Bronchos Mourn Loss of Former Athletic Director

6/25/2015 9:00:00 AM

Skip Wagnon

EDMOND (June 25) – The Central Oklahoma athletic family lost a true icon Wednesday when former coach and athletic director John "Skip" Wagnon passed away from an apparent heart attack.

The 69-year-old Wagnon retired from UCO in 2003 after more than 30 years with the university, including 17 as athletic director. He continued to be a loyal supporter of all Broncho teams and had missed only two home football games in the past 40 years.

"Skip Wagnon did more for UCO athletics than arguably any other person in our history," said Mike Kirk, director of athletic media relations. "He was a true Broncho and touched the lives of thousands of coaches and student-athletes as a trainer, coach and athletic director. More importantly, he was a great person and his loss leaves a huge void in the lives of all those who loved him."

A native of Hominy, Wagnon served as a student athletic trainer at Central during his undergraduate days in the late 1960s. He spent one year as head athletic trainer at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas before taking over that position at UCO in 1971.

Skip stayed in athletics until moving across campus to the Alumni Association as executive director in 1979. He served in that capacity before being named athletic director and men's golf coach in 1986.

Wagnon oversaw UCO's move from NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference in the late 1980s and under his guidance Broncho athletic teams flourished. UCO captured dozens of conference titles in various sports during Skip's tenure while also competing for national honors and annually ranking as one of the top overall athletic programs in NCAA Division II.

Wagnon spent 18 years during his stint as golf coach, leading the Bronchos to eight national tournaments. He coached 13 Division II All-Americans, including the school's first individual national champion.

Skip retired in June 2003 and was immediately voted into the UCO Athletic Hall of Fame for his many contributions and great dedication to UCO athletics. He was named to the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor in 2004.

Wagnon was proceeded in death by his wife, Harriett. He had two children (Jenny and Stan) and six grandchildren, with a seventh on the way.

Funeral services are pending.

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