In Carthel's first year as head coach, the Buffaloes finished with an overall record of 10–2, going 8–1 in LSC play, winning the LSC's South Division and were named conference champions. West Texas A&M qualified for the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, earning a first-round bye, but the Buffaloes were eliminated by No. 23 Pittsburg State, 41–3, in the second round.
Offseason
Coaching changes
Head coach Ronnie Jones was suspended with pay on April 13, 2005, amid allegations that he had misused university resources for personal gain.[1] Jones resigned as the Buffaloes' head coach on April 18 after a university investigation discovered that Jones was running a marketing business out of his office; offensive coordinator Lee Hays was named the team's interim head coach.[2] In three years as the program's head coach, the Buffaloes went 0–11, 3–8, and 2–8 under Jones for an overall record of 5–27.
The university hired Don Carthel to replace Jones. Carthel had previously applied to be the Buffaloes' head coach in 2001, but Jones was selected over Carthel.[3]