Southland Conference

Southland Conference
	File:Southland Conference - New Logo as of July 2012.jpg
Association	NCAA
Commissioner	Tom Burnett (since 2002)
Sports fielded	17 men's: 8; women's: 9; ;
Division	Division I
Subdivision	FCS
Region	West South Central
Official website	southland.org
Locations

The Southland Conference is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the south central United States (specifically Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas). It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Southland sponsors 17 sports, nine for women and eight for men, and is governed by a presidential Board of Directors and an Advisory Council of athletic and academic administrators. Tom Burnett was named the Southland's sixth commissioner on Dec. 23, 2002.

The conference's offices are located in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas.

Locations of current Southland Conference full member institutions.

History

Founded in 1963, its members were Abilene Christian College (now Abilene Christian University; departed 1973 for NCAA Division II, but moved to Division I and rejoined the Southland effective 2013), Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University; departed 1987, now a member of the Sun Belt Conference), Arlington State College (now The University of Texas at Arlington, which joined the Western Athletic Conference in 2012, Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University, left in 1987 and re-joined in 1999), and Trinity University (departed 1971, now participating in NCAA Division III).

Since its founding, the Southland Conference has been the home for 18 college and university all-sports programs (see membership timeline above). In addition, the conference has also been home to some schools for one sport only. In the case of football, Troy fielded a team from 1996–2000 and Jacksonville State from 1997-2002. This has also been the case for some Olympic sports like men's tennis, in which the University of Texas–Pan American and the University of New Orleans fielded teams as affiliate members before 2013, when UTPA joined the WAC and UNO became a full Southland member.

Member schools

Current members

Institution	Nickname	Location (Population)	Founded	Type	Enrollment	U.S. News Ranking^[1]	Joined
Abilene Christian University	Wildcats	Abilene, Texas (117,063)	1906	Private	4,558	19 (Regional: West)	1963; 2013¹
University of Central Arkansas	Bears (men's) Sugar Bears (women's)	Conway, Arkansas (58,908)	1907	Public	13,000	60 (Regional: South)	2006
Houston Baptist University	Huskies	Houston, Texas (2,100,263)	1960	Private	2,567	54 (Regional: West)	2013
University of the Incarnate Word	Cardinals	San Antonio, Texas (1,327,407)	1881	Private	8,455	58 (Regional: West)	2013
Lamar University	Cardinals (men's) Lady Cardinals (women's)	Beaumont, Texas (118,296)	1923	Public	14,386	205–270 (National)	1963; 1999²
McNeese State University	Cowboys (men's) Cowgirls (women's)	Lake Charles, Louisiana (71,993)	1939	Public	8,784	88 (Regional: South)	1972
University of New Orleans	Privateers	New Orleans, Louisiana (343,829)	1958	Public	9,825	205–270 (National)	2013
Nicholls State University	Colonels	Thibodaux, Louisiana (14,566)	1948	Public	7,500	95 (Regional: South)	1991
Northwestern State University	Demons	Natchitoches, Louisiana (18,323)	1884	Public	10,159	97–128 (Regional: South)	1987
Oral Roberts University	Golden Eagles	Tulsa, Oklahoma (391,906)	1963	Private	3,417	53 (Regional: West)	2012
Sam Houston State University	Bearkats	Huntsville, Texas (38,548)	1879	Public	17,600	205–270 (National)	1987
Southeastern Louisiana University	Lions	Hammond, Louisiana (20,019)	1925	Public	16,000	97–128 (Regional: South)	1997
Stephen F. Austin State University	Lumberjacks (men's) Ladyjacks (women's)	Nacogdoches, Texas (32,996)	1923	Public	13,000	92–121 (Regional: West)	1987
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi	Islanders	Corpus Christi, Texas (305,215)	1947	Public	9,600	205–270 (National)	2006

Notes

- Abilene Christian re-joined the Southland Conference in 2013 after dropping to NCAA Division II after the 1972–73 season.
- Lamar re-joined the Southland Conference after competing in different conferences between the 1987–88 and 1998–99 seasons.

