With 2011 coming to an end, it is time to take a look back at the year that was for Wyoming athletics. Our top five stories are presented below in chronological order with the date, a link, and a few thoughts.
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February 7
Heath Schroyer fired as Wyoming basketball coach.
After four seasons on the job Heath Schroyer was shown the door. He had a 49-68 record at Wyoming with a dismal 16-41 Mountain West Conference record and home attendance was really dragging. He was marked for success upon his return to Laramie after being an assistant coach under Steve McClain. Schroyer’s team played unorganized basketball and he couldn’t recruit and keep enough good players in the program to compete in the Mountain West.
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March 6
Wyoming wrestling wins second consecutive West Regional championship.
Under head coach Mark Branch the wrestling team has had much success. Yes, wrestling is very much a niche sport but Wyoming athletics has had very few conference champion teams in any sport so this feat has to be a highlight. Five Cowboys won their weight classes and six advanced to the NCAA finals.
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March 31
Larry Shyatt hired as men’s basketball coach (again).
Athletic Director Tom Burman concluded a lengthy basketball coaching search that had Wyoming fans tracking airplanes in and out of the Laramie Airport by hiring a familiar face. Shyatt previously spent one season at Wyoming in the late 90′s before bolting to Clemson and Wyoming was very happy to have him back.
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September 24
Wyoming hosts Nebraska in football.
In one of the most highly anticipated home games to ever be played at the War the Cowboys were defeated by the score of 38-14 at the hands of the no. 9 Huskers. Nebraska ran wild racking up 333 rushing yards which was a sign of things to come later in the season for the Wyoming defense.
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December 6
Wyoming wins two major Mountain West football awards.
Dave Christsensen was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year and Brett Smith won Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. Both deserved their recognition putting him behind only Kellen Moore in terms of QB production in the Mountain West.
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Is there a story we missed that you think should have made this list? If you think so, leave a comment!
Tags: 2011 year in review, Basketball, Brett Smith, Dave Christensen, Football, heath Schroyer fired, larry shyatt, Nebraska, wrestling, Wyoming Athletics
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