Sooner Athletic Conference

Sooner Athletic Conference
Name	Sooner Athletic Conference
Established	1978
Association	National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Division	NAIA
Members	12
Sports	23
Region	South Central United States
Headquarters	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Commissioner	John Hudson

Sooner Athletic Conference. The Sooner Athletic Conference is an athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily comprising private institutions across the South Central United States. Founded in 1978, it sponsors championships in 23 sports and is recognized for its competitive success in NAIA national tournaments. The conference headquarters is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

History

The conference was established in 1978 with charter members including Oklahoma City University and Southern Nazarene University. It initially operated as a league for schools within Oklahoma before expanding its geographic footprint into neighboring states. A significant milestone occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the addition of institutions like John Brown University and Wayland Baptist University, broadening the conference's reach across the Arkansas and Texas regions. The league has maintained a stable membership core while navigating the realignment landscape common in collegiate athletics.

Member institutions

The conference currently comprises 12 full member institutions. The Oklahoma-based members are University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, Southwestern Christian University, and Mid-America Christian University. Arkansas is represented by John Brown University and Harding University. The Texas contingent includes Wayland Baptist University, University of the Southwest, Texas Wesleyan University, and SAGU (Southwestern Assemblies of God University). Arizona Christian University and Ottawa University (Arizona) represent the conference's expansion into the Southwestern United States. Several schools, such as Harding University, also compete in the Great American Conference for NCAA Division II football.

Sports

The conference sponsors championship competition in 23 sports. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. Women's sponsored sports include basketball, competitive cheer, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. The league is particularly renowned for the strength of its baseball and men's basketball programs, with multiple members consistently appearing in the NAIA World Series and NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament.

Conference facilities

Member institutions host events in a variety of notable venues. Oklahoma City University competes at the Abe Lemons Arena for basketball and Jim Wade Stadium for baseball. John Brown University plays basketball at the Bill George Arena, while Wayland Baptist University utilizes the Hutcherson Center. Texas Wesleyan University hosts games at the Sid Richardson Center. For outdoor sports, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma features Bill Smith Ballpark, and Harding University competes at First Security Stadium for football, which also hosts the conference's championship events in that sport.

Championships

The conference has a storied history of national success within the NAIA. Collectively, members have won numerous NAIA national championship titles, with Oklahoma City University leading in men's basketball and baseball championships. Wayland Baptist University has dominated in women's basketball and track and field, while Southern Nazarene University (now in the Great American Conference) secured multiple titles in women's basketball during its tenure. The league regularly qualifies multiple teams for national tournaments, with its baseball programs being especially prolific in reaching the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Notable alumni

The conference has produced many athletes and coaches who achieved prominence in professional sports and beyond. Notable alumni include Buddy Hield, a NBA player from Oklahoma City University, and Kamerion Wimbley, a former NFL defensive end from Florida State University who began his career at Wayland Baptist University. Coaching figures include Abe Lemons, the legendary basketball coach at Oklahoma City University, and Bobby Cox, the Hall of Fame Major League Baseball manager who played baseball at Southern Nazarene University. Other distinguished alumni encompass Olympic medalists from the track and field programs at Wayland Baptist University.

Category:National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics conferences Category:College athletic conferences in the United States Category:Organizations based in Oklahoma City Category:1978 establishments in Oklahoma