Dr. Terry Wanless’ seven-year tenure as Sacramento State’s Director of Athletics has seen growth unparalleled in the school’s 18-year Division I history. His vision of broad success in the department has come to fruition over the last three years where the Hornets have combined to win 21 conference championships. That includes an unprecedented eight conference titles during both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years. In addition, the program has claimed back-to-back Big Sky Conference Women’s All-Sports Trophies.
In fact, of the 330 Div. I athletics programs, SI.com ranked Sacramento State as the 36th best athletics program during the 2007-08 academic year.
The 2008-09 West Region Athletic Director of the Year for the Football Championship Subdivision, Wanless has overseen significant facility enhancement to the athletic facilities. The biggest change came during the spring of 2008 with the opening of the Broad Fieldhouse, which serves as the home to Hornet football and track and field, as well as athletic training and strength and conditioning.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Fieldhouse is the first step of an elaborate plan that began with the passing of a referendum by the Sacramento State student body. That vote will also lead to the creation of a recreation and wellness center which will benefit the entire student body and is expected to open in the fall of 2010.
Wanless has served on numerous NCAA committees, and just completed a term as a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision selection committee and the Div. I Football Issues Committee. Previously, he was a member of the NCAA Football rules committee and the NCAA Peer Review committee.
Wanless has been a visible member of the Sacramento State athletics family, constantly representing the University and department at public outings and speaking engagements. His commitment to the student-athlete has also been clear as both he and his wife, Joanne, attend the majority of Hornet home athletic events and support several teams on the road.
His leadership and academic support have been evident to the student-athletes in other ways as well. The department’s Life Skills Program has seen rapid growth, significantly increasing the number of summer and fifth-year scholarships available to Hornet student-athletes. The Life Skills program has also launched the program’s first computer lab and offers Hornet student-athletes tutoring as well as academic counseling.
Over the last seven years, Sacramento State student-athletes have posted nearly 2,000 term GPAs of 3.0 or above, and close to 500 Hornets have earned conference all-academic honors during that same time period.
His efforts in restoring the department’s booster club structure as well as aggressively improving the University’s collegiate licensing program, while not readily visible, are projects that will surely enhance the program’s financial footing in years to come.
Athletically, the Hornets have also seen continued growth and success on the field of play. During his seven years at Sacramento State, 22 teams and 125 individuals have advanced to NCAA postseason competition.
Wanless’ efforts to put the Hornets on the map have been instrumental in helping make Sacramento State the unofficial “home of NCAA Championships”. During his seven years of leadership, Sacramento State has served as host to seven NCAA championships (four track, two rowing, one volleyball) as well as the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Prior to Sacramento State, Wanless served as athletics director at the University of North Dakota from 1990-1999, guiding the program to one of its most successful decades in school history. During that time, North Dakota enjoyed strong competitive success, winning four NCAA national championships and 36 conference titles. Additionally, 25 other teams finished second in their respective conferences.
Before his position at North Dakota, Wanless was director of intercollegiate athletics at Western Carolina for four years and held a variety of positions, including director of intercollegiate athletics, at Towson University in Maryland.
Wanless earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Black Hills State, a master’s degree in physical education from Northern Illinois and a doctorate in athletics administration from Temple. He and his wife, Joanne, are the parents of two children. Their daughter, Heather, and her husband, Chad Collins, reside in Lexington, Ky., with their daughter Hadley and son Jack. Their son Troy, and his wife, Jesi, live in Minneapolis with their daughter Elli.
