Wayne has spent over 40 years in the world of Athletics. As a basketball coach, Director of Development and Director of Athletics he has had a front row seat for the dramatic changes that have taken place in athletics.

In the summer of 2023, Wayne Stehlik retired at the Director of Athletics for the Springdale Public Schools District. Upon his retirement, the District Athletic Department was one of the largest in Arkansas with over 3900 student athletes and 200 coaches. During his tenure as the Director of Athletics for Springdale Public Schools, sports were added, facilities were built or upgraded and one of the state’s best sports streaming program was created. The district won 19 State Championships and 31 Conference Championships. Stehlik is originally from Pleasant Dale Nebraska and was raised on a third-generation farm. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and began his coaching career as an assistant to Dr. Irv Peterson, who had been an assistant to Phog Allen at Kansas after World War II.

He earned his master’s degree at the University of Kansas where he worked under legendary Coach Ted Owens

After a 2-year stint as the Head Basketball and Golf coach at Baker University, he joined Coach Nolan Richardson at the University of Arkansas and was part of the staff when the Arkansas Razorbacks defeated Duke to win the 1994 NCAA National Championship. He spent 17 years on the Men’s Razorback Basketball staff.

Stehlik served as the Development Director for Women’s Athletics during the Campaign for the 21st Century. It was also during this time, he created Play2Win Consulting, with a mission to connect people and communities. Prior to Stehlik assuming the Director of Athletics position at Springdale, Stehlik was the assistant basketball coach for the WNBA Tulsa Shock under Head Coach Nolan Richardson. Stehlik is married to Tracey Mays Stehlik, who is an Associate AD for Compliance at the University of Arkansas. They have 2 daughters who are University of Arkansas graduates. Mollie, the Director of Events for University of Arkansas Athletic and Maggie, who works for Sweti Marketing in Bentonville.