Southwest Baptist Bearcats

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Southwest Baptist Bearcats
Southwest Baptist Bearcats logo.svg
University Southwest Baptist University
Conference GLVC
NCAA Division II
Athletic directorMike Pitts
Location Bolivar, Missouri
Varsity teams18
Football stadium Plaster Stadium
Basketball arenaJane and Ken Meyer Sports and Wellness Center
NicknameBearcats
ColorsPurple and white
   
Website www.sbubearcats.com

The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats are the sports teams of Southwest Baptist University located in Bolivar, Missouri. They participate in the NCAA's Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Bearcats had competed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1986. In 2014, the Bearcats as well as the Lincoln Blue Tigers began competing in the GLVC as a football member-only team. [1]

Contents

In fall 2016, Southwest Baptist University became one of the first 15 colleges and universities in the nation to offer esports as a varsity athletics program, with scholarships available. SBU is a charter member of the Collegiate Esports Association (CESPA). [2]

On May 31, 2018, Southwest Baptist announced it would be withdrawing its membership from the MIAA to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference full-time, effective July 1, 2019. [3]

SBU began a varsity Cheer and Stunt team beginning in the 2018–19 season. [4]

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCheer and Stunt
Cross countryCross country
eSportsGolf
Football Soccer
GolfSoftball
SoccerTennis
TennisTrack and field
Track and fieldVolleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Football

The Bearcats football team is currently coached by Robert Clardy. Clardy is the 9th head football coach in Southwest Baptist University history. Clardy graduated from SBU in 2008. During his time at SBU, he played quarterback from the SBU Bearcats football team. After graduation, Clardy became the Quarterbacks coach from 2008 to 2010, was promoted to Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback Coach from 2011 to 2012, and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach in 2013. He became Head Coach in 2015. The SBU Bearcats football team earned an NCAA National Playoff appearance in 2016 after winning the conference title. The team finished 22nd in the final NCAA Division II AFCA poll. [5]

Men's basketball

The Bearcats men's basketball team is currently under the direction of Clark Sheehy. Sheehy took over in 2014. He was previously coach at John Brown University in Arkansas.

Softball

The Bearcats softball team appeared in one Women's College World Series in 1971. [6]

National championships

Team

SportAssociationDivisionYearRunner-upScore
Men's Tennis (1) NAIA (1) Single (1)1984 Lander 29–28

Athletic facilities

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The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats football program represents Southwest Baptist University in college football and competes in the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). In 2014, Southwest Baptist became a football-only member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference and remains a football-only member through the 2018–19 school year, after which it will become a full GLVC member. Prior to this SBU was in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association from 1988 to 2007 and 2012 to 2013, the rest of the athletic programs are in the MIAA. SBU's home games are played at Plaster Stadium in Bolivar, Missouri.

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References

  1. "Great Lakes Valley Conference". glvcsports.com.
  2. "SBU Launches Varsity eSports Program for Fall 2016". Southwest Baptist University. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  3. "Southwest Baptist joining GLVC". May 31, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  4. "Southwest Baptist University Adding STUNT As a Sport in 2018–19". Southwest Baptist University. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  5. "Southwest Baptist University Athletics – Robert Clardy – 2018 Football Coaching Staff – Southwest Baptist University". www.sbubearcats.com. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  6. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN   978-0-9893007-0-4.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Southwest Baptist University, (1994–2007). Southwest baptist university athletics. Retrieved January 6, 2008, from Facilities
  8. 1 2 3 4 Southwest Baptist University, (2007–2008). Campus buildings and facilities. Southwest Baptist University Catalog, 92(3), 7–8.
  9. http://www.sbuniv.edu/tour/pool.htm