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Young Harris Mountain Lions
Logo
UniversityYoung Harris College
ConferenceConference Carolinas (primary)
NCAADivision II
Athletic directorJennifer Rushton
LocationYoung Harris, Georgia
Varsity teams16 (7 men's, 8 women's, 1 co-ed)
Basketball arenaThe Harp Recreation and Commencement Center
Baseball stadiumZell B. Miller Field
Softball stadiumYHC Softball Field
Soccer stadiumYHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field
Lacrosse stadiumYHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field
Tennis venueBob & Gayle Nichols Tennis Complex
NicknameMountain Lions
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Websiteyhcathletics.com

The Young Harris Mountain Lions are the athletic teams that represent Young Harris College, located in Young Harris, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in Conference Carolinas beginning in the 2023–24 academic year.

Young Harris competes in fifteen intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The Mountain Lions also sponsor a co-ed spirit cheerleading team.

History

On July 1, 2014, the school completed the transition from the GCAA and the NJCAA to the NCAA at the Division II level. The college originally applied to the NCAA in 2010, but the application was rejected.[2] The school re-applied in 2011 and received acceptance into the three-year process to become a full member. As of the 2011–12 academic year, Young Harris was in the first year of candidacy-membership.[3]

Young Harris later became a member of the PBC, effective July 1, 2012.[4] As part of the transition process into the NCAA, the college began NCAA Division II and Peach Belt Conference schedules for its athletic teams and was immediately eligible for all regular-season championships and other conference awards.[4] During the transition process into the NCAA the college is ineligible for NCAA postseason automatic bids as well as for participation in any PBC Championships which award automatic bids to NCAA Tournaments.[4] As part of the transition to the NCAA, Young Harris reinstated its men's basketball program in 2010, bringing intercollegiate basketball to the college for the first time in 40 years; at the same time, YHC added women's basketball.[5] The college added men's and women's lacrosse teams and a competitive cheerleading team in the 2012–2013 academic year.[6]

Effective June 30, 2023, Young Harris College withdrew from the Peach Belt Conference, resulting in a lawsuit against the school for not providing a notice of withdrawal at least two calendar years in advance as stated in the conference constitution. Young Harris College gave less than a year's notice, resulting in a fee of $240,000 dollars.[7] On July 1, 2023, Young Harris College officially joined Conference Carolinas, becoming the 14th member of the NCAA Division II conference.

Conference affiliations

NJCAA

NCAA

Varsity teams

Young Harris also sponsors a co-ed spirit cheer program.

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Softball
Basketball Basketball
Cross country Cross country
Golf Golf
Lacrosse Lacrosse
Soccer Soccer
Tennis Tennis
Volleyball

Individual teams

Baseball

Baseball coach Rick Robinson earned his 500th win at Young Harris in April 2009, and had been highly successful in placing players in Division I schools. The Young Harris baseball team has captured eight Georgia Junior College titles and five Region XVII titles since 1999, and advanced to the Junior College World Series 2007. The team has averaged 49 wins per season each year since 2004. The team plays on Zell B. Miller Field.

Men's basketball

The school fielded a successful men's basketball team in the 1950s and 1960s. However, the program remained dormant until November 13, 2010, when the sport returned after a 40-year absence, led by former Georgia interim head coach Pete Herrmann.[9] After Herrmann's retirement at the end of the 2017–18 season,[10] Jeremy Currier took the helm of the program.[11]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Pete Herrmann (Independent) (2010–2012)
2010–11 Pete Herrmann 5–21 Transition to DII
2011–12 Pete Herrmann 22–4 Transition to DII
Pete Herrmann (Peach Belt Conference) (2012–2018)
2012–13 Pete Herrmann 17–9 12–7 2nd (West)
2013–14 Pete Herrmann 17–9 11–8 T–2nd (West)
2014–15 Pete Herrmann 13–14 9–10 T–4th (West)
2015–16 Pete Herrmann 15–14 13–6 3rd (West)
2016–17 Pete Herrmann 17–11 11–8 T–1st (West)
2017–18 Pete Herrmann 8–20 7–15 T–9th
Jeremy Currier (Peach Belt Conference) (2018–present)
2018–19 Jeremy Currier 13–16 11–11 T–6th
2019–20 Jeremy Currier 9–19 7–13 9th
2020–21 Jeremy Currier 5–6 5–5 7th
2021–22 Jeremy Currier 6–21 3–15 T-9th
2022–23 Jeremy Currier 19–10 9–9 4th
Total: 156–174 (.473)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Men's soccer

The men's soccer team was a regional finalist in 2006 & 2007. In 1998, led by former coach Jim Thomas, the Mountain Lions won the 1998 NJCAA Division I State Soccer Title.

