Southland Conference

Southland Conference
Established	1963
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I D-IAA/FCS (1982–) NCAA D-IA (1978–1981) NCAA D-I (1975–1977) NCAA D-II (1964–1974)
Members	13
Sports fielded	17 (men's: 8; women's: 9)
Region	West South Central
Headquarters	Frisco, Texas
Commissioner	Tom Burnett (since 2002)
Website	southland.org
Locations

The Southland Conference is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the South Central United States (specifically Texas, 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 Southland Conference full member institutions as of July 1, 2014

History

Founded in 1963, its members were Abilene Christian College (now Abilene Christian University; departed in 1973 for NCAA Division II, but moved to Division I and re-joined the Southland in 2013), Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University; departed in 1987, now a member of the Sun Belt Conference), Arlington State College (now The University of Texas at Arlington, departed in 2012 now also in the Sun Belt),^[1] Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University; departed in 1987, but re-joined in 1999),^[2] and Trinity University (departed in 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 below). 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 (UTPA) and the University of New Orleans (UNO) fielded teams as affiliate members before 2013, when UTPA joined the WAC and UNO became a full Southland member.

Member schools

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Joined	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors
Abilene Christian University	Abilene, Texas	1906	1963; 2013^1	Private	4,544[3]	Wildcats
University of Central Arkansas	Conway, Arkansas	1907	2006	Public	11,754[4]	Bears/Sugar Bears
Houston Baptist University	Houston, Texas	1960	2013	Private	3,160[5]	Huskies
University of the Incarnate Word	San Antonio, Texas	1881	2013	Private	10,984[6]	Cardinals
Lamar University	Beaumont, Texas	1923	1963; 1999^2	Public	14,966[7]	Cardinals/Lady Cardinals
McNeese State University	Lake Charles, Louisiana	1939	1972	Public	8,162[8]	Cowboys/Cowgirls
University of New Orleans	New Orleans, Louisiana	1958	2013	Public	8,423[9]	Privateers
Nicholls State University	Thibodaux, Louisiana	1948	1991	Public	6,164[10]	Colonels
Northwestern State University	Natchitoches, Louisiana	1884	1987	Public	9,179[11]	Demons/Lady Demons
Sam Houston State University	Huntsville, Texas	1879	1987	Public	20,181[12]	Bearkats
Southeastern Louisiana University	Hammond, Louisiana	1925	1997	Public	14,594[13]	Lions/Lady Lions
Stephen F. Austin State University	Nacogdoches, Texas	1923	1987	Public	12,606[14]	Lumberjacks/Ladyjacks
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi	Corpus Christi, Texas	1947	2006	Public	11,693[15]	Islanders

Notes

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

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Joined	Left	Type	Nickname	Colors	Current Conference
Arkansas State University	Jonesboro, Arkansas	1909	1963	1987	Public	Indians[n 1]		Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech University	Ruston, Louisiana	1894	1971	1987	Public	Bulldogs Lady Techsters		C-USA
North Texas State University	Denton, Texas	1890	1982	1996	Public	Mean Green		C-USA
University of Louisiana at Monroe	Monroe, Louisiana	1931	1982	2006	Public	Indians[n 2]		Sun Belt
Oral Roberts University	Tulsa, Oklahoma	1963	2012	2014	Private	Golden Eagles		The Summit League
University of Louisiana at Lafayette	Lafayette, Louisiana	1898	1971	1982	Public	Ragin' Cajuns		Sun Belt
Southwest Texas State University	San Marcos, Texas	1899	1987	2012	Public	Bobcats		Sun Belt
University of Texas at Arlington	Arlington, Texas	1895	1963	2012	Public	Mavericks		Sun Belt
University of Texas at San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	1969	1991	2012	Public	Roadrunners		C-USA
Trinity University	San Antonio, Texas	1869	1963	1972	Private	Tigers		SCAC (NCAA Division III)

Notes

1. Arkansas State changed its nickname since leaving the Southland Conference, respectively to the Red Wolves.
2. Louisiana–Monroe changed its nicknames since leaving the Southland Conference, respectively to the Warhawks.

