Vanguard University

Bob Wilson served as the Athletic Director of Vanguard University for more than 20 years, winning the NAIA Athletic Director of the Year award in both 2002 and 2012.  During his tenure, Bob Wilson steered VU to championships and awards, helping the department to become one of the leading institutions in the Golden State Athletic Conference.  Under Wilson's direction, the Lions won two NAIA National Championships and 29 GSAC titles in eight sports. 

Wilson arrived at Vanguard in the fall of 1995 and was deeply committed to making an impact on student-athletes and students across campus.  Wilson had coached basketball at the collegiate level for more than 24 years, and coached for three years at Vanguard.  He retired from coaching after the 2005-06 season and had guided the squad to the postseason, when the Lions lost at the NAIA National Tournament.  Wilson's career record as a coached concluded at 385-387.

As an athletic director, Lions pursued excellence not only in athletics, but academics and character, and Wilson showed that on and off campus.

Wilson served the NAIA in significant ways over the years, including being the chair of the NAIA Region II, chair of the National Administration Council, the President of the Basketball Coaches Association, a rater for NAIA men's basketball, and a chairman of the NAIA Basketball National Tournament.  Wilson  served as a vice president of the GSAC and was a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.  In 2004, Wilson was certified by the NAIA as a Champion of Character Instructor and regularly engaged the Vanguard community, speaking and teaching classes on changing the culture of sport.  He created the Gold Pride program the the Athletic Department used for a number of years and conceptualized the Champions of Character initiative on campus.  During his tenure, the department won 16 Champions of Character Team awards, two student-athletes were voted  Dr. LeRoy Walker NAIA Character award winners, and two head coaches were named a Coach of Character.  In March 2007, Wilson was inducted into the NAIA Men's Basketball Hall of Fame and ended his VU tenure in May 2016 after announcing his retirement on July 17, 2015.  

Wilson was born in Denver, Colorado, and was the son of a coach.  He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school before going on to focus on basketball in college.  An Academic All-American athlete, Wilson was the starting point guard for the University of Wyoming and helped lead his team to the NCAA National Tournament. Prior to Vanguard, Wilson served as the athletic director and men's basketball coach at Phillips University (Ok.) for 11 years and then a basketball coach at the University of Hawaii-Hilo for 10 years.  He was also the interim athletic director at Hilo for one year.  Wilson and his wife, Tammy, have two daughters and five grandchildren.