Ouachita Baptist University Athletics

Ouachita alumnus Pat Ponder came home in the summer of 2022 as an assistant coach for the Tigers following nearly four decades as a successful head coach for cross country and track & field.

The 1988 Ouachita graduate began his current role at the university following his retirement as the head cross country and track & field coach at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where he coached for 15 years and helped launched the Texans in its transition process to the NCAA Division I ranks. Ponder also has coaching stops at Henderson State (1988-90), Northwood (1990-96), Texas A&M-Commerce (1996-01, 2002-07), and Wayland Baptist (2001-02).

The Linden, Texas native is a seven-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year in either cross country or track & field. At Tarleton alone, he coached three NCAA Division II national champions, led 54 athletes to All-America honors, and helped his student-athletes set a combined 59 new school records. Including his other coaching stops, Ponder has coached four national champions and more than 70 individuals to earn All-America honors.

Ponder earned All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference honors as a distance runner at Ouachita in the 1980s. He still holds the school record in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 31:21.18 at the Henderson State Relays in 1987. 

Ponder graduated from Ouachita in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He earned a master’s degree in education from Henderson State in 1989. He and his wife, Michele, have two daughters named Kenna and Kylee.