User:Localhistorybuff/Wendi Willits

Wendi Willits Wells, former University of Arkansas basketball player, a member of the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks and current high school coach in Oklahoma was born Nov. 18, 1978, in Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma, to Gene Ray and Judith Willits. She graduated in 1997 from Ft. Cobb-Broxton High School where she starred in several sports. The 5' 7" guard then signed with the University of Arkansas. While a Razorback she set Arkansas school records for career three-point field goals (316), single season three pointers (104) and single game treys (nine). Her stats (.406) in 1998-99 were tops in the nation. Willits was named All-SEC 2nd team in 2000 and All-SEC third team in 2001. After graduation from U of A in 2001 with a degree in Exercise Science she was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. She retired after one year to go into coaching with her first assignment as an assistant at a small college in Georgia. On June 18, 2005, she married Douglas Patrick Wells and they elected to move back to her home state of Oklahoma. She was hired as an assistant in the girls' basketball program at Shawnee High School, Shawnee, Oklahoma. In 2008 she was promoted to head coach of the Lady Wolves. In 2011 she guided the girls to their first ever trip to the State Championship tournament where they lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champion. The following year, 2012, Wells' squad completed the season undefeated and won the Class 5A title. Three of her players signed college letters-of-intent to play at Division 1 universities.

Wells and her husband have a son, Walter Hagen (known as Hagen). She is the sister of Reggie Willits, an outfielder with the MLB California Angels.