Sundance Wicks
{{short description|American basketball coach (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Sundance Wicks
| image = Sundance Wicks 2025.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Wicks in 2025
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Wyoming
| current_conference = Mountain West
| current_record = {{Winning percentage|12|20|record=y}}
| contract =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|9}}
| birth_place = Gillette, Wyoming, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1999–2003
| player_team1 = Northern State
| player_years2 = 2003–2004
| player_team2 = Södertälje Kings
| player_positions =
| coach_years1 = 2004–2006
| coach_team1 = Northern State (GA)
| coach_years2 = 2006–2007
| coach_team2 = Colorado (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 2007–2011
| coach_team3 = Northern Illinois (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 2015–2016
| coach_team4 = San Francisco (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 2016–2018
| coach_team5 = Northern State (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 2018–2020
| coach_team6 = Missouri Western
| coach_years7 = 2020–2023
| coach_team7 = Wyoming (assistant)
| coach_years8 = 2023–2024
| coach_team8 = Green Bay
| coach_years9 = 2024–present
| coach_team9 = Wyoming
| overall_record = {{winpct|60|66|record=y}}
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
- Horizon League Coach of the Year (2024)
- NSIC Newcomer of the Year (2000)
- 2× First Team All-NSIC (2002, 2003)
| coaching_records =
}}
Sundance "Sunny" Wicks (born August 9, 1980) is an American collegiate basketball coach, currently men's head coach at the University of Wyoming. He has also been the head coach for Green Bay, an assistant at Wyoming, and two years as the head coach for the Missouri Western Men's Basketball Team. Wicks spent eleven years as an assistant at four different colleges, including Northern State, Colorado, Northern Illinois, and San Francisco.{{cite web |url=https://gogriffons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/1446 |title=Sundance Wicks |access-date=January 30, 2020}} Between early coaching stints, Wicks launched the Arizona Power Basketball Academy and worked as a skill-instructor and director from 2011 to 2015. He has trained notable NBA pre-draft prospects at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, and worked with athletes such as Kawhi Leonard, Marvin Bagley, Isaiah Thomas, Xavier Silas, and Alec Burks.
Early life
Wicks is the oldest of three children born to Mark and Barbara (Barb) Wicks in Gillette, Wyoming, and comes from a strong athletic lineage on both sides of his family. Mark played football at Washington State from 1961–64 and one season with the New Orleans Saints. Mark Wicks is a member of the Cougars' Hall of Fame. Barb played volleyball at Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota, and was on the rodeo team.
Playing career
=Northern State=
==Basketball==
From 1999 to 2003, Wicks played basketball for Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He scored a total of 1,174 points and pulled in 665 rebounds, which is 10th all time at Northern State. He was named All-NSIC twice, all-Conference academic selection twice, and won the Clark Swisher Male Athlete of the Year once in the 2002–03 season. Wicks helped Northern State win two NSIC conference titles.{{cite web |url=https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/765 |title=Sundance Wicks |access-date=January 31, 2020}} Wicks has two degrees from Northern State University. In 2003 he got a bachelor’s degree in international business and in 2006 he earned a master’s degree in health, physical education, and coaching.https://nsuwolves.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/780
==Track and field==
Wicks was twice an All-NSIC performer in the 400-meter hurdles.
=Södertälje Kings=
During the 2003–04 season, Wicks played for the Södertälje Kings in Sweden. He led he team in scoring and rebounding.{{cite web |url=https://www.proballers.com/basketball/team/686/sodertalje-kings/2003 |title=Södertälje Kings 2003–04 roster |access-date=January 31, 2020}}
Coaching career
=2004–06 Northern State (Assistant)=
In 2004, Wicks became a graduate assistant under legendary coach Don Meyer for two years through 2006.
=2006–07 Colorado (Assistant)=
Wicks coached under Ricardo Patton at Colorado as an assistant. He was in charge of film exchange and editing, individual workouts, in-state recruiting, as well as Ricardo Patton Basketball Camps.
=2007–11 Northern Illinois (Assistant)=
In 2007, Wicks became an assistant coach for Northern Illinois for three years, and one year as the associate head coach, again under Ricardo Patton.
