Wayland unveils new athletics logo design

Check out the new floor at The Hutch!

Wayland Baptist University has launched a new athletics and spirit logo.

The revitalized graphic identity is the result of a 9-month process that included research on the distinctive attributes of previous graphics used by the university in its 110-year history.

The new "Chiseled-W" features a 3-D look that aligns with its competitor's logos and contemporary graphics among national sports.  It is part of the new athletics branding initiative Wayland is instituting in 2018.

The athletics logo is a modernized take on the "W" with the identifier name across the center bar. The slab style "W" is similar to athletic sweaters and uniforms worn 50 years ago, which is a nod to Wayland's long history as a powerful sports program. The logo was custom-designed by the WBU marketing and communications team.
 
"The new logo is part of the rebranding efforts started last fall," said Gary Vaughn, executive director of marketing for Wayland. "The new logo better unifies our athletic program and communicates the strength and success of Wayland athletic teams. It will also function as our spirit mark which helps unify our 13 campus locations across the U.S."

Wayland athletics director Rick Cooper said he is looking forward to implementing the new "W" this year.
 
"I believe this is going to be a boost for our sports programs, both for our players and our fans," said Cooper. "We're excited to have this updated look."
 
The fall sports programs have already begun to incorporate the logo in their uniforms and equipment. The biggest change is evident on the gym floor at Hutcherson Center, which features the updated logo prominently at center court.
 
"It was time to redo the court surface and the new logo really pops off the floor now," said Cooper. "It's a gorgeous playing surface and we are very proud of it."
 
"The plan from the start was to maintain the previous logo's strengths and to create something similar with cleaned-up lines. Our goal was to bring new energy, to take what makes us who we are, and modernize it, allowing the image to show up better on everything from apparel to mobile devices," added Vaughn.
 
"After years of successful seasons, we saw this as an opportunity to truly showcase the fact that Wayland is a place where champions play," continued Vaughn. "The logo update was a natural part of the process."
 
During the 2017-18 academic year, Wayland Baptist matched its all-time best showing in the NAIA Learfield Directors' Cup, placing third. In the competition that awards points based on schools' national finishes in up to 13 sports, Wayland ended with 814 points with three national championships, one runner-up finish and five other top-10 finishes.

Wayland also finished in third place two years ago, and the school has finished among the top six athletics programs in the entire NAIA the last five years in a row. In the Learfield standings, WBU was fourth for the 2016-17 academic year, third in 2015-16, fourth in 2014-15 and sixth in 2013-14.
 
NOTE: The former Wayland "Texas W" logo is now a retired logo and is being phased out wherever possible.