When a person thinks of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and Lion athletics, they can’t help but think of success. That success has been quite apparent over the years, both in the playing arenas and in the classroom.

The Lions have claimed National Championships in men’s basketball (1981, 2006) and women’s basketball (1995), as well as competing yearly for conference and regional championships in all sports for over a half-century.

Since 2000, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has claimed six consecutive Bi-State Conference Championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) and three Region II Championships (2001, 2002, 2006) in men’s basketball. The women’s basketball team has shared one Bi-State Conference Championship (2003), claimed the outright Conference Championship in 2004 and 2005 and the Region II Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Dale Harpenau, head baseball coach, has guided his team to over 200 wins and the 2007 Region II Championship while playing in one of the toughest conferences in the nation. UA Fort Smith volleyball has had their share of success, winning Conference Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, and Region II Championships in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. The volleyball program also holds the distinction of being named an NJCAA Academic All-American Team seven years in a row (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005).

The golf and tennis teams, while only in their second year of competition, have already made an impact both regionally and nationally. The men's golf team won back-to-back Region II titles (2006, 2007) and finished seventh in the 2007 NJCAA National Tournament. The women's golf team though small (1 member in 2006, two in 2007) has competed well at both the regional and national level. Men's and women's tennis have both won regional titles in their first two years of competition. The men's team finished the 2007 season in 10th place at their national tournament, while the women finished the year with a 14th place national ranking.

While the teams were all having a great deal of success on their respective playing fields, the UA Fort Smith administration was busy renovating and building new homes for the Lions. Crowder Field renovations were completed, making it one of the best baseball facilities in the area. January 2002 saw the opening of the Stubblefield Center, one of the finest athletic complexes in the country. Home of both basketball programs and the volleyball program, the Stubblefield Center also houses the athletic offices and team locker rooms. In addition to Lion athletic events, the Stubblefield Center has also hosted state high school tournaments in basketball and volleyball, as well as community events ranging from choral and band concerts to graduation ceremonies.

Although the Lions have accomplished great things on the courts and fields, it is the classroom where the UA Fort Smith administration and the entire athletic department staff are primarily focused. Each University of Arkansas –Fort Smith athlete is supported in every academic area to assure that his or her academic goals are met. This is evident through the care and attention that each athlete receives from the athletic academic advisors Julie Mosely and Dustin Smith, tutors, and coaches.

The athletic department at UA Fort Smith, like the rest of the campus community, is striving daily to be the best in all areas, giving students and student-athletes the best chance to succeed.

Mission Statement

The mission of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is to provide student athletes with the opportunity to compete within a structured sporting environment that facilitates and enriches the student athlete’s intellectual, personal, cultural, and professional development.

• The UA Fort Smith athletic program is committed to supporting student-athletes as they attempt to attain their educational goals and will monitor academic progress towards degree completion.

• A strong athletic program makes a significant positive contribution to University recognition by the public, students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

• Intercollegiate athletics supports the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s goal for a diverse academic community and seeks to generate a unifying spirit among all institutional constituencies.

• The UA Fort Smith athletics program provides equal opportunity for participation for all people regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

• The UA Fort Smith athletics program believes in an unwavering commitment to the best practices of sportsmanship and sound ethical conduct from all participants, coaches, players, administrators, staff, faculty, students, and community members alike. Pressure to win without regard to the student athlete’s academic, physical, or psychological well being will not be tolerated.

• The UA Fort Smith athletic program is to be administered in accordance with the policies of conference and other state, regional, and national organizations in which the University holds membership.

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT NEWS

Harpenau Steps Down As Athletics Director

You’ll never hear Dale Harpenau boast about what he’s done while athletics director at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. The success of the Lions athletics program during the five years of his tenure, however, is obvious.

Seven of the eight UA Fort Smith teams have won at least one NJCAA Region II championship, and all but one has made at least one appearance in their respective NJCAA national tournament with men’s basketball winning the 2006 national championship.

“Men’s basketball winning the national championship was pretty big,” Harpenau said. “Getting to be a part of that was a lot of fun.”

As the athletics program begins its second year of its transition from NJCAA to NCAA Division II, Harpenau will step down as athletics director effective July 1. He will be succeeded by current assistant athletics director Dustin Smith.

Harpenau will remain on staff as head baseball coach.

“As we started to make the change to NCAA Division II, it became apparent to me that it was going to be difficult to continue doing both jobs and do a good job at both,” said Harpenau, who recently finished his 10th season as head baseball coach. “It’s strictly a professional decision on my part and a family decision. This will allow me to be able to spend more time with my family.

“They are all active in a lot of activities, and I want to be a part of that.”

Harpenau joined the UA Fort Smith staff in May of 1998 as head baseball coach, succeeding legendary Lions coach Bill Crowder. Prior to coaching the Lions, Harpenau was head baseball coach for 11 seasons at Arkansas Tech University.