=2011–15 Arizona Power Basketball Academy=
From 2011–15, Wicks launched the Arizona Power Basketball Academy. He built APBA from the ground up and served as a skill instructor and program director based out of Gilbert, Arizona. Wicks did not take a salary when he began APBA. Determined to succeed, he lived out of his car, showered at the gym, and slept on a beanbag.https://247sports.com/article/green-bay-phoenix-basketball-college-basketball-sundance-wicks-coach-green-bay-packers-horizon-league-227424512/
=2015–16 San Francisco (Assistant)=
Wicks served as an assistant for San Francisco for one season under head coach Rex Walters. Also on the staff was his brother, Luke Wicks.https://usfdons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/311
=2016–18 Northern State (Assistant)=
Wicks spent two seasons as an assistant coach for his alma mater Northern State for two seasons under head coach Paul Sather. During the 2017–18 season, Northern State compiled a record of 36–4 and were national runner-ups in the 2018 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament.{{cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Matt |date=March 24, 2018 |title=Northern State's dream season ends in heartbreak in Division II National Championship game |url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/sports/college/2018/03/24/northern-state-wolves-fall-ferris-state-ncaa-division-ii-championship-game-college-basketball/441838002/ |website=Argus Leader |access-date=January 31, 2020}}
=2018–2020 Missouri Western (Head coach)=
On March 28, 2018, Wicks was named the fifth men's basketball head coach at Missouri Western.{{cite web |url=https://gogriffons.com/news/2018/3/27/sundance-wicks-named-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx |title=Sundance Wicks Named Head Men's Basketball Coach |date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=January 31, 2020}} In his first season leading the Griffons, Wicks recorded a 12–18 (6–13 Conference) record. That was the best record for Missouri Western since the 2015–16 season. He has had one player make the All-Conference Second Team, Lavon Hightower, and had two players receive honorable mentions, Tyrell Carroll and Bryan Hudson.
In his second season, Wicks led the team to an 18–14 record, the best Missouri Western has had since their 2009–10 season. This included a win against a ranked opponent: Missouri Southern. They also had a home record of 12–1, losing only to number one ranked Northwest Missouri State by a score of 92–69. Tyrell Carroll received first-team ALL-MIAA and Will Eames became Missouri Western's first-ever Freshman of the Year.
=2020–2023 Wyoming (Assistant)=
On March 27, 2020, Wicks resigned from Missouri Western to join Jeff Linder at Wyoming as assistant coach.{{cite news|url=https://trib.com/sports/college/wyoming/mbb/wyoming-native-sundance-wicks-rounds-out-cowboys-staff/article_0cf5ddae-fc17-5563-9deb-084d99be8ce9.html|title=Wyoming native Sundance Wicks rounds out Cowboys' staff|newspaper=Casper Star-Tribune|first=Davis|last=Potter|date=March 27, 2020|accessdate=March 28, 2020}}
=2023–2024 Green Bay (Head coach)=
On March 15, 2023, Wicks was named the ninth men's basketball head coach at Green Bay.{{cite web|url=https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/releases/03/15/sundance-wicks-named-ninth-head-coach-in-green-bay-mens-basketball-history/|title=Sundance Wicks named ninth head coach in Green Bay Men's Basketball history|website=University of Wisconsin-Green Bay|first=Kristin|last=Bouchard|date=March 15, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023}} In his first season as head coach, Wicks won the 2023–24 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year.{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/horizon-league-coach-sundance-wicks-205631067.html#:~:text=In%20his%20first%20year%20as,National%20Coach%20of%20the%20Year | title=Horizon League Coach of the Year, Sundance Wicks, signs contract extension with UW-Green Bay | date=April 11, 2024 }}
=2024–present Wyoming (Head coach)=
On May 12, 2024, Wicks was named the 23rd men's basketball head coach at Wyoming, where he had previously served as an assistant coach for three seasons.{{cite web|url=https://gowyo.com/news/2024/5/12/mens-basketball-sundance-wicks-named-head-coach-of-cowboy-basketball-program.aspx|website=University of Wyoming|first=Nick|last=Seeman|title=Sundance Wicks Named Head Coach of Cowboy Basketball Program |date=May 12, 2024}}
Personal life
