Wayland Baptist University, situated in Plainview, Texas, will eliminate their men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams after only four seasons. The Pioneers announced the addition of swimming to the WBU athletic lineup in January of 2013 and the men’s and women’s teams launched with the 2013-14 school year.
SwimSwam spoke with head coach Alyson Hannan who learned about the decision four minutes before the athletes received an email from Rick Cooper, Director of Athletics, this afternoon. Coach Hannon was told the decision was made based on “facility and budgetary issues.” The team trains at the Plainview YMCA, and for the last four years its travel and scholarship budgets have been whittled away every year.
The email from the Athletic Director to the team read as follows:
From: Rick Cooper
Date: Fri, Jun 16, 2017 at 12:54 PM
Subject: WBU Swim and Dive Program
To: Rick Cooper
Cc: Alyson Hannan
This communication is to let you know that after much examination, deliberation and prayer with Athletic and University Administration, we are making the difficult decision to immediately discontinue our Swimming and Diving program.
We will not field a team or compete in Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Dive.
This has been a very difficult decision, but one we believe is both necessary and best at this point in time.
As a former student athlete, and the father of two college student athletes, I can empathize with how stressful this is for the families and members of our Swim and Dive team.
Please be aware that the University is honoring the athletic scholarship for all impacted student athletes who want to continue their studies at Wayland Baptist University for the 17-18 academic year, and who remain eligible in accordance with University and Athletic department policies. In fact, while we know it is unlikely, we hope that all affected student athletes will continue their education as Wayland Baptist University students.
We will give affected student athletes permission to contact any other schools for purposes of transfer, and we will grant full releases to any affected student athlete who wishes to transfer and pursue other intercollegiate athletic opportunities.
Members of the Athletic and Admissions administration and staff are available to discuss scholarship and transfer information as well as provide academic advisement.
I will be attempting to contact each member of the 17-18 team by telephone, but wanted to get this information out to you so you can begin planning accordingly.
Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions at the number listed below, and please leave your name and a phone number in the event I am not able to take the call at that time.
Rick Cooper
Director of Athletics
Wayland Baptist University
In her short time at the helm, Coach Hannan has built a nationally-recognized program in the NAIA, drawing swimmers from California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Washington, Arkansas, and of course Texas, as well as from Barbados, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Germany, Venezuela, and Croatia. She increased the size of the team from 10 men and 7 women in 2013-14 to a combined roster of 29 in 2016-17. She has developed 7 All-Americans (All-American honors are only awarded to top-3 finishers in each individual event at NAIA Nationals) and was recognized by the American Swimming Coaches Association as Coach of Excellence three times.
Wayland Baptist’s four season culminated in four trips to the NAIA National Championships, with four top-10 finishes for the men and four top-20 finishes for the women.
| NAIA Nationals | Men’s team | Women’s team |
| 2017 | 6th | 19th |
| 2016 | 8th | 10th |
| 2015 | 8th | 11th |
| 2014 | 8th | 16th |
The elimination of swimming and diving at Wayland Baptist leaves the state of Texas with just 10 men’s and 13 women’s collegiate swimming and diving programs.
There’s always three sides to a story. Their side, your side, and the truth; and the truth is that these young athletic students have lost the sport they truly love. Let’s all try to remember that Wayland has been spending money that they don’t have on new buildings, and the easiest way to recover the money they lost is to get rid of the sport that was struggling and didn’t even have a chance. So sorry for the coach and the swimmers
This angers me period. I was coached by Alyson and she turn me into something I never thought I could become as a swimmer. Yes, I left after 2 years but it was because I wasn’t truly fitting in at Wayland. But, none of you should be talking about how terrible she was. She improved my swimming time immensely. And thats what truly matters; the changes that Alyson has made on each of her swimmers lives. Whether positive or negative experience she impacted us regardless. This last bit is for all of Wayland to hear. Stop destroying young men and women lives. Stop destroying sports. Stop destroying the Wayland name.
I think we need to focus on the real problem. Programs are being cut to save a budget. If a school will make 700,000 dollars on tuition and the sport cost 200,000. They are still going to make 500,000. Why cut the sport?
“Thoughts to think about” – I hear this argument a lot, and it’s really a non-sequitur argument. This math presumes that the cost of providing $700,000s worth of college education is free for the university.
Braden every University should know “cost per student.” It’s funny to me this detail is never shared.
I think if people knew the whole story they wouldn’t feel so bad , Alyson and Rick sure did a good job of trying to make them look like good people.
The program was still in it’s infancy yet had become a very good program. If you are going to start a program, give it a real commitment and don’t run it out of money so quickly.
Rick, your words are hollow. In my opinion the primary advocate for student athletes (the athletic director) who cuts a program is a failure. Complete failure. I urge you to find another job before you hurt more young adults.
He was actually the one who ENCOURAGED some of the swimmers to leave after they had gone to him with complains and concerns about their coach and what she was doing!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! But you have the greatest coach in the world!!!!!!
My child swam for Alyson on that team. Alyson KILLED the swimming program all on her own. She didn’t build anything. Good swimmers came and she broke them apart.
She is a fantastic coach… you’re just an angry mom who’s child couldn’t hack it.
Actually mine was the one that got those women’s standings up into the 10th and 11th finishes for the 2 years she swam. Alyson is just not a good coach. Many swimmers transferred out after this past season BEFORE this was announced, rather than swim for her again.
I swam for that team too up until now. I think Coach did a really good job for us but most importantly it was the athletics department deciding to kill the program behind her back even though we as swimmers delivered
A combined roster of 29 after 4 years isn’t very impressive
We swan in a 6 lane pool with limited pool time
No facility on campus, limited practice time and limited aid. Not impressive at all.