Waggoner Resigns as Greyhound Athletic Director

Waggoner Resigns as Greyhound Athletic Director

Portales, N.M. – Dr. Greg Waggoner has announced his resignation as the Eastern New Mexico University athletic director, effective June 30. After serving as athletic director since 2016, Waggoner is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.

“I’m grateful to Greg for his dedication to ENMU Athletics programs,” said President Jeff Elwell. “He worked hard to develop a culture of success for our student-athletes and athletic teams. Greg oversaw significant improvements to the women’s softball facilities during his time as athletic director, successfully opened the new on-campus Greyhound Stadium in his first year, and last fall started the Chile Bowl rivalry game with Western New Mexico University.”

“I want to thank ENMU for the opportunity to serve this fine group of student-athletes, coaches and athletic staff for the past three years, as well as so many colleagues who supported our efforts,” said Dr. Greg Waggoner. “Gloria and I have also been blessed to have friends in the area that have also enriched our experience. I do believe the athletic program is poised for further success with this outstanding staff.”

“I appreciate what Greg has done during his three-year tenure,” said Elwell. “Greg helped ENMU Athletics move forward, allowing our student-athletes not only to compete for championships, but also to succeed in the classroom.”

Under Waggoner’s watch, Greyhound student-athletes twice won the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Academic Excellence Award for recording the highest overall GPA in the conference. The women’s teams won for 2017-18, and the men’s for 2016-17. The Greyhounds also placed 144 student-athletes on the LSC Fall Commissioner’s Honor Roll, tying with West Texas A&M for second behind Angelo State’s 147 student-athletes.

The women’s basketball team coached by Josh Prock made the LSC Tournament three straight years under Waggoner’s tenure, advancing to the NCAA South Central Regional tournament in 2017 and 2019. Men’s basketball achieved their greatest success in over a decade, making the conference tournament the last two years. Additionally, Greyhound Volleyball has regularly placed among the top teams in the conference.

Waggoner’s coaching hires also had success this year with men’s soccer making a resurgence under Head Coach Jon Fridal. Under Head Coach Josh Smith, women’s soccer played in the LSC Championships after upsetting rival West Texas A&M on their home turf in the semifinals. Men’s and women’s track & field have also experienced a resurgence under Head Coach Jeff Kavalunas with the women’s 4×400 meter relay team nabbing first-team All-American status in 2018 and 2019. In fall 2017 under Head Coach Kelley Lee, football played for a share of the LSC Championship in the last week of the season in a game broadcast nationally by ESPN3. Additionally, the Greyhound Club experienced record fundraising success the past three years.

A national search for the next athletic director will start immediately. Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Jeff Long will serve as the interim athletic director until a permanent athletic director is appointed.