Former associate members

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Left	Current Primary Conference	Southland Sport(s)
Centenary College of Louisiana	Gentlemen	Shreveport, Louisiana	1825	Private/United Methodist	500	2000-01	2002-03	American Southwest (NCAA Division III)	men's tennis
Jacksonville State University	Gamecocks	Jacksonville, Alabama	1883	Public	9,490	1996-97	2002-03	Ohio Valley (OVC)	football
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly University of Southwestern Louisiana)	Ragin' Cajuns	Lafayette, Louisiana	1898	Public	16,885	1982-83	1986-87	Sun Belt	women's sports
University of New Orleans	Privateers	New Orleans, Louisiana	1958	Public	9,825	2012-13	2012-13	Southland	men's tennis
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi	Islanders	Corpus Christi, Texas	1947	Public	9,600	2003-04	2005-06	Southland	men's tennis
University of Texas–Pan American[fa 1]	Broncs[fa 2]	Edinburg, Texas[fa 3]	1927	Public	17,048	2000-01	2012-13	WAC	men's tennis
Troy University (formerly Troy State University)	Trojans	Troy, Alabama	1887	Public	29,689	1996-97	2000-01	Sun Belt	football

1. Texas–Pan American (UTPA) ceased to exist at the start of the 2015–16 school year, when it merged with the nearby University of Texas at Brownsville to create the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).^[16]
2. Nearly a year before the merger, the University of Texas System announced that UTRGV would directly inherit the UTPA athletic program.^[17] The new nickname of Vaqueros was announced in November 2014.^[18]
3. The UTRGV athletic program continues to be based at the former UTPA main campus in Edinburg.

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.^[19]

Teams in Southland Conference competition

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	13	-
Basketball	13	13
Cross Country	13	13
Football	11	-
Golf	11	8
Soccer	-	12
Softball	-	12
Tennis	6	12
Track and Field (Indoor)	12	13
Track and Field (Outdoor)	12	13
Volleyball	-	13

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									8
Central Arkansas						N			7
Houston Baptist						N			7
Incarnate Word									8
Lamar									8
McNeese State						N			7
New Orleans				N					7
Nicholls State							N	N	6
Northwestern State					N	N			6
Sam Houston State						N			7
Southeastern Louisiana						N			7
Stephen F. Austin						N			7
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi				N	N				6
Totals	13	13	13	11	11	6	12	12	91

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

School	Soccer	Swimming & Diving
Central Arkansas	MVC	No
Houston Baptist	WAC	No
Incarnate Word	WAC	CCSA

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			N							8
Central Arkansas										9
Houston Baptist						N				8
Incarnate Word										9
Lamar										9
McNeese State										9
New Orleans			N	N	N					6
Nicholls State			N							8
Northwestern State			N							8
Sam Houston State										9
Southeastern Louisiana			N							8
Stephen F. Austin										9
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi										9
Totals	13	13	8	12	12	12	13	13	13	109

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

School	Bowling	Beach Volleyball	Swimming & Diving
Houston Baptist	No	Independent	No
Incarnate Word	No	No	CCSA
New Orleans	No	Independent	No
Sam Houston State	Southland Bowling League	No	No
Stephen F. Austin	Southland Bowling League	No	No
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	No	Independent	No

• Women's Bowling - The Southland Conference provides administrative support for the Southland Bowling League, but the SBL operates independently from regular conference operations.^[20] The women's bowling league was established in 2015 and includes Southland Conference members Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, plus Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Monmouth, Tulane, Valparaiso and Vanderbilt.

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.^[21]
• On May 21, 2014, the Southland Conference approved the use of instant replay at all its home games becoming the first FCS league to fully commit to having all games utilize instant replay.^[22][23]

Men's basketball

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

Women's basketball

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

Championships

• Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
• Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
• Southland Conference Baseball Tournament
• Southland Conference Softball Tournament

Spending and revenue

Total revenue includes ticket sales, contributions and donations, rights/licensing, student fees, school funds and all other sources including TV income, camp income, food and novelties. Total expenses includes coaching/staff, scholarships, buildings/ground, maintenance, utilities and rental fees and all other costs including recruiting, team travel, equipment and uniforms, conference dues and insurance costs.

Conference Rank (2014)	National Rank (2014)	Institution	2014 Total Revenue from Athletics[24]	2014 Total Expenses on Athletics[24]
1	140	Lamar	$16,147,857	$15,880,006
2	142	Stephen F. Austin	$15,697,105	$15,924,910
3	149	Sam Houston State	$14,892,104	$14,412,775
4	185	Northwestern State	$11,996,507	$11,621,515
5	189	Central Arkansas	$11,750,081	$11,418,457
6	191	Southeastern Louisiana	$11,498,884	$12,157,552
7	198	McNeese State	$10,926,299	$10,911,542
8	204	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	$10,540,420	$10,272,816
9	218	Nicholls State	$8,113,231	$8,102,040
10	228	New Orleans	$5,224,996	$5,365,672
		Abilene Christian	Not reported (private school)	Not reported (private school)
		Houston Baptist	Not reported (private school)	Not reported (private school)
		Incarnate Word	Not reported (private school)	Not reported (private school)

