Introduction to the Sooner Athletic Conference

The Sooner Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II conference that was established in 1996 to provide collegiate athletic opportunities for students-athletes at Sooner-member institutions. Located in the South Central United States, the conference is comprised of 11 institutions in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The conference was founded with the mission of ” Promoting education-based intercollegiate athletics as a lifetime of values.” Sooner Athletics is an opportunity for student-athletes to develop their own values, both in the classroom and in the fields of sport they choose to pursue.

History and Significance of the Sooner Athletic Conference

The Sooner Athletic Conference has a long history of excellence and success. Since its inception, the conference has produced numerous champions and record holders across many of its sports. In the 2018-19 academic year, the conference finished with a record-breaking 12 NCAA-II National Champions and had over 40 NCAA-II All-Americans. The conference has established itself as one of the premier Division II conferences in the nation and continues to strive for excellence.

Member Institutions and Their Sports

The Sooner Athletic Conference is made up of 11 institutions and all of them compete in NCAA Division II. The institutions are: Bacone College (OK), East Central University (OK), Harding University (AR), Langston University (OK), Mid-America Christian University (OK), Oklahoma Baptist University (OK), Oklahoma Christian University (OK), Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OK), Southwestern Christian University (OK), Southern Nazarene University (OK), and Texas Wesleyan University (TX). The Sooner Athletic Conference offers a variety of sports for the student-athletes to compete in, including Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Track & Field.

Notable Achievements

Since its inception, the Sooner Athletic Conference has been producing some of the top NCAA Division II athletes in the nation. The conference has had over 40 NCAA-II All-Americans in a variety of sports, including track & field, soccer, cross country, golf, and softball. The SAC has also produced many national champions, including East Central University’s men’s cross country team, Langston University’s men’s cross country team, and Oklahoma Baptist University’s men’s golf team.

Rivalries

There are many rivalries within the Sooner Athletic Conference. These rivalries range from geographic rivalries such as Oklahoma Baptist vs. Langston and East Central vs. Southeastern Oklahoma to traditional rivalries such as Oklahoma Panhandle vs. West Texas A&M. The most intense and fiercest soccer rivalry in the conference exists between Mid-America Christian and Southwestern Christian.

Conference Operations

The Sooner Athletics Conference operates under the leadership of the Board of Presidents and the Conference Commissioner. The Board of Presidents consists of the head of each of the member institutions and it has the power to make any and all decisions pertaining to the conference. The Conference Commissioner is responsible for conducting the day-to-day operations and has the power to make adjustments to policies and schedules. In addition, the conference also consists of a variety of committees, which are tasked with carrying out the day-to-day operations of the conference and ensuring that the conference is compliant with NCAA Division II requirements.

Scheduling and Championship Events

The Sooner Athletic Conference employs a unique scheduling system in order to maximize competition and give each team a chance to compete against every other team in the conference. The conference employs a round-robin format which consists of a 12-game regular season schedule followed by a single-elimination tournament to determine the conference champion. The tournament is held at the end of the regular season and the winner of the tournament is crowned the Sooner Athletic Conference Champion.

Role in the Local and National Sports Scene

The Sooner Athletic Conference plays an integral role in the local and national sports scene. The conference has a long history of producing some of the top Division II athletes in the nation. In addition, the conference is home to some of the most storied rivalries in the region, such as the Oklahoma Panhandle vs. West Texas A&M rivalry. The conference also supports sustainability initiatives, such as the Sooner Athletic Sustainability Summit which has been held annually since 2013. The conference’s commitment to sustainability has enabled it to be a leader in the nation in sustainability initiatives.

Future Prospects of the Sooner Athletic Conference

The future prospects of the Sooner Athletic Conference are bright. The conference is home to some of the top Division II programs in the nation and continues to produce some of the top athletes in the sport. With the recent trend of success, the conference is well-positioned to become one of the premier Division II conferences in the nation. The strength of the conference and the commitment of its member institutions will ensure that the Sooner Athletic Conference continues to be an emerging powerhouse in division II athletics.