Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
University Gardner–Webb University
Conference Big South Conference
NCAA Division I FCS
Athletic director Chuck Burch
Location Boiling Springs, NC
Varsity teams 23
Football stadium Ernest W. Spangler Stadium
Basketball arena Paul Porter Arena
Baseball stadium John Henry Moss Stadium
Soccer stadium Greene–Harbison Stadium
Mascot Mack the Bulldog
Nickname Runnin' Bulldogs
Colors
     Scarlet       Black
Website www.gwusports.com

The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Gardner–Webb University—in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA—which participate in 23 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level. The school's programs are a part of the Big South Conference.

Gardner–Webb has also produced many notable athletes and coaches, including: Artis Gilmore, Gerry Vaillancourt, John Drew, Woody Fish, Eddie Lee Wilkins, Jim Washburn, Blake Lalli, Jim Maxwell, Gabe Wilkins, Cara Saunders, and Brian Johnston.

Teams

A member of the Big South Conference, Gardner-Webb sponsors teams in eleven men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[1]

Men's Intercollegiate Sports

Women's Intercollegiate Sports

Baseball

Head Coach: Rusty Stroupe has been coaching the Runnin' Bulldogs for 12 years. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 1986. Stroupe has accumulated nearly 700 wins as a college coach and is the all-time winningest baseball coach in Gardner–Webb history. Stroupe was awarded the prestigious Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award for 2012 by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He received the award at the FCA Breakfast at the ABCA Convention in January, 2013.

Assistant Coaches: Ray Greene has been the pitching coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs since 2012. Ross Steedley has been the hitting coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs since 2014

Notable Players to come from the Diamond Dawgs

Men's Basketball

Head Coach: East Carolina assistant coach Tim Craft was hired in July 2013 to take over the Gardner-Webb program.

Assistant Coaches: Jeremy Luther, Paul Hemrick, and DeAntoine Beasley

The Gardner–Webb men's basketball team has had some notable success against some of the best teams in college basketball. Gardner-Webb has been featured on ESPN because of their games against teams like Duke, UNC, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma in the final minutes and defeating Kentucky in their 2007-2008 campaign in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

In their 2014-2015 season, the Runnin' Bulldogs set history, beating both Clemson and Purdue on their way to a 20 win season. Their 12-2 home record was the best in the state of North Carolina, beating out perennial powerhouses Duke, NC State, and UNC.

Women's Basketball

Head coach: Rick Reeves

Assistant Coaches: Ralph Patin, Cierra Harris, and Cetera DeGraffenreid

Rick Reeves has served as head coach for nine seasons. During this time he has turned the program around from only five wins in the year previous to his arrival to two championship appearances in the Big South Tournament including their first year in the Big South Conference. Reeves, who had previously coached at Liberty and Southern Mississippi, faced Liberty in the championship losing by one point to the defending champions in 2008–2009 and losing by two in 2009–2010 before finally defeating them by one in 2010-2011, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. The program also had their first ever winning season since moving to Division I, finishing 17–15 in 2008–2009. Gardner–Webb was also able to post a nine-game home winning streak in 2008–2009.[2]

In 2009–2010, the program set school records in wins (28) and also tied a Big South Conference Record in wins. The team won its first conference title in the 35-year history of the program and made its first postseason appearance ever in the WNIT.[3] The team also picked up a huge non-conference win at Purdue in 2009-2010.[4]

Reeves coached with both his daughters at Gardner–Webb, Kim Clark and Krystal Reeves-Evans before the start of the 2010-2011 season, when Clark left to be an assistant at Middle Tennessee State.

Cross Country/Track and Field

Head Coach: Brian Baker

Assistant Coaches: Robert Golabek, Evan Brusich

The Track and Field team won the A-Sun conference championship in their 2005-2006 season.

Football

Head Coach: Carroll McCray, hired in February, 2013

Assistant Coaches: Randall McCray (DC), Kenny Ray (OL), Brett Nichols (QB), La'Donte Harris (WR/TE), Isaac Mooring (DL), Travis Cunningham (ILB), Brett Hickman (RB), Trey McCray (OLB)

Golf

Head Coach: Tee Burton

Assistant Coach: Meghan Allum

Men's Soccer

Head Coach: Tony Setzer

Assistant Coaches: Tyler Kettering

Women's Soccer

Head Coach: Mike Varga

Assistant Coaches: Samantha Huecker, Lauren Arnold

In the fall of 2006, the Gardner–Webb soccer team won its conference and made it to the NCAA second round.

In 2001 the Runnin' Bulldogs were the National Christian College Athletic Association Champions, following that tournament Mounce was named NCCAA National Women's Soccer Coach of the Year. In 2002 the Runnin' Bulldogs became a Division I program participating in the Atlantic Sun Conference. At the conclusion of their season, the team was ranked second in the nation for first-year division I programs by Soccer Buzz. In 2003 the Runnin' Bulldogs saw their first ever appearance in the Atlantic Sun Championship, finishing 5th in the league. For this accomplishment, former head coach Kevin Mounce was named A-Sun coach of the year. In 2004, GWU had a forward, Leeanna Woodworth who led the nation in scoring. She became A-Sun player of the year and broke many school records. In 2008 the team transferred to the Big South Conference. In their first year competing in the Big South they finished 4-12-2.[5]

Softball

Head Coach: Tom Cole

Assistant Coaches: Angel Bunner

Swimming

Head Coach: Mike Simpson

Assistant Coaches: Nate Rhoads, Josh Stanfield, Tanya Hobbs

The Men's Swim Team placed second at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association conference meet. Placing first was Davidson, second place went to Gardner–Webb, and in third was College of Charleston.

The Women's Team Placed Third overall, after Florida Gulf Coast and Davidson respectively, and earned six NCAA "B" cuts. The Women earned these NCAA qualifying standards in the 100 and 200 Breaststoke, 50 Free, 100 Backstroke, and the 200 and 400 Medley Relays.

Tennis

Head Coaches: Mike Griffith (M) and Jim Corn (W)

Volleyball

Head Coach: Leo Sayles

Assistant Coaches: Bethany Martin, Breanna Mazalewski

Wrestling

Head Coach: Daniel Elliott

Assistant Coaches: Kyle Blevins, Darrius Little

Gardner–Webb's wrestling team competes in the Southern Conference since the Big South is a non-wrestling Conference.

References

  1. ↑ "Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs". Gardner-Webb University. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.gwusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=3714668&DB_OEM_ID=10300
  3. ↑ http://www.gwusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204911321&DB_OEM_ID=10300
  4. ↑ http://www.gwusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SPID=4169&DB_OEM_ID=10300&SPSID=46217&ATCLID=204861768
  5. ↑ http://www.gwusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46226&SPID=4170&DB_OEM_ID=10300&ATCLID=543366&Q_SEASON=2008

1. "Baseball." GWUsports.com. Gardner–Webb,2009.Web. 24 March 2009.

External links

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