He succeeded former UA Fort Smith men’s basketball coach Doc Sadler as athletics director in May of 2003. Sadler, who had been athletics director and head basketball coach for five seasons, left to become assistant men’s basketball coach at the University of Texas - El Paso. Sadler went on to become head coach at UT - El Paso and is currently the head coach at Nebraska.

Harpenau was instrumental in the growth of the athletics department during his tenure as athletics director, which included the addition of men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis.

“We’ve had a good run the past five years with the success we’ve had both on and off the court and on and off the field. I feel good about where things are at, and we’re headed in the right direction,” Harpenau said. “I’ve been really fortunate in that I’ve had some really good people to work with and have had an administration that has been really supportive. And I’m very appreciative of our fans, who have continued to come out and support our program.”

Smith, 31, joined the UA Fort Smith staff in May of 2007 as assistant athletics director. Prior to that, Smith was the transfer enrollment manager for three years at East Central University in Ada, Okla., (2004-2007) and director of recruitment for two years at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva (2002-2004).

The Pawhuska, Okla., native also worked as student activities coordinator at Murray State University in Tishomingo, Okla., for one year (2001-02).

“I’m going to have some big shoes to fill. It’s headed in the right direction, and I’m going to try to continue what he’s done,” Smith said. “I’m not a coach, and I’m not going to be a coach. I’m not going to call plays and tell them what kind of defenses to run, but I will do the best I can to get them the things they need to be successful.”

Smith, who holds bachelor’s degrees in mass communication and physical education and a masters’ degree in sports administration, is eager to take on the challenge of the athletics director position, particularly at a time when the program is transitioning from NJCAA to NCAA Division II.

UA Fort Smith recently completed the first year of the two-year exploratory period, which is the initial phase of the NCAA Division II membership process.

“I had the chance to learn under coach Harp for a year,” Smith said. “I got the chance to learn the ins and outs of Lions athletics, and it was a valuable learning experience. The best thing is that coach Harp is not going anywhere. I will have him as a tremendous resource of information and experience.”

New Staff Members Join Athletics Department

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith athletics department has announced the hiring of head athletics trainer Jeff McGee, assistant athletics trainer Rae Tribble and compliance officer Will Collier.

McGee, 34, joins the UA Fort Smith staff after previously serving as an assistant athletics trainer at the University of Arkansas, where he worked with men’s track and field and cross country and assisted with summer football.

The Fayetteville, Ark., native holds a bachelor’s degree in athletics training from Oklahoma State University (2006) and a master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas (2007).

While at Arkansas, McGee was a trainer for teams that won one indoor track national championship and six Southeastern Conference track championships and worked with legendary Razorbacks track coach John McDonnell, who recently retired after 36 seasons and 42 national championships.

At UA Fort Smith, McGee will supervise an athletics training department that will monitor the health and well-being of more than 100 student-athletes representing eight sports. McGee said he is excited about heading up his own department.

“We’re going (NCAA) Division II, and I get the chance to be here on the ground floor and help build up (the training department),” McGee said. “I’m not about wanting to be at a large university. I want to be at a place where I can make a difference and the teams are good. And, that’s what we have here.”

McGee, who is married to wife Ashley, will begin his position at UA Fort Smith on July 1.

Tribble, 24, joins the UA Fort Smith staff after previously serving as a graduate assistant trainer at the University of Arkansas, where she worked with football, women’s basketball, track and field and volleyball.

The Money, Miss., native holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University (2006) and a master’s degree in athletics training from the University of Arkansas (2008).

Tribble will begin her position at UA Fort Smith on July 1.

“I am so impressed with the facilities, and I’m excited to work with the athletics teams here,” Tribble said. “I’m honored to be a part of the UA Fort Smith family.”

Collier, 26, joins the UA Fort Smith staff after serving as compliance assistant at the University of Arkansas the past 2 ½ years.

The Savannah, Ga., native holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Southern University (2005) and a master’s degree in human resource management from the University Arkansas (2008).

Collier moved from Georgia with his parents, who are employed at the University of Arkansas, to Arkansas in 1994 and is a 2000 graduate of Fayetteville High School. He played basketball and ran track at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., and went on to become assistant women’s basketball coach there for two seasons, during which time the Lady Jags twice advanced to the NCAA tournament.

He will be UA Fort Smith’s first compliance officer and will begin his position on July 1.

“I had a great feel when I was down there,” Collier said. “The people are really nice, and the campus is bigger than what I thought it was. I was really impressed. I’m excited about getting started.”

UA Fort Smith recently completed the first year of the two-year exploratory period, which is the initial phase of NCAA Division II membership. UA Fort Smith will begin its final season as a member of NJCAA in August.

“We look forward to Jeff, Rae and Will joining the staff here at UA Fort Smith,” UA Fort Smith assistant athletics director Dustin Smith said. “They will help us in our transition to Division II, and they will be a valuable part of that transition.”