Dr. Claude Lusk behind much of Wayland Baptist athletics program's success

(Dr. Claude Lusk will be inducted into the WBU Athletics Hall of Honor along with Mark Adams, Kirby Dunn, Daniel Franklin, Serenity King, Kristina Edwards Lee, Joe Lombard, Don Christa & Caren Smith, and Jodie Young during ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 in the Laney Center. Ray Murphree will be awarded the Harley Redin Coach's Award. A continental breakfast begins at 8:30. The public is invited).
 
By CROSSLYN LUSK
WBU Sports Information

As a lifetime Plainview resident and longtime supporter of Wayland Baptist University athletics, Dr. Claude Lusk witnessed an abundance of WBU athletics in his younger days and then later as a Wayland student. In becoming a devoted member of the Wayland family, he has since played a key role in enhancing existing athletics programs at the university as well as developing new programs including football, soccer, wrestling, swimming, and cheer & dance.
 
"I came into this as a fan. I've watched it, I've attended it, and I've seen a whole lot of Wayland athletics through a lens (as a photographer), and getting to do what I have done recently (as WBU vice president of enrollment management overseeing the athletics department) has been a labor of love," Dr. Lusk said.
 
Dr. Lusk's ties to Wayland athletics extend all the way back to his childhood when, as a grade-schooler, he played basketball and watched the Pioneers work out in Nunn Gymnasium. The gymnasium later became the Nunn Business Building where he would earn his college business degree and then become an assistant/associate professor of business in 1999.
 
During his time as a student at Wayland, Dr. Lusk was involved in the athletics program as a photographer and was awarded first place by the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association for basketball photography.
 
He was a member of a university baseball club that he, Mitch George and Tim Peterson started in 1983 before baseball was an official program at Wayland. They were passionate about the sport and raised money to buy equipment so they were able to represent Wayland and participate in local and area games.
 
In June 1991 Dr. Lusk attained the title of director of admissions, a role where he had primary oversight of the undergraduate admission process for the Wayland system. He worked closely in conjunction with the offices of financial aid, registrar, student development and student activities. He also hired, trained and organized the student recruitment teams Rejoice and Rec-Team.
 
Dr. Lusk has been presented with numerous honors and awards throughout his journey at Wayland. Among them are WBU Student Government Association Favorite Professor in 2002, Who's Who Among Higher Education Administrators in 2005, and WBU Distinguished Leadership Alumni Award in 2014.
 
He is also an active member within the city of Plainview, having held numerous civic positions, including president of Plainview Area United Way Board of Directors in 2001, member of the Plainview Independent School District Educational Improvement Council from 2000-03, and 2^nd vice president of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce Executive Board of Directors in 2004. He is currently a member of Plainview Area United Way Board of Directors, vice president of Plainview Education Partnership Board of Directors and a deacon at First Baptist Church.
 
Dr. Lusk has served in his current role of vice president of enrollment management since September 2002, overseeing areas such as administration, admission and recruitment, facilities, and construction, as well as athletics. However, that technical list of his job description does not accurately embody the impact that Dr. Lusk and his love of the Wayland experience have had on the university as a whole. 
 
Upon assuming his current role, Dr. Lusk is credited with helping the admissions process that resulted in an enrollment growth at the main campus of 40 percent, freshman application growth of 445 percent, freshman admitted growth of 225 percent, and freshman class enrollment growth of 191 percent. Those increases have been directly influenced by many additions that have been made to the athletics program under Dr. Lusk's advisement and direction.
 
The overall growth in numbers of student-athletes since Dr. Lusk began overseeing athletics has been roughly 300 percent, increasing from 175 student-athletes to a staggering 522 in the fall of 2016. Approximately 62 percent of current student-athletes were involved in sports programs at Wayland that were developed within the 14 years Dr. Lusk has retained his position as VPEM.
 
The way the athletic program has thrived has definitively radiated throughout other areas at Wayland.
 
"When you talk about what I'm proud of, growth in number of students in athletics is certainly a part of it, but it has never been just about that," he said. "We've grown competitively, we've grown academically, and those are things that are very important to me. We have done it the right way and I am better for having been a part of Wayland athletics. I just love it."
 
Although Dr. Lusk's title is vice president of enrollment management, his passion remains for the university as a whole and the many pieces that fit together to make WBU all that it is.
 
"At no point was this simply about growing enrollment. We didn't do it just so we could have a football team or football players. We did it because the collective Wayland experience is enhanced by better athletic programs."
 
Looking back on his time as a part of Wayland athletics, Dr. Lusk "cherishes the journey of the five years leading up to the leadership class of football probably as much as anything I have done." Years of research and recruitment meetings and hard work by many people in the athletic program were put into making the dream of Wayland once again having a football team a reality. Dr. Lusk looks back at time spent in recruiting meetings where he said, "We need guys who can see what doesn't exist. I haven't bought a football, I haven't bought helmets, I don't have a coach…but I know where we're going."
 
A 2-by-4 in a portable building on campus is an especially significant token to Dr. Lusk as a symbol of the journey that Wayland took in order to get to the place the football program is now.
 
"That piece of wood and those nails in it are all we had to give to the leadership class, and that's where they hung their helmets that first year. The part I cherish is seeing something that wasn't in existence."
 
Football is one of multiple programs that have been brought to fruition in the last decade. Wayland also is home to the only varsity collegiate wrestling program in the state of Texas, which last summer produced a near Olympian.
 
The overall success of the WBU athletic program just over the last five years has made Wayland one of the top four contenders in the NAIA in the Learfield Director's Cup, which grades a school's overall success. Dr. Lusk said that is something which he is especially proud of the programs and student-athletes for accomplishing. "We aren't finished; there is still lots to be done."
 
Dr. Lusk loves seeing the effect the athletic programs' successes have on the entire university.
 
"Watching the way athletics and competition can bind a school together is an amazing thing. Seeing the community come out and show support at sporting events while the band plays and the cheer and dance squads cheer for our team or seeing a mass communication major covering the event…that's what it's all about."
 
After 30 years of devotion to the university, Dr. Lusk is humble regarding his influence in Wayland athletics.
 
"I am tied to the programs I had a hand in starting, but I am tied to all of them because they are the pulse of student life at Wayland Baptist University."