Former members

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Arkansas State University	Indians¹	Jonesboro, Arkansas	1909	Public	13,438	1963	1987	Sun Belt
University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly Northeast Louisiana University)	Indians¹	Monroe, Louisiana	1931	Public	8,405	1982	2006	Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech University	Bulldogs (men's) Lady Techsters (women's)	Ruston, Louisiana	1894	Public	11,581	1971	1987	C-USA
University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University)	Mean Green	Denton, Texas	1890	Public	35,778	1982	1996	C-USA
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly University of Southwestern Louisiana)	Ragin' Cajuns	Lafayette, Louisiana	1898	Public	16,885	1971	1982	Sun Belt
University of Texas at Arlington	Mavericks	Arlington, Texas	1895	Public	33,439	1963	2012	Sun Belt
University of Texas at San Antonio	Roadrunners	San Antonio, Texas	1969	Public	30,474	1991	2012	C-USA
Texas State University (formerly Texas State University–San Marcos)	Bobcats	San Marcos, Texas	1899	Public	34,229	1987	2012	Sun Belt
Trinity University	Tigers	San Antonio, Texas	1869	Private	2,693	1963	1972	SCAC (NCAA Division III)

Notes

Arkansas State and Louisiana–Monroe have both changed their nicknames since leaving the Southland Conference, respectively to Red Wolves and Warhawks.

Former associate members

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Left	Current Primary Conference	Southland Sports
Jacksonville State University	Gamecocks	Jacksonville, Alabama	1883	Public	9,490	1996-97	2002-03	Ohio Valley (OVC)	football
Troy University (formerly Troy State University)	Trojans	Troy, Alabama	1887	Public	29,689	1996-97	2000-01	Sun Belt	football

Membership timeline

Full members Full members (non-football) Associate members (football only)

1. - Southwestern Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Louisiana–Lafayette) in 1999.
2. - Northeast Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) in 1999.

Sports

The Southland Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and nine women's NCAA sanctioned sports.^[2]

**Teams in Southland Conference competition**
Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	14	-
Basketball	14	14
Cross Country	14	14
Football	11	-
Golf	12	10
Soccer	-	12
Softball	-	12
Tennis	7	13
Track and Field (Indoor)	13	14
Track and Field (Outdoor)	13	14
Volleyball	-	14

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Football	Golf	Tennis	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Total Southland Sports
Abilene Christian	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Central Arkansas	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Houston Baptist	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Incarnate Word	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Lamar	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
McNeese State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
New Orleans	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Nicholls State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	6
Northwestern State	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	6
Oral Roberts	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Sam Houston State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Southeastern Louisiana	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Stephen F. Austin	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	6
Totals	14	14	14	11	12	7	13	13	98

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southland Conference which are played by Southland schools:

School	Soccer
Central Arkansas	MVC
Houston Baptist	WAC
Incarnate Word	Independent
Oral Roberts	Summit

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Soccer	Softball	Tennis	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Volleyball	Total Southland Sports
Abilene Christian	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Central Arkansas	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
Houston Baptist	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	8
Incarnate Word	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
Lamar	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
McNeese State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
New Orleans	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Nicholls State	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Northwestern State	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Oral Roberts	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Sam Houston State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
Southeastern Louisiana	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Stephen F. Austin	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	9
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Totals	14	14	10	12	12	13	14	14	14	117

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southland Conference which are played by Southland schools:

School	Bowling
Sam Houston State	Independent
Stephen F. Austin	Independent

Football

Former and current NFL stars from the Southland include Gary Barbaro, Mike Barber, Fred Barnett, Bill Bergey, Derrick Blaylock, Bubby Brister, Ray Brown, Roger Carr, Mark Carrier, Larry Centers, Bruce Collie, Keith Davis, Fred Dean, Jackie Harris, Stan Humphries, Buford Jordan, Wade Key, Tim McKyer, Jeff Novak, Kavika Pittman, Mike Quinn, Billy Ryckman, Ricky Sanders, Eugene Seale, Rafael Septien, Terrance Shaw, Marcus Spears, Chad Stanley, Pat Tilley, Jeremiah Trotter, Marvin Upshaw, Lardarius Webb and Spergon Wynn.

The Southland was instrumental in founding the Independence Bowl, and the Southland champion served as the automatic home team for that bowl from 1976–1980.^[3]

Basketball

Among notable NBA stars attending Southland Conference schools include Karl Malone (Louisiana Tech), Joe Dumars (McNeese State), Jeff Foster (Southwest Texas State) and Andrew Toney (Southwestern Louisiana).

