Biggest Stories of 2010

As 2010 winds to a close and we prepare for the new year, I thought it appropriate to look back at the biggest happenings in the UCO sports world over the last 12 months.

And while there were certainly plenty of things that transpired around Broncho athletics in 2010, it seems clear that the two most noteworthy events during the past year didn’t happen on the field of play.

To me, the retirement of long-time baseball coach Wendell Simmons and the announcement that UCO would be leaving the Lone Star Conference for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association overshadowed anything else that happened in 2010.

Simmons was a coaching icon, not only at UCO but around the LSC and NCAA Division II. His accomplishments during his 19-year career with the Bronchos will not easily be surpassed, if indeed they can even be equaled.

Let’s see now. Wendell piled up 633 wins, averaging 33 a season. He directed the Bronchos to the eight best seasons in school history, including seven 40-win campaigns. He had seven national tournament teams, including a national runner-up squad in 1997 when a dropped fly ball in the ninth inning was the only thing between the Bronchos and the national championship.

Oh, and he coached 134 All-LSC players and 14 All-Americans.

Yeah, I’d say all that would be hard to duplicate.

The only story that could top Wendell’s leaving would be UCO’s impending move to the MIAA. The Bronchos will leave one great conference for another and it will definitely be an interesting transition.

UCO has been a part of the LSC since 1988 and will play as Division II independents next year before moving into the MIAA in 2012-13. MIAA schools have succeeded at an extremely high level in a variety of sports for many years and it is indeed one of the premier leagues in the nation.

The Bronchos have played many teams from the MIAA in several sports over the years, so a number of the schools we will be soon be competing with won’t be unknown to UCO fans. But there will definitely be some different faces and some new rivalries established in the coming years, which will be interesting for all involved.

It’s hard to believe 2010 is already over, but a new year is upon us and with it comes great anticipation for what lies ahead.

Happy New Year, Broncho fans.