The West Texas A&M Buffaloes, also known as the WTAMU Buffaloes or WT Buffaloes, and formerly West Texas State Buffaloes and WTSU Buffaloes, are the athletic teams that represent West Texas A&M University, located in Canyon, Texas, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Buffaloes, colloquially known as the Buffs (men) and Lady Buffs (women), compete as members of the Lone Star Conference for all 14 varsity sports.
 | This article only references primary sources. (May 2023) |
| West Texas A&M Buffaloes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | West Texas A&M University |
| Conference | LSC (primary) |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Michael McBroom |
| Location | Canyon, Texas |
| Varsity teams | 14 (7 men's, 7 women's) |
| Football stadium | Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium |
| Basketball arena | First United Bank Center |
| Baseball stadium | Wilder Park |
| Softball stadium | Schaeffer Park |
| Soccer stadium | The Pitch |
| Other venues | WTAMU Fieldhouse |
| Nickname | Buffaloes/Buffs (men) Lady Buffs (women) |
| Colors | Maroon and white[1] |
| Website | gobuffsgo |
| Team NCAA championships | |
| 9 | |
West Texas A&M was a member of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1941 to 1961. The football team won a conference championship in 1950. The Buffs were members of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1972 to 1985.
Varsity sports
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Men's sports
|
Women's sports
|
National championships
Team
| Sport | Association | Division | Year | Opponent/Runner-up | Score/Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's volleyball | NCAA | Division II | 1990 | North Dakota State | 3–0 |
| 1991 | Portland State | 3–0 | |||
| 1997 | Barry | 3–2 | |||
| 2022 | Concordia-St Paul | 3–1 | |||
| Softball | NCAA | Division II | 2014 | Valdosta State | 3-2 |
| 2021 | Biola | 0-5 / 7-4 / 4-1 | |||
| Women's Outdoor Track & Field | NCAA | Division II | 2017 | Grand Valley State | 64-44 |
| 2022 | Grand Valley State | 77-64 | |||
| Women's Indoor Track & Field | NCAA | Division II | 2018 | Western Colorado | 53-40 |
Individual teams
Football
The football team plays its home games at Bain-Schaffer Buffalo Stadium, a newly built, on-campus stadium. Previously, WT played at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. The Buffs play rival Eastern New Mexico University each fall for the Wagon Wheel trophy, and rival Midwestern State University for the Highway 287 Challenge Cup.
Sun Bowl Champions
1949, 1962
Tangerine (Citrus Bowl) Champions
1957
Pasadena Bowl Champions
1967
Kanza Bowl Champions
2009, 2011
NCAA DII Playoffs
National Semifinals: 2012
Basketball
The Buff and Lady Buff basketball teams play in the First United Bank Center, a 5,800 seat multi-purpose arena in Canyon, Texas. It was built in 2002. It is the home of the Buffaloes basketball teams. The traditional rival is Eastern New Mexico University, but newer rivalries with Midwestern State University and The University of Texas of the Permian Basin have emerged in recent years. A strong tradition of basketball exists at West Texas A&M, dating back to the days of Maurice Cheeks and even as far back as the 1930s and 1940s. The 1954–55 season saw the Buffs make the NCAA tournament, though they would lose to eventual national champion San Francisco University. In 2018–2019, WT became the first school in NCAA history to have both the men's and women's teams host a regional tournament.
