Wilson announces retirement as Vanguard Athletic Director
Bob Wilson has announced his intention to retire as Vanguard University athletic director, effective next year, after 20 years of leading the Lions.
During Wilson’s tenure, he has been the leader of Vanguard Athletics, a department has won two national championships and 26 Golden State Athletic Conference titles in seven different sports.
Under Wilson’s direction, the Lions have become one of the leading programs in the GSAC.
“I love Vanguard University, because I love the opportunity to be involved with people,” Wilson said in a release. “Vanguard has provided me the opportunity to implement what an athletic program can look like at a faith-based institution, with the emphasis on the development of the whole person, as well as having success in the athletic arena.”
Since Wilson arrived at Vanguard in the fall of 1995, he has been committed to making an impact on students and athletes at the university.
Wilson coached basketball at the collegiate level for more than 24 years, retiring from coaching after the 2005-06 season with the Lions men’s basketball team. At coaching retirement, Wilson’s overall record was 385-357.
“Bob Wilson is a champion of character,” said Dr. Michael J. Beals, president of Vanguard. “His enduring legacy has been forged in the hearts and lives of student athletes who pursued integrity and competitive excellence and achieved both.”
Wilson has served the NAIA in significant ways over the years, including chair of NAIA Region II, chair of the National Administration Council, president of the Basketball Coaches Assn., men’s basketball rater, and chairman of the NAIA Basketball Tournament. In addition, Wilson has served as vice president of the GSAC, and is currently a member of the National Assn. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
In 2002 and 2012, Wilson was named NAIA Athletic Director of the Year for the west coast.
In 2004, Wilson was certified by the NAIA as Champions of Character Instructor, and since then has regularly engaged the Vanguard community, speaking and teaching classes on changing the culture of sport. Vanguard University’s Gold Pride program, created by Wilson, has conceptualized the Champions of Character initiative on the Vanguard campus.
In March 2007, Wilson was inducted into the NAIA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Born in Denver, Colo., Wilson was the son of an athletics coach. He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school, and later, collegiate basketball. An Academic All-America athlete, Wilson was starting point guard while at University of Wyoming and helped lead his basketball team to the NCAA Tournament.
He graduated from Wyoming in 1969, with a degree in biological sciences, minor in kinesiology. He later went on to receive his masters in physical education at University of Nebraska, Omaha. Prior to his time at Vanguard, Wilson served as athletic director and basketball coach at Phillips University for 11 years and basketball coach at University of Hawaii-Hilo for 10 years; with one year as the interim athletic director.
— From staff reports
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Vanguard University Athletics Under Wilson (1995-present)
National Championships: 2
Women’s Basketball: 2008
Men’s Basketball: 2014
GSAC Championships: 26
Women’s Basketball: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2014
Men’s Basketball: 2014
Men’s Soccer: 2004, 2010
Women’s Soccer: 2012
Softball: 1998, 1999
Men’s Tennis: 1996, 1999, 2000, 2013, 2014, 2015
Women’s Tennis: 2004, 2005, 2014