Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Tennis (1965-69)

James Wadley was one of the many outstanding tennis stars produced by Hall of Fame coach Clarence Dyer. Wadley’s fame is not attributed solely to his playing career at Southeastern, but also to an outstanding collegiate coaching record.

Born October 27, 1945, at Talihina, Oklahoma, James attended the McAlester public schools where he participated in football, basketball, and tennis.

He enrolled at Southeastern when Coach Dyer’s Savages were in the middle of an NAIA tennis dynasty, one that netted twenty consecutive conference championships and annual trips to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. Wadley was a heavy contributor to that success, winning the conference doubles title in his junior and senior years and reaching the doubles finals in the national tournament. He was twice names to the NAIA All-American team.

Following graduation, James launched a brilliant coaching career. After a successful stint at Duncan High School he became the men’s tennis coach at Oklahoma State University in 1972. His first Cowboy squad finished third in the Big Eight Conference. Since that initial season he has won nine Big Eight championships and has not finished lower than second. Wadley’s Oklahoma State Cowboys had become the dominant power in the Big Eight Conference.

James Wadley’s tennis career has been marked by great success, both as an All-American player at Southeastern and as a major college tennis coach. He has brought honor to his alma mater. Southeastern Oklahoma State University honored James Wadley on February 4, 1989 with his induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame.