Tory Bryant came to Wayland Baptist University in the spring of 2007 to take over as head coach of the Flying Queens basketball program. Bryant has an 84-73 record and led the Queens to the NAIA National Tournament in his second season at the helm of the program. He has coached two NAIA All-Americans and two NAIA Scholar Athletes while at Wayland.
In addition to the two all-Americans and two scholar athletes, Coach Bryant has had many athletes win Sooner Athletic Conference awards in his tenure at Wayland. In his first season, the team went 15-17 and had three all-SAC members, including Megan Coats, who was named Freshman of the Year. In 2008-09, the Queens went 22-12 in Bryant’s most successful season to date and made an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. That squad, comprised of an NAIA all-American, SAC Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, four all-SAC team members and three all-SAC Academic team members, finished the season ranked 26th in the country.
During the 2009-10 season, Bryant’s team finished 17-13 and received votes in the NAIA poll, but did not break into the top 25. Erika Raymond was named to the NAIA all-American team, becoming the Queens’ second all-American in as many years. Three other teammates joined Raymond in earning all-SAC honors to go along with the team’s two all-SAC Academic team members. In 2010-11, the Flying Queens finished 16-14 and had two members named to the all-SAC team as well as an NAIA Scholar Athlete, the first in Bryant’s tenure. The 2010-11 squad also had four members named to the all-SAC Academic team.
In 2011-12, the Flying Queens had an overall record of 11-17. The team had two players named NAIA Scholar Athletes, two received all-SAC honors and two were named all-SAC Academic winners.
Bryant is a Plainview native and a 1994 graduate of Plainview High School where he was a member of the 1994 Class 5A State Championship basketball team coached by the legendary Carl Irlbeck. He played basketball at Sul Ross State University for two seasons before transferring to Texas Tech University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sports and Science in 1999.
Bryant was a student assistant and head junior varsity coach at Lubbock Christian University from 1998-1999 before moving on to West Texas A&M University. A graduate assistant for the Lady Buffs basketball team for two years, he served as recruiting coordinator and was in charge of scouting and tournament and pre-conference scheduling. During his time at WTAMU, Bryant received his Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
From 2001 to 2004, Bryant was the assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Texas at Arlington. He was the Lady Mavericks’ recruiting coordinator and managed the year-round strength and conditioning program.
Prior to coming to Wayland, Bryant coached at Trinity Christian High School in Lubbock. In his three seasons at Trinity Christian, he compiled a 96-19 record and won two TAPPS Class 4A State Championships. He was named the 2005-06 TAPPS District 1-4A Coach of the Year and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal’s All-City Coach of the Year. In his last season (2007), the Lady Lions were 31-8 and advanced to the TAPPS Class 5A State title game.
Bryant is the 12th head coach for the Flying Queens’ historic program. He is married to the former Lee Scarborough and they are the parents of daughter Devyn and son Zeke.
