevin Hennessey also homered, Miguel Pagan had four hits including a triple, and Eddie Allen extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a double.

The Pioneers trailed 11-4 after WTA&M put up a five spot in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Ben Christian and Pagan got back-to-back singles to get the first rally started. Christian later scored on a wild pitch and after Hennessey and Brian Embery drew walks, Gabe Sandersius, who doubled in the second, picked up the RBI when he was hit by a pitch.

Lee, hitting for starting catcher Oscar Rivera, made it 11-6 with a base hit to right. Calvin Bass followed with a two-run single that put Wayland within three.

Derrick Sampel held the Buffaloes scoreless in the eighth, helped out by two great defensive plays by Christian. The sophomore rightfielder made a diving stop in shallow right field to capture the first out of the inning, and then made a terrific leaping catch over his shoulder in deep right to record the final out of the inning.

In the home half of the eighth, Pagan greeted the new pitcher with a hard shot that got by the diving Buffalo centerfielder for a triple. Hennessey walked for the third time, and centerfielder Aldo Mendez brought home Pagan with a base hit. Embery bunted to load the bases for Lee, who deposited the 0-1 pitch over the fence in left to clear the bases.

Mendez, who had three hits, a couple of runs batted in, and a leaping catch at the outfield wall to take away a home run, did his job on the mound in the ninth. The senior southpaw got the final three outs for his first save of the season. Sampel went an inning and a third for the victory, his first of the year.

Senior JT Huckabay got the start for WBU coach Brad Bass. He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out four in 3-2/3 innings of work.

The 24-11 Buffaloes were led by Eric Dorton who went three-for-three and reached base safely three other times.

The Pioneers improve to 17-21. They remain home for a conference series this weekend against USAO. Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. First pitch for the single game on Saturday is set for 1 p.m.

Wayland, ranked #17 in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll, outshot #12 Lubbock Christian by five strokes, and #20 Southern Nazarene by 11.

“The conditions were better than yesterday, but the wind speed increased steadily as the day went on,” said WBU women’s coach Jim Giacomazzi. “We didn’t compete as well as we would have liked today, but we did manage to beat two pretty tough opponents.”

Individually, two Pioneers placed among the top ten in the 25-player field. Sophomore Nathalia Valencia finished in a tie for fourth place with a two-day total of 163 (84-79). Ayne Magombe, a junior, was tied for sixth after shooting a 166 (79-87).

Two other juniors, Allie Miles and Brianne Anderson, were two strokes apart. Miles shot a 171 (83-88) and Anderson finished up with a 173 (85-88). Sophomore Krisann Earp (89-91 – 180) also competed for the Wayland women on the par 72, 6008-yard course.

Plan now to attend one of  Wayland’s Pigskin Preview Days.

February 12, 2011
March 5, 2011
Big Weeken – March 25-26, 2011

For details and registration information, click here.

“We’ve had a good first three weeks,” said Lynn who left New Mexico Military Institute to help build the new program at Wayland. “So far we’ve gotten signatures from 22 kids. We’re about a one-third of the way there, and I am pleased at how things have progressed so far. The emphasis right now is on getting linemen to come in and lay a solid foundation for our 2012 football team.”

Of the 22 athletes that have committed to the Pioneer football program, 11 are linemen whose average weight tips the scales at 263 pounds. Six of those are from Panhandle area high schools including three 1st team All-District 3-4A honorees – Joe Serrano and Nathan Askins from Amarillo’s Caprock High School, and Brandon Duryee of Hereford High School — and one from Idalou High School – Sammy Garcia, who earned 1st team All-District.

Other big guys who will spend their time in the trenches for the Pioneers are Luke Grant, a 1st team All-District offensive lineman from Gateway Christian School in Roswell, NM; James Venette, a 1st team All-District O-lineman from Huntsville (Texas) High School; Caid Faske, a defensive lineman from Bushland High School in Amarillo; Taylor Pierce, an offensive tackle who played at Shallowater (Texas) High School; and Elijah Gardiner, another O-lineman from Alvord (Texas) High School.

Two other linemen who have committed to Wayland played for Lynn at NMMI – Joel Rice, a 2nd team All-State defensive tackle from Carlsbad (NM) High School, and Jamil Wilson, a 1st team All-State defensive tackle from Highland High School in Albuquerque, NM.

Another player signed by Lynn on the defensive side of the ball is Nathan Salcido a linebacker at Lubbock’s Frenship High School, who was the 2010 All-South Plains Defensive Player of the Year.

Three skill position players who have committed to become part of the Pioneer leadership class are transfers. Wide receiver David Johnson of El Paso Hanks High School transfer from NMMI and Kaul Corley of Gallup (NM) High School a transfer from the University of New Mexico, while wide receiver Johnathan Eaton comes to Wayland from Abilene Christian. Eaton played his high school ball at Lubbock Christian High.

The remainder of Lynn’s skill position players are defensive back Nick Cormier of Pine Tree High School in Longview, Texas; running back Darius Miller, the Alltel and Old Spice Player of the Year from Midland (Texas) High School; kicker Fernando De Luna of Immanuel Christian School in Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico; quarterback Manny Freeland of Edna (Texas) High School who was a 1st team All-District honoree and a Built Ford Tough Class 2A Texas High School Player of the Week in 2010; Amarillo Caprock High School’s wide receiver/corner tandem of Daniel Sommers and Darrian Sommers; and quarterback Thomas Curry, an honorable mention All-District 3-4A selection from Plainview (Texas) High.

According to Lynn, all players signed on Wednesday and those that commit over the next several months will practice and lift, as any other group of 2011 red-shirts would, in order to develop and prepare for competitive action beginning in the fall of 2012.

Visit the Wayland Athletics website for more details.