Former member Louisiana-Monroe (then Northeast Louisiana) advanced to the 1985 NCAA Women's Final Four.

Championships

Facilities

School	Football stadium	Capacity	Basketball arena	Capacity	Baseball park	Capacity
Abilene Christian	Shotwell Stadium	15,075	Moody Coliseum	4,600	Crutcher Scott Field	4,500
Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium	8,035	Farris Center	6,000	Bear Stadium	1,000
Houston Baptist	Crusader Stadium	TBA	Sharp Gymnasium	1,500	Husky Field	1,000
Incarnate Word	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium	6,000	McDermott Convocation Center	2,000	Sullivan Field	1,000
Lamar	Provost Umphrey Stadium	16,000	Montagne Center	10,080	Vincent-Beck Stadium	3,500
McNeese State	Cowboy Stadium	17,410	Burton Coliseum	8,000	Cowboy Diamond	2,000
New Orleans	Tad Gormley Stadium Begins intercollegiate football in 2015	26,500	Lakefront Arena	10,000	Maestri Field	4,000
Nicholls State	Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium	12,800	Stopher Gym	3,800	Ray E. Didier Field	3,200
Northwestern State	Harry Turpin Stadium	15,971	Prather Coliseum	3,900	H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field	1,200
Oral Roberts	Non-football school		Mabee Center	10,575	J. L. Johnson Stadium	2,418
Sam Houston State	Bowers Stadium	14,000	Bernard Johnson Coliseum	6,110	Don Sanders Stadium	1,163
Southeastern Louisiana	Strawberry Stadium	7,408	University Center	7,500	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field	2,500
Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium	14,575	William R. Johnson Coliseum	7,203	Jaycees Field	1,000
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	Non-football school		American Bank Center	8,000	Whataburger Field	5,400

Media

Southland Conference Television Network

The Conference began its own broadcast entity in 2008, the Southland Conference Television Network. It airs in over 20 markets in the league's four-state region, plus on national networks such as Fox College Sports, and ESPN FullCourt and ESPN3. In 2008-09, the Network featured 35 broadcasts, then followed with 31 live events in 2009-10 and 31 in 2010-11. The schedule includes regular season football games, regular season and tournament basketball, and the championships in women's soccer and women's volleyball.

Some events are carried exclusively by ESPN3, including the 2012 softball and baseball championships.

References

^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings
^ http://www.southland.org
^ "About the Southland". Retrieved 2012-01-12.

External links

Official website

[1] ttp://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings

[2] ttp://www.southland.org

[3] "About the Southland". Retrieved 2012-01-12.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Southland Conference
Members	East Texas A&M Lions Houston Christian Huskies Incarnate Word Cardinals Lamar Cardinals and Lady Cardinals McNeese Cowboys and Cowgirls Nicholls Colonels New Orleans Privateers Northwestern State Demons and Lady Demons Southeastern Louisiana Lions and Lady Lions Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders UTRGV Vaqueros (adding football in 2025)
Beach volleyball-only members	Boise State Broncos San Jose State Spartans
Golf-only members	Augusta Jaguars (men & women) Francis Marion Patriots (men)
Tennis-only members	NJIT Highlanders (men & women)
Multi-sport affiliate	Bryant Bulldogs (men's & women's golf and tennis)
Related entities	Southland Bowling League (2015–2023)

v t e NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision conferences
Current conferences	Big Sky Big South–OVC CAA Ivy MEAC MVFC NEC Patriot Pioneer SoCon Southland SWAC UAC
Previous conferences	American West (defunct 1996) ASUN (alliance with WAC as UAC 2023) Atlantic 10 (alliance with CAA 2007) Big South (alliance with OVC 2023) Great West (non-football 2012; defunct 2013) Gulf Star (defunct 1987) MAAC (non-football 2008) Mid-Continent (now Summit, alliance with MVC 1985 currently as MVFC) OVC (alliance with Big South 2023) WAC (alliance with ASUN as UAC 2023) Yankee (became A10 1997, alliance with CAA 2007)
Independents