Wantland served as a sports coach and athletic director, and dean at Central State Teachers College in Edmond, Oklahoma.
[2] He attended the University of Oklahoma where Wantland participated on the football, baseball, track, and basketball teams.
He was instrumental in founding the first Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference in which all normal schools in the state participated.
During the 1924 season, Wantland had his greatest success, after a season opening loss to Southwestern (KS), he led the Bronchos to their only win over his alma mater the Oklahoma Sooners, shortly thereafter the Bronchos defeated eventual Southwest Conference champion Baylor in Dallas, on the way to a 9–1 record and the OIC crown.
[12][13] When Murray was successful in his gubernatorial bid he swiftly fired both President Mitchell and Wantland.
[15][16] After being fired by Governor Murray, Wantland entered the oil supply business until his retirement in 1953.