Facilities

School	Football stadium	Capacity	Soccer stadium	Capacity	Basketball arena	Capacity	Baseball stadium	Capacity	Softball stadium	Capacity
Abilene Christian	Shotwell Stadium	15,075	Elmer Gray Stadium (new)	1,000	Moody Coliseum	4,600	Crutcher Scott Field	4,500	Poly Wells Field	1,000[25]
Central Arkansas	Estes Stadium	9,000[26]	Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex	1,000	Farris Center	6,000	Bear Stadium	1,000	Farris Field	1,000
Houston Baptist	Husky Stadium	5,000[27]	Sorrels Field	500	Sharp Gymnasium	1,000	Husky Field	500[28]	Husky Field	300
Incarnate Word	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium	6,000	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium	6,000	McDermott Convocation Center	2,000	Sullivan Field	1,000	Cardinals Field	250
Lamar	Provost Umphrey Stadium	16,000	Lamar Soccer Complex	500	Montagne Center	10,080	Vincent-Beck Stadium	3,500	Lamar Softball Complex	650[29]
McNeese State	Cowboy Stadium	17,410	Cowgirl Field	300	Burton Coliseum	8,000	Cowboy Diamond	2,000	Cowgirl Diamond	1,200
New Orleans	Non-football school		Non-soccer school		Lakefront Arena	8,785[30]	Maestri Field	2,900[31]	Non-softball school
Nicholls State	Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium	10,500	Nicholls Soccer Complex	1,000	Stopher Gym	3,800	Ray E. Didier Field	3,200	Colonel Softball Complex	500
Northwestern State	Harry Turpin Stadium	15,971	Lady Demon Soccer Complex	1,000	Prather Coliseum	3,900	H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field	1,200	Lady Demon Diamond	1,000[32]
Sam Houston State	Bowers Stadium	14,000	Pritchett Field	2,100	Bernard Johnson Coliseum	6,110	Don Sanders Stadium	1,163	Bearkat Softball Complex	400
Southeastern Louisiana	Strawberry Stadium	7,408	Southeastern Soccer Complex	1,000	University Center	7,500	Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field	2,500	North Oak Park	500
Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium	14,575	SFA Soccer Complex	400	William R. Johnson Coliseum	7,203	Jaycees Field	1,000	SFA Softball Field	750
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	Non-football school		Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer & Track Stadium	1,000	American Bank Center	8,000	Chapman Field	750	Chapman Field	200

Notes:

• Texas A&M–Corpus Christi uses off-campus Whataburger Field as their home field for some high profile games and some tournaments.^[33]
• The upcoming 2016 football season will be the last for Abilene Christian at Shotwell Stadium. The team will move into the new on-campus Wildcat Stadium in 2017.^[34]
• Abilene Christian's new Elmer Gray Stadium opened on April 10, 2015. The stadium is used for both Track & Field and Soccer. The new stadium replaces the original Elmer Gray Stadium, which was demolished to make way for Wildcat Stadium.^[35][36]

Media

Southland Conference Television Network

The Conference began its own syndicated broadcast entity in 2008, the Southland Conference Television Network. It aired in over 25 markets in the league's four-state region, plus on national networks such as Fox College Sports, ESPN GamePlan, and ESPN3. In 2008-09, the network featured 35 broadcasts, and over 30 in each of the next four seasons.

For 2013 and 2014, the syndicated network was restricted to only regular season football games. The remainder of the schedule was available on ESPN3 or regional sports networks, including regular season and tournament basketball as well as championships in soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball. ESPN3 also carried an exclusive package of football games beyond the syndicated network's schedule.

SLCTV dissolved on July 1, 2015. Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, the Southland Conference entered into an agreement with the American Sports Network to syndicate and televise selected games,^[37] while also continuing its association with ESPN3.^[38] A separate deal will allow for Louisiana-based Cox Sports Television to air select games.^[39]

Academics

Institution	University System	Endowment[40][41]	U.S. News rank[40]	Carnegie Foundation Classification[42]	Forbes[43]
Abilene Christian University	Not Applicable	$379,858,000[41]	17 (Regional: West)	Masters (Larger Programs)	513
University of Central Arkansas	Not Applicable	$25,952,861[40]	68 (Regional: South)	Masters (Larger Programs)	N/A
Houston Baptist University	Not Applicable	$90,638,537[40]	73 (Regional: West)	Masters (Medium Programs)	N/A
University of the Incarnate Word	Not Applicable	$125,271,000[41]	68 (Regional: West)	Masters (Larger Programs)	N/A
Lamar University	Texas State University System	$106,826,000[41]	RNP (National)	Doctoral (Moderate Research)	624
McNeese State University	University of Louisiana System	$71,001,000[41]	87 (Regional: South)	Masters (Larger Programs)	N/A
University of New Orleans	University of Louisiana System	$23,250,028[40]	RNP (National)	Doctoral (Higher Research)	565
Nicholls State University	University of Louisiana System	$8,500,663[40]	87 (Regional: South)	Masters (Medium Programs)	N/A
Northwestern State University	University of Louisiana System	Not Available	RNP (Regional: South)	Masters (Larger Programs)	N/A
Sam Houston State University	Texas State University System	$97,510,000[41]	RNP (National)	Doctoral (Moderate Research)	598
Southeastern Louisiana University	University of Louisiana System	$14,503,193[40]	RNP (Regional: South)	Masters (Larger Programs)	619
Stephen F. Austin State University	Not Applicable	$71,037,968[40]	87 (Regional: South)	Masters (Larger Programs)	N/A
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi	Texas A&M University System	$13,673,273[40]	RNP (National)	Doctoral (Moderate Research)	632

