Former Wayland Baptist Pioneer basketball player Ty Harrelson recently made a gift of $10,000 toward a goal of $25,000 to refurbish the Wayland Pioneers' dressing room in Hutcherson Center.
Harrelson's gift came after he learned that former Flying Queen All-American Linda Pickens Price had given $25,000 for the renovation of the Queens' locker room. Dedication for that project was made in October during a special recognition for members of the 1953-58 teams that won a national record 131 consecutive games.
An appeal was made to about 300 former Pioneers who played between 1960-2012 in hopes the funds can be raised for the remodeling to be done before the 2013-2014 season.
Gifts from all friends of Wayland for any amount are appreciated and may be made to: Pioneers Dressing Room, Wayland Baptist University, 1900 W. Seventh, CMB 1291, Plainview, TX 79072 or by credit card by calling Danny Andrews at 806-291-3603 or e-mailing
andrewsd@wbu.edu
“We are most appreciative of our alumni like Linda Pickens Price, Ty Harrelson and others who are helping us upgrade our athletic facilities,” said Athletic Director
Greg Feris.
Harrelson, a two-year starter for the Pioneers after transferring from Collin County Community College, was Wayland's first-ever first-team NAIA All-American as a senior in 2003. A former high school star at Sonora and Wichita Falls Rider, he still holds the school records for most assists in a game (15) and season average (6.8) and for best free throw percentage for a season (.888 on 191 of 215 chances). He also is tied for 28th on the all-time Pioneer scoring list with 1,111 points.
These days, Harreslon is continuing his basketball career in Australia, and recently was hired to serve as a player/coach of the Collie Crane Hire West Slammers, who wooed the combo guard from the Goldfields Giants on a three-year deal, according to the South Western Times newspaper.
Harrelson, 32, will join the Slammers as playing coach in a significant boost to the club's flagging men's program. The American's signature will go part of the way to filling the void left by the departure of the previous coach and two key players.
During his two years in the SBL, Harrelson, who suited up for the Giants last season and played for Cockburn in 2011, has been widely regarded as part of the competition's elite.
He averaged almost 20 points a game for Goldfields and was named as a small forward in the SBL's 2012 All-Star Starting Five. Harrelson also won the SBL Point Guard of the Year title in 2011 after he helped the Cougars, who had missed the playoffs the previous season, make a semifinal series.
Despite also being an assistant coach with the Giants, Harrelson said the chance to take on a senior coaching position had been a major drawing card.
His father, Scott Harrelson, was an assistant men's basketball coach at Wayland and also coached the West Virginia University women's team while his mother, sister and brother-in-law are also coaches.
''I come from a long line of coaches – it's kind of in my blood,'' Harrelson said. ''The opportunity to do it and hopefully improve the Slammers over the next three years was definitely attractive.''
While his coaching appointment has been a major coup, club officials anticipate Harrelson will provide a much-needed injection of experience to the Slammers' roster.
He scored 20 points or more on 13 occasions last season, while his mammoth 50-point haul for Cockburn against the Perth Redbacks in the 2011 playoffs was one of the best individual performances in recent history.
Despite conceding his new role would be challenging, Harrelson said he was confident of helping the club, which has won three consecutive wooden spoons (championship awards) be more competitive.
''I am going to do my best to have us prepared,'' he said. ''I'm not promising anything other than I am going to give it 100 percent and that I'm going to expect the same from our team.''
Harrelson said he had already spoken to several contacts about how to approach the task of having both on and off-court roles. ''They gave me some good advice on how to handle in-game strategy,'' he said. ''I think preparation will be vital – we have to have a plan going into every game.''
