Southwest Baptist Bearcats | |
---|---|
University | Southwest Baptist University |
Conference | GLVC |
NCAA | Division II |
Athletic director | Mike Pitts |
Location | Bolivar, Missouri |
Varsity teams | 18 |
Football stadium | Plaster Stadium |
Basketball arena | Jane and Ken Meyer Sports and Wellness Center |
Nickname | Bearcats |
Colors | Purple and white |
Website | www |
The Southwest Baptist University Bearcats are the sports teams of Southwest Baptist University located in Bolivar, Missouri. They participate in the NCAA's Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Bearcats had competed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1986. In 2014, the Bearcats as well as the Lincoln Blue Tigers began competing in the GLVC as a football member-only team. [1]
In fall 2016, Southwest Baptist University became one of the first 15 colleges and universities in the nation to offer esports as a varsity athletics program, with scholarships available. SBU is a charter member of the Collegiate Esports Association (CESPA). [2]
On May 31, 2018, Southwest Baptist announced it would be withdrawing its membership from the MIAA to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference full-time, effective July 1, 2019. [3]
SBU began a varsity Cheer and Stunt team beginning in the 2018–19 season. [4]
The next sports to be added will be men's and women's swimming & diving and men's volleyball, all in 2025–26. [5]
Men's sports | Women's sports |
---|---|
Baseball | Basketball |
Basketball | Cheer and Stunt [lower-alpha 1] |
Cross country | Cross country |
eSports | Golf |
Football | Soccer |
Golf | Softball |
Soccer | Swimming & diving (in 2025–26) |
Swimming & diving (in 2025–26) | Tennis |
Tennis | Track and field† |
Track and field† | Volleyball |
Volleyball (in 2025–26) | |
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor |
The Bearcats football team is currently coached by Robert Clardy. Clardy is the 9th head football coach in Southwest Baptist University history. Clardy graduated from SBU in 2008. During his time at SBU, he played quarterback from the SBU Bearcats football team. After graduation, Clardy became the Quarterbacks coach from 2008 to 2010, was promoted to Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback Coach from 2011 to 2012, and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach / Wide Receivers Coach in 2013. He became Head Coach in 2015. The SBU Bearcats football team earned an NCAA National Playoff appearance in 2016 after winning the conference title. The team finished 22nd in the final NCAA Division II AFCA poll. [6]
The Bearcats men's basketball team is currently under the direction of Clark Sheehy. Sheehy took over in 2014. He was previously coach at John Brown University in Arkansas.
The Bearcats softball team appeared in one Women's College World Series in 1971. [7]
Sport | Association | Division | Year | Runner-up | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Tennis (1) | NAIA (1) | Single (1) | 1984 | Lander | 29–28 |
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