The NAIA 2008 Women's Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year, Brian Whitlock took over the Pioneer track and field program in 2007, leading the Pioneer women's teams to the NAIA titles in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. It was the first-ever outdoor title in WBU women's history and the fourth indoor championship.

A 2001 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University where he was a Sooner Athletic Conference Cross Country Champion and a NAIA All-American, Coach Whitlock came to Wayland in 2004 as head cross country coach. He immediately turned the program from an after-thought to a national contender.

In his first year at Wayland, Coach Whitlock was named the 2004 Sooner Athletic Conference and Region VI Men's Coach of the Year after leading Wayland to a second place finish. He was also named the 2006 Women's SAC Coach of the Year. The Pioneer men's team has qualified for the NAIA Cross Country Championships two of the past three years. They were ranked ninth in the final NAIA Top 25 in 2005 and were 14th in 2006. Two of his runners earned NAIA All-American recognition and captured individual conference championships.

The Wayland cross country women, who were ranked nationally in 2006 for the first time in over a decade, also qualified for the national championships with a second place conference and regional finish.

In 2007, the Pioneer women won the conference and regional cross country titles and finished sixth at the NAIA Championships behind the performance of All-American Caroline Karunde.

As a collegian, Coach Whitlock was also a national track and field qualifier in the 1000-meter run and the steeplechase, and was the SAC Champion in the 5K.