Wicks' sister Kelsey played basketball for the University of Notre Dame before entering The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia convent in Nashville. Wicks often jokes that when they played against one another in basketball, it was "nun-on-one," and has stated that Kelsey was the best athlete in the family.{{cite web | url=https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/sports/college/2017/01/12/mens-college-basketball-northern-state-assistant-coach-sundance-wicks-making-his-mark/44794387/ | title=Men's college basketball: Northern State assistant coach Sundance Wicks making his mark }} She is currently the Executive Director of the ACI Group.https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/author/634/kelsey-wicks His brother Luke was a point guard at Northern State, and a former college basketball coach at Sheridan College, San Francisco, and Pacific.https://pacifictigers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/luke-wicks/83 The Wicks brothers were on the same staff at San Francisco.{{cite web | url=https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/sports/2015/07/04/wicks-brothers-joining-forces-at-san-francisco/116898550/ | title=Wicks brothers joining forces at San Francisco }}
Wicks is described as a 'free spirit with a sense of style all his own'https://usfdons.com/news/2016/2/17/MBB_0217162919-Wicks-USF-Sundance-Luke and is known for his houndstooth blazer collection. He is a devout Roman Catholic{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGZVYkzmN1c | title=On Mission Meetup with Bishop David Ricken & UWGB Coach Sundance Wicks | website=YouTube }} and coaches with a Saint Benedict Medal in his pocket, the patron saint of protection as well as the patron saint of students.https://www.samaritan.catholic.edu.au/house-teams/benedict#:~:text=Saint%20Benedict%20is%20the%20Patron%20Saint%20of%20students.&text=Benedict's%20rule%20is%20best%20summarised,in%20everything%20towards%20building%20community.
Wicks' wife Courteney is a former college volleyball player.{{cite web | url=https://gowyo.com/news/2020/7/11/general-kevins-commentary-sundance-wicks.aspx | title=Kevin's Commentary — Sundance Wicks }} Together, they have a daughter, Grace, and son, Skywalker.
Head coaching record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Missouri Western Griffons
| conference = Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
| startyear = 2018
| endyear = 2020
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2018–19
| name = Missouri Western
| overall = 12–18
| conference = 6–13
| confstanding = 12th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2019–20
| name = Missouri Western
| overall = 18–14
| conference = 13–6
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Missouri Western
| overall = {{winpct|30|32|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{winpct|19|19|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Green Bay Phoenix
| conference = Horizon League
| startyear = 2023
| endyear = 2024
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2023–24
| name = Green Bay
| overall = 18–14
| conference = 13–7
| confstanding = T–3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Green Bay
| overall = {{winpct|18|14|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{winpct|13|7|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Wyoming Cowboys
| conference = Mountain West Conference
| startyear = 2024
| endyear =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2024–25
| name = Wyoming
| overall = 12–20
| conference = 5–15
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Wyoming
| overall = {{winpct|12|20|record=y}}
| confrecord = {{winpct|5|15|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = {{winpct|60|66|record=y}}
| legend = no
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://cubuffs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/765 Colorado Buffaloes profile]
- [https://niuhuskies.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/678 Northern Illinois Huskies profile]
- [https://usfdons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/311 San Francisco Dons profile]
- [https://nsuwolves.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/780 Northern State Wolves profile]
- [https://gogriffons.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/1308 Missouri Western Griffons profile]
- [https://gowyo.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/2732 Wyoming Cowboys profile]
- [https://greenbayphoenix.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/sundance-wicks/524 Green Bay Phoenix profile]
{{Mountain West Conference men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Wyoming Cowboys basketball coach navbox}}
{{Horizon League Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Sundance}}
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Sweden
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American Roman Catholics
Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Category:Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball coaches
Category:Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball coaches
Category:Missouri Western Griffons men's basketball coaches
Category:Northern State Wolves men's basketball coaches
Category:Northern State Wolves men's basketball players
Category:Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball coaches