Abilene Christian's basketball program began in 1919 at the small Church of Christ-affiliated university in West Texas. The Wildcats spent decades competing in NCAA Division II's Lone Star Conference, winning three straight conference tournament titles in the 1980s, before transitioning to Division I in 2013. ACU rejoined the Southland Conference after a 40-year absence, then moved to the WAC in 2021.
The Wildcats nickname was adopted in the 1920s, a common choice for schools in the region reflecting the fierce, competitive spirit the university wanted to project.
Defeating third-seeded Texas 53-52 in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the program's first-ever Division I tournament win.
ACU's Moody Coliseum was renovated in 2019 and features a video board shaped like a wildcat paw print.
The Abilene Christian Wildcats compete in the WAC and hold an all-time record of 256–232 (.525 winning percentage) across 17 recorded seasons dating back to 1968-69.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 14-19 | 5-13 (WAC) | Brette Tanner | |
| 2024-25 | 16-16 | 8-8 (WAC) | Brette Tanner | |
| 2023-24 | 16-18 | 10-10 (WAC) | Brette Tanner | |
| 2022-23 | 13-17 | 5-11 (WAC) | Brette Tanner | |
| 2021-22 | 25-11 | 11-7 (WAC) | Brette Tanner | |
| 2020-21 | 24-5 | 13-2 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2019-20 | 20-11 | 15-5 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2018-19 | 27-7 | 14-4 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2017-18 | 16-16 | 8-10 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2016-17 | 13-16 | 7-11 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2015-16 | 13-18 | 8-10 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2014-15 | 10-21 | 4-14 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 2013-14 | 11-20 | 2-12 (Southland) | Joe Golding | |
| 1971-72 | 17-8 | 3-5 (Southland) | Carnie Hatch | |
| 1970-71 | 15-9 | 5-3 (Southland) | Carnie Hatch | |
| 1969-70 | 10-16 | Southland | Carnie Hatch | |
| 1968-69 | 5-20 | Southland | Dee Nutt |
California Baptist Lancers · Southern Utah Thunderbirds · Tarleton State Texans · UT Arlington Mavericks · Utah Tech Trailblazers · Utah Valley Wolverines
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|