Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2012) |
| Central Arkansas Bears andSugar Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Central Arkansas |
| Conference | ASun(primary) UAC(football) |
| NCAA | Division I(FCS) |
| Athletic director | Matt Whiting |
| Location | Conway, Arkansas |
| Varsity teams | 17 (7 men's, 10 women's) |
| Football stadium | Estes Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Farris Center |
| Baseball stadium | Bear Stadium |
| Softball stadium | Farris Field |
| Soccer stadium | Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex |
| Other venues | Prince Center (volleyball) |
| Mascot | Bruce D. Bear and Sugar Bear |
| Nickname | Bears and Sugar Bears |
| Colors | Purple and gray[1] |
| Website | ucasports |
 | |
TheCentral Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bearsrepresent theUniversity of Central Arkansas(UCA) inNCAA Division IASUN Conference,Thefootballteam competes in the Division IFootball Championship Subdivision(formerly I-AA football) as a member of theUnited Athletic Conference(UAC). The athletic program is supported by the efforts of a diverse group of over 400 male and female student-athletes. Its men's teams are called the Bears and the women's are the Sugar Bears.[2]
UCA joined the ASUN in July 2021 after having been a member of theSouthland Conference.At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but had committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future.[3]UCA played the 2021 season as a de facto associate member of theWestern Athletic Conference(WAC), competing in a football partnership between the two leagues officially branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge".[4]The ASUN started its football league in the 2022 season, but maintained its football partnership with the WAC. After that season, the two conferences merged their football leagues to create the UAC.
Conference affiliations
[edit]NAIA
- Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference(1928–1993)
NCAA
- Gulf South Conference(1993–2006)
- Southland Conference(2006–2021)
- ASUN Conference(2021–present)
NAIA
[edit]Prior to moving to Division II, UCA competed inNAIADivision I for most sports, winning the national football championship three times (1984 {co-champs}, 1985 {co-champs} and 1991) and finishing runner-up once (1976). Between 1979 and 1992, UCA won or shared 13 out of 14Arkansas Intercollegiate Conferencechampionships (AIC) and went to the playoffs 12 times in that span. A number of former Bears have found success in the NFL, including Tom McConnaughey, Jacob Ford,Landon Trusty,Willie Davis,Tyree Davis,Dave Burnette,Curtis Burrow,Andre Collins, David Evans, and most notablyMonte Coleman.
NCAA
[edit]From 1993 to 2006, UCA competed in the West Division of theGulf South Conference.In 2005–2006, UCA's men's athletic teams won that conference's All Sports Trophy. However, on July 1, 2006, UCA began the transition to Division I and joined theSouthland Conference,with the Bears also becoming Associate members of theMissouri Valley Conferencefor men's soccer.
In 2008, the UCA Bear Football Team defeated more Southland Conference opponents than any other conference team and were declared "Unofficial Southland Conference Champions." (Neither the Southland Conference nor the NCAA would recognize UCA as the champions due to the transition period from Division II.)
Varsity teams
[edit]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Beach volleyball |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Track and field1 | Tennis |
| Track and field1 | |
| Volleyball | |
| 1– includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Scottie Pippen
[edit]
FormerNational Basketball AssociationplayerScottie Pippenplayed basketball at Central Arkansas. Pippen was a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) walk-on his first year at UCA, but by the start of his sophomore year, he had grown to 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and would be a starter for the next three seasons. Pippen was drafted by theSeattle SuperSonicswith the fifth pick in the 1987NBAdraft, and then traded to theChicago BullsforOlden Polynice.Pippen won six NBA championships (1991–1993 and 1996–1998) while playing for the Bulls (1987–1998). While still an active player, Pippen was voted as one of the NBA's Top 50 Players of All-Time, and the Chicago Bulls retired his jersey number (#33).
His #33 jersey at UCA is also retired since January 2010, and hangs in the rafters.[5][6]Pippen also played for theHouston Rockets(1998–1999) and thePortland Trail Blazers(1999–2003). Pippen is retired, and lives with his family inFort Lauderdale, Florida;his sonScotty Jr.currently plays college basketball atVanderbilt.
References
[edit]- ^UCA Standards Guide(PDF).September 28, 2021.RetrievedAugust 23,2022.
- ^"University of Central Arkansas — UCA".Uca.edu. 2010-02-08.Retrieved2016-04-02.
- ^"ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport"(Press release). ASUN Conference. January 29, 2021. Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 29,2021.
- ^"ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021"(Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 23,2021.
- ^Retirement of Jersey Honor for Pippenat UCA.edu
- ^Central Arkansas retires Scottie Pippen's jerseyat NBA.com, 20 Jan 2010
External links
[edit]
| Full members |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Men's lacrosse associates | ||
| Women's lacrosse associates | ||
| Men's swimming & diving associates | ||
| Women's swimming & diving associates | ||
| Related |
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