Hall of Fame
Willard Tate is considered the “Father of Faulkner Athletics”, having served then Alabama Christian College as its athletic director for 13 years and its head basketball coach for seven seasons. The Alabama native received a degree in Bible from ACC and always had an uncanny ability to combine preaching the Gospel, teaching life’s lessons and coaching the sport he loved. Tate and his wife, Bobbie, moved to Abilene, Texas in 1973 when he accepted the head basketball job at Abilene Christian University. During his seven seasons there, the Wildcats won a pair of conference championships and earned a berth in the 1980 NAIA National Tournament. His 1979-1980 team set a school record for victories with 27. Tae was inducted into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. He passed away in February of 2010.