Women's basketball

Women's basketball began at Young Harris on November 15, 2010, led by former Mississippi State head coach Brenda Paul.[12] Paul was succeeded by Matt Stearsman, who served most of the 2014–15 season as interim head coach before leading the program as full-time head coach until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] Longtime Division I head coach Jim Davis then served as the Mountain Lions' head coach for the 2018–19 season.[14] Upon Davis' departure, Lindsey Huffman took the helm of the program and has served as head coach since the 2019–20 season,[15] winning Peach Belt Conference coach of the year honors in her first season.[16]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Brenda Paul (Independent) (2010–2012)
2010–11 Brenda Paul 11–13 Transition to DII
2011–12 Brenda Paul 23–3 Transition to DII
Brenda Paul (Peach Belt Conference) (2012–2014)
2012–13 Brenda Paul 13–13 7–12 6th (West)
2013–14 Brenda Paul 19–7 14–5 3rd (West)
Brenda Paul/Matt Stearsman (Peach Belt Conference) (2014–2015)
2014–15 Brenda Paul
Matt Stearsman (Interim) 		10–16 7–12 6th (West)
Matt Stearsman (Peach Belt Conference) (2015–2018)
2015–16 Matt Stearsman 11–15 6–13 6th (West)
2016–17 Matt Stearsman 9–17 5–14 6th (West)
2017–18 Matt Stearsman 9–20 6–16 9th
Jim Davis (Peach Belt Conference) (2018–2019)
2018–19 Jim Davis 6–22 4–18 12th
Lindsey Huffman (Peach Belt Conference) (2019–present)
2019–20 Lindsey Huffman 14–15 8–12 T-8th
2020–21 Lindsey Huffman 5–7 5–7 7th
2021–22 Lindsey Huffman 13–15 5–13 T-8th
2022–23 Lindsey Huffman 15–14 9–9 T-6th
Total: 158–177 (.472)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Women's soccer

The Young Harris Lady Mountain Lions won the 2006 NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship, under head coach Kathy Brown. Brown originally served as the assistant coach at Jacksonville State before coming to Young Harris in 1997 and starting the women's soccer program. In just her first season as a head coach, Brown celebrated her first state championship. Coach Brown led the Lady Mountain Lions to a total of eight state titles during her tenure, which lasted through the 2015 season.[17] Christiane Lessa led the program for the 2016 season, followed by longtime Kennesaw State head coach Rob King through 2020.[18][19] The program is currently led by former Young Harris men's soccer athlete and assistant under Kathy Brown, Avram Allen.[20]

Notable alumni

Men's soccer

Women's soccer

Baseball

References

  1. ^ "Young Harris College - Quick Facts". July 10, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Stillwell, Dan (July 14, 2010). "WVU Tech's bid to return to NCAA rejected". The Register-Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  3. ^ Staff (July 12, 2011). "YHC granted candidacy for NCAA Division II membership". Enotah Echoes. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Staff (January 9, 2012). "Peach Belt Conference to add one more member". WRDW-TV. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  5. ^ "Young Harris College extended an invitation to join the Peach Belt Conference". Young Harris College. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  6. ^ Staff (December 5, 2011). "Young Harris to Add M&W Lacrosse in 2013". Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "PEACH BELT CONFERENCE FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST YOUNG HARRIS COLLEGE". Peach Belt Conference. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "Conference History". Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "YHC drops heartbreaker in season opener" YHC Athletics website, November 13, 2010
  10. ^ "Herrmann announces his retirement as men's basketball coach". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Jeremy Currier introduced as Young Harris men's basketball coach". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "YHC hits the road to take on Georgia Southwestern" YHC Athletics website, November 19, 2010
  13. ^ "Matt Stearsman named women's basketball head coach for the Mountain Lions". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Jim Davis introduced as next women's basketball coach for the Mountain Lions". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "Lindsey Huffman named head women's basketball coach". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "Huffman named PBC Coach of the Year, White named to the All-PBC third team". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  17. ^ "Kathy Brown - Women's Soccer Coach". YHC Athletics. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Christiane Lessa - Women's Soccer Coach". YHC Athletics. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Rob King - Women's Soccer Coach". YHC Athletics. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Avram Allen - Women's Soccer Coach". YHC Athletics. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
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