References

1. "UT Arlington accepts invitation to join Western Athletic Conference". UT Arlington Athletics News. July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2014. The University of Texas at Arlington announced today that it has accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) starting on July 1, 2012.
2. "Lamar University To Join Southland Conference". Associated Press. August 23, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
3. "ACU freshman enrollment at 30-year high". ACU University Relations. September 9, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
4. "UCA fall enrollment increases for third consecutive year". UCA University Relations. September 5, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
5. "Enrollment and Credit Hour Report, Fall 2015" (PDF). HBU University Relations. September 30, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
6. "10,984 UIW students are enrolled globally". UIW Media Relations. September 1, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
7. Brian Sattler (September 22, 2015). "LU posts new enrollment record". Lamar University. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
8. "Fall 2015 Enrollment Quick Facts". McNeese State. September 1, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
9. "UNO Enrollment Trends from 1958 to 2015" (PDF). September 1, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
10. "Nicholls State University Fall 2015 Enrollment Statistics" (PDF). September 3, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
11. "Northwestern State has fall enrollment increase". September 15, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
12. "SHSU Reaches Historic Enrollment". SHSU Office of Communications. September 28, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
13. "Enrollment by Major". SLU Institutional Research. October 26, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
14. "SFA reports fall 2015 enrollment". SFU University Marketing Communication. January 9, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
15. "Enrollment Continues to Rise at the Island University". TAMUCC Marketing & Communications. January 9, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
16. "Project South Texas: Timeline". University of Texas System. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
17. "Project South Texas: Ask a Question". University of Texas System. July 30, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
18. Brito, Victoria (November 5, 2014). "UT-RGV mascot recommended to be the Vaquero". The Monitor (McAllen, Texas). Retrieved November 5, 2014.
19. "Southland Conference". southland.org.
20. "New Southland Bowling League Established". Southland Conference. January 20, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
21. "About the Southland". Retrieved 2012-01-12.
22. "Southland Conference". Southland Conference.
23. "Southland first FCS conference with full replay". Fox News.
24. "NCAA FINANCES". USA Today. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
25. "2014 ACU Softball Record Book" (PDF). Abilene Christian University Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
26. "2014 Football Guide" (PDF). Central Arkansas Athletics. p. 3. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
27. http://www.hbuhuskies.com/documents/2014/6/30/2014_HBU_Football_Media_Guide_WEB.pdf
28. "2014 HBU Baseball Media Guide". December 23, 2014. Houston Baptist University Athletics. pp. 1, 68. Opened during the 1993 season, the 500-seat ballpark boasts one of the better playing surfaces in the state.
29. "Lamar University Softball Complex Underway". The BRW Creative. July 15, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
30. "Lakefront Arena". The University of New Orleans. Retrieved April 9, 2015. Configured for Privateers basketball Lakefront Arena has 8,701 theatre style seats, along with 84 chairback seatsfor the Courtside Krewe, for an official capacity of 8,785.
31. "University of New Orleans Privateers 2015 Baseball Quick Facts" (PDF). University of New Orleans Athletics. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
32. "Northwestern State University Softball 2015 Quick Facts" (pdf). Northwestern State University. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
33. "2015 Islanders Baseball Schedule". Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
34. "ACU unveils new renderings of Wildcat Stadium" (Press release). Abilene Christian Wildcats. October 16, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
35. Brad Cesak (April 10, 2015). "ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium Opens". Bigcountryhomepage.com. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
36. Ron Hadfield (March 29, 2015). "VIA News: Gray Stadium demo begins Monday". ACU Today, Abilene Christian University. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
37. "Southland, ASN team up for multi-year deal with 12 football games in 2015". American Sports Network. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
38. "Southland reaches five-year deal with ESPN". Huntsville Item. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
39. "Southland Conference and Cox Sports Television ink multi-year broadcast deal". Cox Sports Television. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
40. "Best Colleges - US News & World Report Rankings". US News & World Report. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
41. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year FY) 2014 Endowment Market Value and Change* in Endowment Market Value from FY 2014 to FY 2015 (Revised February 201" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
42. "The Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Learning". Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
43. "Forbes America's Top Colleges 2015". Forbes. 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.

External links

• Official website