David Wetzel Tabbed to Lead Baylor’s “B” Association

[Ingram, Brent]

BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – July 31, 2024

David Wetzel Tabbed to Lead Baylor’s “B” Association
Baylor football letterwinner and community builder David Wetzel to guide the next chapter of the “B” Association

For more information contact: Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, brent_ingram at baylor.edu<mailto:brent_ingram at baylor.edu>



WACO, Texas -- David Wetzel, a legend in the Texas high school coaching ranks, a proud Baylor letterwinner and a seven-year member of the BU football coaching staff, has been tabbed to lead as the Executive Director of the “B” Association, it was announced on Wednesday.



"David Wetzel embodies the Baylor spirit, hailing from a family of four generations of Baylor alumni, making him the ideal candidate for the role," stated Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mack Rhoades IV. "When considering the monumental task of succeeding the legendary Walter Abercrombie, David was unquestionably the perfect fit. His deep-rooted love for Baylor and unwavering dedication to the Baylor Family are truly inspiring. Our ‘B’ Association and its membership are going to be in great hands with David leading the way, and I look forward to collaborating with him in this new role."



Wetzel will lead the school’s 4,500-member organization of former letterwinners, serve as the athletics department’s liaison and spokesperson in the community and continue to assist in further relationships with Baylor’s passionate alumni base.



He takes over from Baylor great Walter Abercrombie, who retired in April after 20 years leading the organization.



“I’m honored to serve the ‘B’ Association and its membership,” Wetzel said. “I arrived in Waco as a young college student-athlete and the Baylor Family has helped shape me into the man that I am today. I got into coaching because of the impact Coach Grant Teaff had on my life and have been blessed to work with special coaches throughout my career, at all levels of athletics. This University and community are woven into my DNA and I hope that the love that I have for this place can shine through in this new role. I’m excited to get to work and am energized by the opportunity to serve such a wonderful group of Baylor letterwinners.”



Wetzel has served in a variety of roles in the football program since 2016, including his most recent post as Associate Athletics Director for Football Relations. He is a legendary figure in Texas high school football, spending 25 years coaching in the state, including his final 13 years from 2004-16 as the head coach and athletics coordinator at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio. A former president of the Texas High School Football Coaches Association, Wetzel posted 163 career wins as a head coach.



“Something apparent to me very quickly when I arrived at Baylor is why David Wetzel is such a trusted and respected name in football circles in the state of Texas,” Baylor football coach Dave Aranda said. “I am so thankful for his friendship, the great value he has provided to both me and this program and his strong Christian witness. While I will miss seeing him in the football offices every day, I know the heart he has for Baylor and this opportunity feels like the perfect match of man and moment.”



Wetzel and his wife Shana have been married for 31 years and are the parents of three boys, Garren, Skyler and Chase. Skyler and his wife Breanna are expecting the first grandchild in the family, Manning Mae Wetzel.



“David Wetzel is the right man for this job,” legendary Baylor football coach Grant Teaff said. “He has served the Baylor Family in a variety of valuable ways throughout his career. He and Shana love our University and the Waco community. I’ve known David for many years and consider him to be an incredible coach, a wonderful friend and an absolute winner. The ‘B’ Association is blessed to have David leading the way.”



He lettered at Baylor in 1990-91 as a wide receiver under legendary head coach Grant Teaff. A graduate of Goldthwaite High School in 1987, Wetzel helped his team to the 1985 state championship and earned all-state honors at defensive back and all-West Texas honors at wide out.



His grandfather, Lloyd W. Mitchell, was a 1929 Baylor graduate, who won the discus title in the Southwest Conference in 1929-30 for the Bears. His father was a 1956 Baylor graduate and his son Skyler played safety for the Bears from 2019-20, appearing in all 14 games in 2019 as the holder on field-goal attempts.



Wetzel is joined in the “B” Association by Operations Coordinator Kyndal Bockhahn, a Baylor alum, former four-year member of the Song Leaders who worked in the Baylor Marketing and Fan Engagement office the previous year.



- BaylorBears.com -


--
Brent Ingram | Assistant AD for Communications
Men’s Tennis Sport Program Administrator
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 210-845-8651

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