Kerry Doster enters his third season at the helm of the South Plains College rodeo program after leading the Sul Ross rodeo program since June 1996. In addition to coaching the Sul Ross rodeo teams, Doster was also a lecturer in Farrier Technology and manager of the Faskin Ranch facility.
Doster is ambitious and sees no reason the Texan and Lady Texan program cannot elevate to new heights in the not-so-distant future.
"Our expectations are to win the men's and women's regional title in the next five years with hopes of a title at the College National Finals Rodeo," states Doster. "The administrative staff at South Plains College has given the rodeo program the resources and the tools to be successful."
Doster's career in college rodeo began when he became a member of the Weatherford College rodeo team from 1992-1994. After graduating from Weatherford Doster transferred to Sul Ross where he continued to compete in the saddlebronc, bareback, and steer wrestling events until he graduated with a degree in Ag Business in 1996. Doster completed a masters of science degree in 2009, also from Sul Ross.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Doster was a member of the PRCA from 1994-2004 while competing in saddlebronc and steer wrestling. He still competes in steer wrestling and team roping, in addition to training horses in his spare time.
Doster and his wife, Lacey, reside in Levelland and have one daughter, Kellyanna.
A native of Rochester, Minn., Katie's primary responsibilities include direct care of Texan and Lady Texan student-athletes, supervision of student athletic trainers, as well as management and administration of the athletic training room.
Prior to being hired at South Plains, Edens spent two years with Lubbock Sports Medicine while also working towards a Master's degree in Athletic Training at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, which she finished in May, 2012.
Edens is a 2006 graduate of Bemidji State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, specializing in mathematics and coaching. She spent time as a teacher in Washington and her home state of Minnesota prior to entering the field of athletic training.
In addition to his duties leading the SPC athletic department, Tubb also enters his second year serving as the President of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), where he is responsible for a myriad of duties including presiding over annual, executive, and special meetings for the second largest intercollegiate athletic association.
Tubb - who has served in multiple capacities over the years and has been instrumental in the growth of two-year collegiate athletics - was recently the recipient of the highest honor bestowed upon by the National Alliance of Two-Year Collegiate Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) when he was recognized and received the L. William Miller Award at a Dallas awards luncheon on June 25, 2012. In 2006 and 2010 Tubb was named Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of College Athletic Directors (NACDA).
At South Plains College, Tubb is responsible for supervising all sports programs and coordinating other activities specifically designed to promote athletics at the college. Additionally, Tubb is responsible for the Texan Dome, the intramural and recreational program, and Texas High School University Interscholastic League (UIL) events hosted by the college including the boys and girls Region I Class A basketball tournaments and the Region I Class A track and field, tennis, and golf championships.
All 30 of SPC's NJCAA national championships have occurred under Tubb's watch and the 2011-12 season was one of the most successful in the history of SPC athletics as SPC athletes brought home national titles in the women's half-marathon, men's basketball, and men's and women's track and field. The Texan basketball team became only the sixth team in history to complete an undefeated season en-route to claiming the NJCAA national championship and also brought the basketball championship home in 2008.
Since taking over as athletic director in 1983, the Texan and Lady Texan basketball teams have also claimed a combined 13 Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) championships while both teams have won the Region 5 tournament seven times on their way to earning a spot in the NJCAA Tournament.
Under Tubb's direction the college has also hosted eight NJCAA Championship events, most recently the 2012 Outdoor Track and Field Championships where the Texans and Lady Texans swept the team titles. South Plains College is scheduled to host the 2012 NJCAA half-marathon, 2013 golf, and 2014 and 2016 outdoor track and field championships.
Tubb is most proud of the success SPC athletes have had in the classroom where a high percentage have graduated and moved on to compete and attend four-year institutions. He gives much of the credit for to the high quality of coaches that South Plains College has been able to attract and to the Assistance for Student-Athlete Program (ASAP) that has been installed over the years and includes mandatory study halls, drug testing, faculty mentor programs, and special classes covering time management, drug abuse, test taking, and sex education, among others.
Tubb also oversees the operation of the Texan Club, the athletic booster club at SPC comprised of civic leaders and local businessmen and women.
Tubb knows what it means to be a student-athlete at SPC. He played on the men's intercollegiate golf team under head coach Bill Powell as a student during the 1966-67 school year before transferring to West Texas A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor in physical education and graduated as a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society in 1971. In 1981, Tubb earned a Master's degree in physical education from Sul Ross State University. The following year, 1982, Tubb was selected as an Outstanding Young Man of America.
Following a 12-year career as a high school coach and teacher, Tubb returned to his alma mater in 1983 when he accepted the role as director of athletics.
Active in the community, Tubb is a past president and Rotarian since 1983. He has also served in various positions including president of the Levelland Country Club, local board member of the American Cancer Society, and director of the George White District of Boy Scouts of America.
Tubb is a lifetime member of the Texas High School Coaches Association and a former member of the Basketball Advisory Committee. He served as Director of Region 5 from 1999-2009 and has been a member of NATYCAA since 1989 and has sat on the NATYCAA board since 2001. In April 2010 he was elected to serve as the NJCAA 1st Vice-President for men, a position he maintained until being elected President.
Tubb and his wife, Kathy, have been married 45 years and have a son, Chad, and a daughter, Lesli, who is a coach's wife and teach in Lubbock, Texas. Lesli has two children, Kayli and Kade.
Joe Walker enters his fifth year at South Plains
College. Hired in October, 2008, Walker
came to South Plains College from Texas Tech University where he served as the
Director of Operations for Track and Field and Cross Country for four years.
At SPC he assists with marketing and promotions of the athletic department, handles statistics at basketball games, responds to media requests regarding sports programs, and assists with UIL activities, among other duties assigned by the athletic director.
Additionally, Walker was instrumental in creating and now coordinates the NJCAA Region 5 website and is responsible for communicating with coaches from around the region to gather scores and other information relevant to the schools competing in Region 5.
Walker is a 2003 graduate of the University of Arkansas and attained a
Masters degree in education from Sul Ross State University in 2011.
Contact Information
806-716-2209 office
awalker@southplainscollege.edu
The native of Amarillo, Texas is a 2002 graduate of Caprock High School and is no stranger to success within the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) as he has been a member of two college national final team championships and even won an individual national title at the 2004 CNFR in the saddlebronc competition.
After helping Vernon College win the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in 2003 with a fifth place finish in the steer wrestling competition, Eakin transferred to West Texas A&M University where he competed for his brother, Mark Eakin. He had an immediate impact on the WTAMU program as he won the saddlebronc in 2004.
Although it may not have been his best season individually, the completion of the 2006 schedule may be one of the most memorable for Eakin as he helped the Buffs to their first Southwest Regional title since 1998 and then went on to to win the team title at the CNFR in Casper, Wyo. by 160 points. Eakin was personally responsible for 80 of the Buffs' 690 point total with his 19th place finish in the saddle-bronc. Following the season Eakin was named the winner of the Walt Garrison Award, a coveted honor recognizing achievement both inside and outside the rodeo arena.
Prior to his days competing in the CNFR, Eakin was a highly touted three sport star at Caprock High School. During his senior season he claimed the all-around and steer wrestling titles at the National High School Championships in Farmington, N.M.
In addition to rodeo, Eakin was a runnerup finisher in the 171-pound weight class at the Texas High School wrestling championships and also played middle linebacker on Caprock's football team.
Eakin says he has planned to coach his entire life and is very excited to begin his career at South Plains College. He and his wife, Kassidy, have a son, Wyatt.
