Fred Whitfield

Head Coach, Sledge Hammers

Whitfield is one of the most decorated Black cowboys in rodeo history. He is a seven-time tie-down roping PRCA world champion and was once crowned the all-around champion, while also winning the WNFR average in tie-down roping four times. When Whitfield won the 1991 tie-down roping title, he became the second Black cowboy in PRCA history to win a world title, and then became the first Black Western sports athlete to win an all-around title in 1999. A 20-time WNFR qualifier, his 10-head total of 84.0 seconds en route to the aggregate title in 1997 is regarded as one of the WNFR’s greatest performances.