Wyoming made a bold move to energize its men’s basketball program, hiring Sundance Wicks as its head coach in May 2024. Known for his infectious energy and passion for the game, Wicks arrives in Laramie, Wyoming, with a notable track record, previously leading Missouri Western (Division II) and Green Bay.
The hiring has brought a buzz around the program. Wicks takes over for Jeff Linder, who spent the last four seasons as head coach of the Cowboys. Linder left Wyoming after two losing season and accepted an assistant coaching position at Texas Tech.
Wicks isn’t a stranger to rebuilding a program. The Wyoming native gained Division I head coaching experience at Green Bay last season after spending three years as an assistant coach at Wyoming. He led a historic turnaround with the Phoenix, experiencing a 15-game improvement in wins compared to the year before Wicks’ arrival.
Coaching at Green Bay will only benefit Wicks. As assistant coach for the Cowboys, Wicks helped lead the Cowboys to a ranking as high as No. 22 in the AP Top 25 Poll and to their only NCAA Tournament appearance under Linder.
Now Wicks is back in Laramie and set to lead a program he once helped build. Expectations aren’t high for Wyoming in Year 1 under Wicks, with most expecting the Cowboys to finish towards the bottom of a competitive Mountain West Conference.
Wyoming may still have a chance to prove the projections wrong with Wicks as head coach.
Wicks took the Green Bay Phoenix from a record of 3-29 in the 2021-2022 season to a winning record of 18-14 in his first season as head coach. Wicks has already enacted changes to improve the Cowboys’ team.
He has brought in eight players to compensate for the losses in Sam Griffin, Akuel Kot, Brendan Wenzel and Mason Walters. Five of those newcomers are projected to take their places in the starting lineup.
Wyoming has their work cut out for them with a 30-game schedule, including 20 conference games. The Cowboys begin their schedule with an exhibition game on Oct. 25, then officially open with a game against Concordia-St. Paul on Nov. 4. Conference play starts for the Cowboys on Dec. 4 against the Utah State Aggies. The Mountain West set a conference record with six NCAA Tournament teams last season and figures to be just as competitive this season.
Wicks has gained coaching experience from various jobs around the country. He thrives on proving doubters wrong. While expectations for the Cowboys may be modest this season, Wicks’ knack for developing talent and maximizing player potential makes Wyoming a team to keep an eye on. Under his leadership, the Cowboys could exceed all predictions and turn heads in the process.