| Men's Head Coach | Overall Record | Postseason Record | Tenure | Women's Head Coach | Overall Record | Postseason Record | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Brown | 266-60 | 39-10 | 2014–Present | Josh Prock | 65-35 | 3-4 | 2022–Present |
| Rick Cooper | 391-193 | 28-25 | 1993-2013 | Kristen Mattio | 154-35 | 18-7 | 2016–2021 |
| Jeff Morgan | 17-10 | 0-0 | 1992 | Mark Kellogg | 62-6 | 14-2 | 2013-2015 |
| Mark Adams | 108-40 | 10-6 | 1987-1991 | Krista Gerlich | 168-53 | 19-9 | 2006-2012 |
| Gary Moss | 47-40 | 0-2 | 1984-1986 | Bob Schneider | 585-163 | 53-33 | 1981-2005 |
| Ken Edwards | 68-97 | 2-4 | 1978-1983 | Gary Mooring | 8-14 | 0-0 | 1980 |
| Ron Ekker | 65-70 | 3-1 | 1973-1977 | ||||
| Dennis Wailing | 83-66 | 0-1 | 1967-1972 | ||||
| Jimmy Viramontes | 38-53 | 0-0 | 1963-1966 | ||||
| Metz LaFollete | 33-54 | 0-0 | 1959-1962 | ||||
| Borden Price | 9-31 | 0-0 | 1957-1958 | ||||
| Gus Miller | 197-137 | 7-8 | 1942-1956 | ||||
| Al Baggett | 174-64 | 7-8 | 1934-1941 | ||||
| Carl York | 7-12 | 0-0 | 1933 | ||||
| Sam Burton | 192-40 | 3-3 | 1921-1932 | ||||
| Wayne McCorkle | 8-2 | 0-0 | 1920 |
From WTAMU Record Book[2]
Men's Basketball Postseason
| Runner-up |
|---|
| 2021 |
| Final Four |
| 2018, 2021, 2024 |
| Elite Eight |
| 1998, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 |
| Sweet Sixteen |
| 1998, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 |
| Second Round |
| 1994, 1998, 2001, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 2023, 2024 |
| NCAA First Round |
| 1955, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| NIT First Round |
| 1942, 1969, 1980 |
| NAIB Tournament |
| Third Place: 1941 Second Round: 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1952 First Round: 1939, 1950 |
| LSC Tournament Champions |
| 1990, 1991, 1994, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 2023 |
| LSC Regular Season Champions |
| 1991, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2018, 2019, 2020 2023, 2024 |
| LSC Division Champions |
| 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2020, 2023, 2024 |
| BIAA Regular Season Champions |
| 1942, 1943, 1952, 1955 |
Women's Basketball Postseason
| Runner Up |
|---|
| 1988, 2014 |
| Final Four |
| 1988, 2014 |
| Elite Eight |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2009 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022 |
| Sweet Sixteen |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
| Second Round |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| First Round |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| WNIT First Round |
| 1985, 1986 |
| AIAW First Round |
| 1982 |
| LSC Tournament Champions |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2014 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| LSC Regular Season Champions |
| 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2006 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 2022 |
| LSC Division Champions |
| 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020 |
Volleyball
The Lady Buff volleyball team is a four-time NCAA Division II National Champion, winning the title in 1990, 1991, 1997, and most recently in 2022. The Lady Buffs holding one of the best home winning records in any level of competitive volleyball, which currently sits at 523-83 (495-49 at the D2 level).[citation needed] The team plays its home matches at Britkare Court at the WTAMU Fieldhouse aka “The Box.”
| Coach | Record | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Brittany Harry | 0-0 | 2024-Present |
| Kendra Potts | 124-24 | 2019–2023 |
| Jason Skoch | 298-95 | 2009-2018 |
| Tony Graystone | 315-61 | 1999-2008 |
| Debbie Hendricks | 159-47 | 1993-1998 |
| Jim Giacomazzi | 66-13 | 1991-1992 |
| Kim Hudson | 127-25 | 1987-1990 |
| Carmen Pennick | 65-104 | 1983-1986 |
| Gary Abramson | 22-2 | 1982 |
| Bobbie Cox | 38-50-2 | 1980-1981 |
| National Champions |
|---|
| 1990, 1991, 1997, 2022 |
| Runner-Up |
| 2009, 2023 |
| Third Place |
| 1992 |
| National Semi-Finals |
| 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009 2013, 2022, 2023 |
| National Quarterfinals |
| 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Regional Finals |
| 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022 2023 |
| Regional Semi-Finals |
| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2022 2023 |
| Post-Season Appearances |
| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| LSC Tournament Champions |
| 2012, 2013, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| LSC Regular Season Champions |
| 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011, 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| LSC South Champions |
| 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 |
Cross Country
The Buffaloes and the Lady Buffs are one of the few Division II institutions that has an on campus cross country course, known as "The Range."
