SHAWNEE – With the shift into the 2023-24 academic and athletic calendar at Oklahoma Baptist, Brian Whitlock now transitions into the head-coaching role for the OBU Track and Field teams.
Whitlock, a 2001 OBU graduate, moves into the lead role after decorated coach
Ford Mastin stepped aside from his head-coaching responsibilities at the close of the spring.
"I am super excited to lead this program and am ready for the challenge of D2 athletics," Whitlock said.
"I would like to first thank God for blessing me with this opportunity; my wife and kids for embracing the move here and to Coach Mastin, Robert Davenport and OBU for having the confidence in me to lead this program."
Whitlock is no stranger to leading track and field teams. Before coming back to Bison Hill, he served as head coach for Wayland Baptist.
In 18 years at Wayland, the results were staggering: he was a nine-time NAIA Coach of the Year, was a part of 12 national championship teams, a dozen more runner-up finishes and was the head coach for 105 individual and relay national titles.
During his time with the Pioneers, Whitlock's teams finished in the top 10 at 46 of 58 national championship meets. In terms of individual honors, the Pioneers racked up some remarkable achievements. In his time at Wayland, Whitlock coached an astonishing 575 All-America award winners and WBU student-athletes earned 10 most valuable performer awards at national meets, set 50 school records and broke eight national marks.
Among other highlights during his time at WBU, Whitlock's women's teams were recognized as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association's (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year three straight times from 2017-19.
"Coach Mastin will be a hard act to follow, however, I am confident and excited that we will continue to grow and build the program that Ford made so successful. We have a wonderful group of student athletes that are returning. Plus, I am very excited to work with our new signees that will continue OBU's long standing tradition of a successful track and field program."
