Charles William Wantland (February 22, 1888 – March 31, 1964) was an American athlete and coach. Wantland served as a sports coach and athletic director, and dean at Central State Teachers College in

Edmond, Oklahoma Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. The population was 94,428 according to the 2020 United States Census, making it the fifth largest cit ...

Early life and education

Wantland grew up in Purcell, Oklahoma. He attended Purcell High School and graduated in 1906. He attended the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

where Wantland participated on the football, baseball, track, and basketball teams. In football, he played right halfback, was the kick returner and placekicker. He is perhaps best known for the 1908 game against Texas in which he returned a kick for 90 yards and a touchdown, part of a four touchdown performance to defeat the Longhorns. During the 1909–10 season he was the captain of the

Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team represents the University of Oklahoma in men's NCAA Division I basketball. The Sooners play in the Big 12 Conference. History 1908–1980 The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this e ...

team.

Coaching career

Early positions

After graduation from Oklahoma in 1910 with a B.A in economics, Wantland coached at Lindsay High School in 1910. After that year coach

Bennie Owen Benjamin Gilbert Owen (July 24, 1875 – February 26, 1970) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Washburn College, now Washburn University, in 1900, at Bethany C ...

tasked Wantland to be an assistant for the football team, and to coach the track squad. During this time Wantland was also a baseball umpire.

Central State

In 1912 Wantland was hired to lead the athletic program at Central State Normal School (later renamed Central State Teachers College, now the University of Central Oklahoma.) While at CSN he coached the football and basketball teams, and was also the dean of men at the college. It was during this time that he led Central into what would be known as the Golden Age of Central Football. He was instrumental in founding the first Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference in which all normal schools in the state participated. He is known for defeating Oklahoma Methodist, (now Oklahoma City University) by a score of 183–0. During the 1924 season, Wantland had his greatest success, after a season opening loss to Southwestern (KS), he led the Bronchos to their only win over his alma mater the Oklahoma Sooners, shortly thereafter the Bronchos defeated eventual

Southwest Conference The Southwest Conference (SWC) was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference in the United States that existed from 1914 to 1996. Composed primarily of schools from Texas, at various times the conference included schools from Oklahoma an ...

champion Baylor in Dallas, on the way to a 9–1 record and the OIC crown.

Fired by Governor Murray

In 1930 former representative Alfalfa Bill Murray was campaigning to be governor. During this time he urged public officials to actively support his candidacy. However, college president John Gorden Mitchell and Wantland refused to do so. Wantland chose to support Murray's rival, Frank Buttram. Mitchell claimed Murray "was his third choice for governor". Murray responded that Mitchell was his second choice for the presidency of Central State. When Murray was successful in his gubernatorial bid he swiftly fired both President Mitchell and Wantland. Wantland never returned to the coaching ranks.

Personal life

In 1922 Mrs. Wantland chose the Broncho as the mascot for CSTC. After being fired by Governor Murray, Wantland entered the oil supply business until his retirement in 1953. He died in 1964. Wantland was the namesake for two buildings on Central Oklahoma's campus, the former field house and current physical education building Wantland Hall, and the now Chad Richison Stadium the home for Broncho football was named Wantland Stadium in his honor from 1965–2021. In 1998 Wantland was named by the Purcell Register to the Purcell High School all-century team, the earliest player to make the list.

Head coaching record

College football

College basketball

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wantland, Charles W. 1888 births 1964 deaths American football halfbacks Basketball coaches from Oklahoma Basketball players from Oklahoma Central Oklahoma Bronchos athletic directors Central Oklahoma Bronchos football coaches Central Oklahoma Bronchos men's basketball coaches Oklahoma Sooners football players Oklahoma Sooners baseball players Oklahoma Sooners football coaches Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball players Oklahoma Sooners men's track and field athletes Oklahoma Sooners track and field coaches High school football coaches in Oklahoma People from Purcell, Oklahoma Players of American football from Oklahoma American men's basketball players