The Buffaloes have won the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 1977, and 1979, and the Lone Star Conference Championship in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. The men have had individual champions in the MVC in 1977 (Joseph Kemei), 1978 (Johnson Bett), 1979 (Johnson Bett), and 1985 (Carlos Ybarra) and in the LSC in 2013 (Dylan Doss), 2015 (Geoffrey Kipchumba), 2016 (Geoffrey Kipchumba), and 2017 (Owen Hind). The men have qualified for the national championships every year since 2013, and had a program best 11th-place finish in 2014. The Buffaloes have had 3 NCAA DII All-Americans, Geoffrey Kipchumba(2015,2016), Owen Hind (2017), and Briggs Wittlake (2018). Ezekiel Kipchichir won the 2019 South Central Region meet.
The Lady Buffs have won the Lone Star Conference Championship in 2012 and 2013. The women have had individual champions in 2012 and 2014.
Indoor/ Outdoor Track
West Texas A&M Women's Outdoor Track & Field won the 2017 and 2022 National Championships defeating Grand Valley State each time in three day events. The Women's Indoor Track & Field team won the 2018 National Championship.
Baseball
| Coach | Record | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Vanderburg | 501-276 | 2009–Present |
| Mark Jones | 180-290 | 2000-2008 |
| Todd Howey | 148-115 | 1995-1999 |
| Mike Marshall | 8-48 | 1994 |
| Regional Participant |
|---|
| 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024 |
| LSC Tournament Champions |
| 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| LSC Regular Season Champions |
| 2014, 2018, 2021 |
Softball
The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs softball team Won the National Championship in 2014 defeating Valdosta State. in 2021, the Lady Buffs won their second title, defeating Biola University 2 games to 1.
| Coach | Record | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Mook | 168-48 | 2020–Present |
| Candace Abrams | 72-28 | 2018–2019 |
| Kevin Blackowski | 467-236 | 2006-2017 |
| National Champions |
|---|
| 2014, 2021 |
| College World Series |
| 2014, 2016, 2021 |
| Super Regionals |
| 2011, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2023 |
| Regional Participant |
| 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 |
| LSC Tournament Champions |
| 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2024 |
| LSC Tournament Appearances |
| 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| LSC Regular Season Champions |
| 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024 |
| LSC South Division Champions |
| 2010 |
Notable alumni
- Joe Fortenberry — winner of the first tournament of Basketball at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- Maurice Cheeks - Hall of Fame NBA basketball player and coach
- Mercury Morris - former NFL running back for the Miami Dolphins
- David Tameilau — plays rugby for the United States national rugby union team
- Duane Thomas - former NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys
In addition to the above, the football program produced several alumni who went on to notable careers in professional wrestling:
- Tully Blanchard – member of the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Four Horsemen stable
- Bobby Duncum Sr.
- Manny Fernandez
- Dory Funk Jr. – member of the WWE Hall of Fame
- Terry Funk – brother of Dory Jr. and also a member of the WWE Hall of Fame; also a pioneer of the hardcore style
- Frank Goodish, better known as Bruiser Brody – one of the industry's most famous brawlers
- Stan Hansen – member of the WWE Hall of Fame
- Virgil Runnels, better known as Dusty Rhodes – member of the WWE Hall of Fame (also played baseball for the then-West Texas State)
- Merced Solis, better known as Tito Santana – member of the WWE Hall of Fame
References
External links
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