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Athletics

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. [IMAGE: Stubblefield Center at Night]

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 seven Bi-State Conference championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008) 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, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and the Region II Championship in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. Dale Harpenau, head baseball coach, has guided his team to 363 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, 2006 and 2007 and Region II tournament championships in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The volleyball program also holds the distinction of being named an NJCAA Academic All-American Team eight times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007).

The golf and tennis teams, while beginning just their fourth year of competition, have already made an impact both regionally and nationally. The men's golf team won back-to-back-to-back Region II tournament titles (2006, 2007, 2008) and finished a program-best fourth place in the 2008 NJCAA national tournament. The women's golf team though small (1 member in 2006, two in 2007, four in 2008) has competed well at both the regional and national level. The Lady Lions were Region II tournament runner-up and finished eighth in the national tournament this past spring. Men's and women's tennis have both won regional titles in their first three years of competition. The men's team finished the 2008 season with a seventh-place finish at the national tournament, while the women finished the year with a 23rd-place at the national tournament.

The UA Fort Smith athletic department takes great pride in its facilities. Crowder Field, which is the home of the baseball team, is one of the best baseball facilities in the region. The Stubblefield Center, which opened in January of 2002, is 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 athletic academic advisors Julie Mosley, Will Collier and Dustin Smith, as well as 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.

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT NEWS

UA Fort Smith To Induct Seven Into First Lions Hall Of Fame

Something old, something new.

As the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith writes a new chapter in its athletic history as a NCAA Division II program, it will seek to preserve the memories from its illustrious past and honor those were played an important part in the growth and success of the program.

UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith recently announced the creation of the UA Fort Smith Lions Hall of Fame to honor former student-athletes, coaches and friends of the program who made significant contributions to the program.

“This task is large because we have had so many great athletes, coaches and friends of the program throughout our history. To narrow that down and select the cream of the crop is a very daunting task, so the committee did a great job,” Smith said. “The focus was to truly honor the foundation of this athletic program. We are only where we are now because of those individuals from our past.

“It only seemed fitting to create a Hall of Fame and honor our athletic program and the people who have been associated with it.”

The first Lions Hall of Fame class will consist of seven former student-athletes, coaches and administrators – the late Shelby Breedlove, a former coach and administrator; the late Gayle Kaundart, a former men’s basketball coach; the late Jimmy Charles, a former men’s basketball coach; the late Clair Bates, a former basketball and football player; Bill Crowder, a former basketball and baseball coach; Ron Brewer, a former basketball player; and Kim Williams, a former basketball player.

“As you look over the history of our athletic program there are names that no matter who you talk to are mentioned in regards to this athletic program as being the ‘greats,’” Smith said. “Narrowing 81 years of individuals to seven members was a very difficult task, but I think the committee did a great job in truly covering our athletic history. “This is a starting point, and we will continue to add to it as the years go on.”

Members of the inaugural Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted during a luncheon on Feb. 27 and will be recognized later that day during intermission of the UA Fort Smith-St. Mary’s University basketball games.

NCAA Grants UA Fort Smith Provisional Membership Status

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith has moved one step closer to reaching its goal of becoming a full-fledged member of NCAA Division II.

The NCAA has granted UA Fort Smith provisional Division II membership status beginning with the upcoming academic year. UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith received official notification from the NCAA during a conference call on Thursday afternoon.

“A lot of work has gone into getting to this point. By no means is it over, but it is a huge step in the right direction and a positive movement for the institution and the athletic department,” Smith said. “A lot of worries have ended with this decision. We are one step closer to the prize, and that prize is active membership in Division II.”

As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level this upcoming season, but its teams will not be eligible to compete for conference or region championships or participate in postseason play.

Once the provisional year is completed, UA Fort Smith will be eligible for full active membership. That decision will be made by the NCAA in July 2010. Smith said he expects UA Fort Smith to be granted full active membership at that time.

“In the whole process if (the NCAA) doesn’t feel that you have done what you are supposed to do, you repeat the year that you are on,” Smith explained. “I can’t ever say that (full active membership) is a done deal, but hopefully a year from this time, we can say that it’s a done deal and that we are an active Division II school.

“We have the pieces in place, and I would not foresee them saying that we would have to repeat the third year (the provisional year).”

UA Fort Smith announced its intentions to leave the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and pursue NCAA Division II membership prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.

UA Fort Smith completed the first year of the two-year exploratory phase required for Division II membership and was given approval by the NCAA on July 24, 2008, to move to the second year of the membership process for the 2008-09 academic year.

Two members representing the NCAA membership committee conducted a two-day, on-site visit at UA Fort Smith this past April, during which time they toured the campus and the athletic facilities and interviewed administrators, faculty and staff about the university’s academic and athletic policies and procedures.

Their favorable report – as well as UA Fort Smith’s work throughout the early stages of the membership process – was instrumental in the committee granting the university provisional membership status.

“My goal in this whole process was to do as much as we could on the front end to look and present ourselves as a Division II school,” Smith said. “We looked at a lot of institutions both in the state and in the region to give us some guidance and to set a standard for us to follow.

“My whole philosophy was that ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Obviously, there are schools around us who have been successful as Division II schools. We wanted to implement some of the things they do, and (UA Fort Smith Chancellor) Dr. (Paul) Beran has given us great guidance in doing that and has been very supportive of that. I think the (membership) committee was pleased with what we have done.”

This past spring, UA Fort Smith accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Conference and will begin competition in the league beginning this fall. The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

UA Fort Smith Accepts Invitation To Join Heartland Conference

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s search for an NCAA Division II athletic conference is over. Athletic director Dustin Smith announced on Monday that UA Fort Smith has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Heartland Conference, a now 10-member league based in Waco, Texas.

UA Fort Smith will begin play in the Heartland Conference with the start of the 2009-10 season.

“It’s a historic day for UA Fort Smith athletics as we continue our transition to NCAA Division II status,” Smith said. “We are thankful to now have a home, and we feel the Heartland Conference fits the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department.”

UA Fort Smith, which is in its final year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, is currently in the second year of the three-year Division II membership process.

UA Fort Smith will be a provisional Division II member next season while competing in the Heartland Conference. UA Fort Smith’s teams, however, will not be eligible to compete in postseason play until the 2010-11 season, when it becomes a full-fledged member of Division II.

“We are excited about beginning play in Division II next year and being a member of the Heartland Conference,” UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said. “We will be playing schools that will be on par with us. … This is a great moment.”

The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

“We look forward to establishing ourselves at the Division II level, and the Heartland Conference will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our program – athletically and academically,” Smith said.

The Heartland Conference sponsors six men’s sports – cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and seven women’s sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball and tennis.

UA Fort Smith currently competes in four men’s sports – basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and four women’s sports – volleyball, basketball, golf and tennis. Next season, it also will field men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Smith said the Heartland Conference not only is a great fit for UA Fort Smith athletically but academically as well.

Universities in the Heartland Conference offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The strength of the student-athlete concept is well supported by the many NCAA scholar-athletes in each school, the high cumulative GPA of the student-athletes in each school and the high number of student-athletes who graduate from each institution in the Heartland Conference.

“We are proud of their commitment to academics at the conference level,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect of our student-athletes.”

Smith said he is looking forward to a long relationship with the Heartland Conference.

“We are excited about being a member of the Heartland Conference and look forward to playing in the conference for many years to come,” Smith said.

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