Aug. 14, 2007

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University has a new equestrian coach and instructor of agriculture, and it's a familiar face.

Amanda Love, assistant coach of the equestrian team for the past two years, has been named to fill the shoes of Taylor Moss, who leaves the post after a two-year run.

Love, who earned both a bachelor's degree in equine industry and business and a master's degree in agriculture at WTAMU, takes over a team that placed sixth this past spring in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Western Division.

"We had more than 25 candidates for this position, and when the search committee completed the rigorous process, it felt that Amanda was the top choice to give the team an opportunity to build on its success, both immediately and into the future," Dr. John Pipkin, director of the University's Equine Industry Program, said. "Amanda brings a high level of commitment and great enthusiasm to the job, along with proven and fresh ideas for the team to continue to strive for success."

In addition to coaching the NCAA sport that features western and hunter-seat horse shows in both fall and spring semesters, Love will teach riding classes and an equine science class.

"I'm looking forward to it all, teaching and coaching," Love, a native of Grayling, Mich., said. "It is exciting to be a part of a program that has exceptional backing from both the athletic and agriculture departments. I look forward to welcoming new and past members to the team."

Love joined the equestrian team in fall 2003 after attending Blackhawk College (Ill.), where she completed two associate degrees. She competed at WTAMU in open reining and open horsemanship in a pair of varsity national championship shows. She also was a member of WTAMU's 2004 horse judging team, which won national titles twice that year.

Tryouts for the 2007-2008 equestrian team will be conducted when fall classes commence the last week of August.