Shawnee State Bears

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Shawnee State Bears
SSUBearsprimarylogo.png
University Shawnee State University
Association NAIA
Conference River States
(MEC in 2026) [1]
Athletic director Gerald Cadogan
Location Portsmouth, Ohio
Varsity teams20 (9 men's, 10 women's, 1 co-ed)
Basketball arenaFrank and Janis Waller Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumBranch Rickey Park
Softball stadiumBoone Coleman Field
Soccer stadiumShawnee Turf
NicknameBears
ColorsMidnight Blue, Gray, and White
     
Website www.ssubears.com

The Shawnee State Bears are the athletic teams that represent Shawnee State University, located in Portsmouth, Ohio, in intercollegiate sports. They are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the River States Conference (RSC). The Bears joined the RSC in 2023 [2] after 13 years in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). [3] The Bears previously competed in the defunct American Mideast Conference (AMC) from 1991–92 to 2009–10; and as an NAIA Independent from 1986–87 (when the school began its athletics program and joined the NAIA) to 1990–91. In the 2026–27 academic year, the Shawnee State teams will join the Mountain East Conference (MEC) pending their acceptance into NCAA Division II. [4]

Contents

The Shawnee State athletics program was established in 1986. The Bears have participated in 25 national championships and 17 conference championships in 7 of 11 sponsored sports.

Varsity teams

Shawnee State competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports:

Men's sportsWomen's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballBowling
BowlingCross country
Cross countryGolf
GolfSoccer
SoccerSoftball
SwimmingSwimming
TennisTennis
Track and field1Track and field1
Volleyball
Co-ed sports
eSports
1 – includes both indoor and outdoor

They will add football in the 2026–27 academic year when they join the MEC. [4]

Club sports

Apart from the varsity teams, the university has a men's volleyball club. [5]

Accomplishments

The SSU women’s basketball team won the NAIA Division II National Championship on March 16, 1999, with an 80-65 win over the University of Saint Francis (Indiana). [6]

The SSU men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship on March 23, 2021, with an 74-68 win over the Lewis-Clark State College. [7]

National championships

NAIA

SportTitlesCompetitionWinning yearsRef.
Basketball (men's)
1
 National championship – Div. I 2021 [8]
Basketball (women's)
1
National championship – Div. II1999 [9]

Other athletic highlights

References

  1. ↑ "Mountain East Conference adds Shawnee State University". June 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Shawnee State approved for RSC membership" (Press release). River States Conference. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ "SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY :: Athletics". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Mackley, Cyn (July 14, 2025). "Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup". Scioto County Daily News. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ Men's volleyball at ssubears.com
  6. ↑ "NAIA Division Ii Women's Basketball" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Shawnee State wins program's first NAIA Tournament title". AP NEWS. March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  8. ↑ The Shawnee State Men’s Basketball team are NAIA National Champions! on shawnee.edu, March 24, 2021
  9. ↑ Shawnee State University, 1999 NAIA National Champions at the Ohio Basketball HOF
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Softball - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  11. 1 2 SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Women's Basketball - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
  12. ↑ SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Men's Cross Country - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
  13. ↑ SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Women's Cross Country - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on May 6, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
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