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Sooner Athletic Conference

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Sooner Athletic Conference
AssociationNAIA
CommissionerStan Wagnon
Sports fielded
  • 17
    • men's: 9
    • women's: 8
RegionSouth Central United States
Region VI of the NAIA
Official websitesoonerathletic.org

The Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) is a small college athletics conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Originally developed as a five-team conference of Oklahoma-based schools, the SAC now boasts 12 schools in a league that spans four states – Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

As of December 2017, SAC member institutions have collected 102 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) team championships – the most among NAIA conferences – since the league formed in 1978.

Throughout the league's 39-year history, the SAC continues to be known as the conference "Where Champions Play". Various institutions have competed under the SAC banner over the years. Today only the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma remains from the original group that was formed when Bethany Nazarene (now Southern Nazarene), Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian and Phillips University withdrew from the Texoma Conference to form the SAC.

Membership has changed over the years with today's current members being admitted as follows: Oklahoma City (1985), Wayland Baptist (1994), John Brown (1995), Mid-America Christian (2007), Southwestern Assemblies of God (2013), Texas Wesleyan (2013), Southwestern Christian (2013), Bacone (2014), Central Christian (2017) and Oklahoma Panhandle State (2017).

The league also includes associate members on a per-sport basis, with University of Houston-Victoria, University of the Southwest and University of St. Thomas being part of the SAC in women's golf since 2017. Indiana Institute of Technology and Lourdes University were added as associate members in men's wrestling for 2017–18.

In the 2018–19 school year, the SAC will crown league champions in 17 intercollegiate sports – eight for women and nine for men. Women's sports are basketball, softball, golf, tennis, cross country, soccer, volleyball, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field. Men compete in football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, and wrestling. The newest conference sport is football, added for the 2018 season.

The conference is known for a rich basketball tradition. Member schools have won the men's NAIA tournament 12 times and women's NAIA tournament 16 times. SAC member schools also boast 12 NAIA national titles in men's golf, 11 in softball, 10 in women's golf, 8 in women's indoor track and field, 7 in men's cross country, 5 in men's tennis, 4 each in men's and women's outdoor track and field, 3 in men's indoor track and field, 2 in baseball and 1 in competitive cheer.

Member schools

Current members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Joined
Central Christian College McPherson, Kansas 1884 Private (Free Methodist) 1,013 Tigers 2017
John Brown University Siloam Springs, Arkansas 1919 Private (Christian) 2,708 Golden Eagles 1980;
1995
Langston University Langston, Oklahoma 1897 Public 2,554 Lions 2018
Mid-America Christian University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1953 Private (Church of God) 2,405 Evangels 2007
Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1904 Private (United Methodist) 2,968 Stars 1986
Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, Oklahoma 1909 Public 1,207 Aggies 2017
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, Oklahoma 1908 Public 813 Drovers 1978;
2000
Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, Texas 1927 Private (Assemblies of God) 2,080 Lions 2013
Southwestern Christian University Bethany, Oklahoma 1946 Private (Pentecostal) 764 Eagles 2013
Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, Texas 1890 Private (United Methodist) 2,373 Rams 2013
Wayland Baptist University Plainview, Texas 1908 Private (Texas Baptist) 5,077 Pioneers 1994
  • John Brown – left the SAC in 1983, and re-joined in 1995.
  • USAO – left the SAC in 1994, and re-joined in 2000.

Associate Members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Joined Sooner Sport Primary
Conference
Arizona Christian University Phoenix, Arizona 1960 Private (Christian) 820 Firestorm 2018 Football Golden State
Cleary University Howell, Michigan 1883 Private/Nonsectarian 600 Cougars 2019 Men's wrestling Wolverine–Hoosier
Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana 1930 Private/Nonsectarian 7,000 Warriors 2017 Men's wrestling Wolverine–Hoosier
Lourdes University Sylvania, Ohio 1958 Private/Catholic 1,500 Gray Wolves 2017 Men's wrestling Wolverine–Hoosier
Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas 1872 Private/Presbyterian 700 Scots 2018 Football,
women's wrestling 		American Midwest
University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, Texas 2000 Public 3,500 Trailblazers 2020[1] Men's & women's basketball,
cross country 		Sooner (2021)
Ottawa University Surprise, Arizona 2017 Private (American Baptist) 750 Spirit 2018 Football Golden State
Rochester University Rochester Hills, Michigan 1959 Private/Churches of Christ 1,100 Warriors 2018 Men's wrestling Wolverine–Hoosier
Texas College Tyler, Texas 1894 Private (C.M.E. Church) 972 Steers 2018 Football Red River
  • UNT Dallas – full member in 2021.

Former members

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Bacone College Muskogee, Oklahoma 1957 Warriors 2015 2019 Independent
(NAIA)
Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, Texas 1957 Chaparrals 1994 2013 Lone Star
(NCAA D-II)
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Alva, Oklahoma 1897 Rangers 2002 2012 Great American
(NCAA D-II)
Northwood University Cedar Hill, Texas 1966 Knights 2013 2014 Closed in 2014
Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, Oklahoma 1910 Bison 1978 2015 Great American
(NCAA D-II)
Oklahoma Christian University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1950 Eagles and Lady Eagles 1978 2012 Lone Star
(NCAA D-II)
Phillips University Enid, Oklahoma 1906 Haymakers 1978 1998 Closed in 1998
Rogers State University Claremore, Oklahoma 1909 Hillcats 2007 2013 Mid-America
(NCAA D-II)
St. Gregory's University Shawnee, Oklahoma 1875 Cavaliers 1999 2017 Closed in 2017
Southern Nazarene University Bethany, Oklahoma 1899 Crimson Storm 1978 2012 Great American
(NCAA D-II)

Membership timeline

References

  1. ^ "UNT Dallas Becomes Newest Sooner Athletic Conference Member". Victory Sports Network. June 10, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
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