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Mercer Bears

The Mercer Bears are the athletic teams of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, United States. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia with an NCAA Division I athletic program and fields teams in eight men's and nine women's sports. The university competes in the Southern Conference for most sports. In 2013, the football team competed in the Pioneer Football League.

Mercer Bears
UniversityMercer University
ConferenceSouthern Conference (primary)
ASUN (men's lacrosse)
Big South (women's lacrosse)
Sun Belt (beach volleyball)
NCAADivision I (FCS)
Athletic directorJim Cole
LocationMacon, Georgia
Varsity teams18 (8 men's, 10 women's)
Football stadiumFive Star Stadium
Basketball arenaHawkins Arena
Baseball stadiumClaude Smith Field
Softball stadiumSikes Field
Soccer stadiumBetts Stadium
MascotToby
NicknameBears
ColorsBlack and orange[1]
   
Websitewww.mercerbears.com
SoCon's logo in Mercer's colors

Mercer joined the Southern Conference as a full member on July 1, 2014; all university-sponsored sports will compete in the Southern Conference except women's lacrosse and women's beach volleyball, which are not sponsored by the conference.[2]

Sports teams edit

A member of the Southern Conference, Mercer University sponsors teams in eight men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports:[3]

Men's intercollegiate sports Team article Head coach Women's intercollegiate sports Team article Head coach
Baseball Bears baseball Craig Gibson Basketball Bears women's basketball Susie Gardner
Basketball Bears men's basketball Greg Gary Beach volleyball[v 1] Damian Elder
Cross Country Jerod Wimms Cross Country Jerod Wimms
Football Bears football Drew Cronic Golf Michele Drinkard
Golf Kirk Kayden Lacrosse[v 2] Samantha Eustace
Lacrosse Bears Men's lacrosse[v 3] Kyle Hannan Soccer Tony Economopoulos
Soccer Bears men's soccer Brad Ruzzo Softball Stephanie DeFeo
Tennis Eric Hayes Tennis Eric Hayes
Track & Field (Outdoor only) Ryan Bailey
Volleyball Damian Elder
Notes
  1. ^ The beach volleyball team competes as an associate member of the Sun Belt Conference.
  2. ^ The women's lacrosse team competes as an associate member of the Big South Conference.
  3. ^ The men's lacrosse team competes as an associate member of the ASUN Conference.

History and conference affiliations edit

Mercer was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) from 1906 to 1911 and from 1919 to 1937; the university won the conference championship in basketball in 1922 and 1924.[4] Prior to 1924, the sports teams were known as the 'Baptists' rather than the Bears.[5] Without leaving the SIAA, which focused mostly on basketball and track, Mercer was a charter member of the Dixie Conference in 1930; the university played football in the new conference from 1930 to 1942 and won the conference championship in 1932.[6] Mercer suspended athletics in 1942 during World War II, but rejoined the Dixie Conference from 1948 to 1954 in all sports (except football, Mercer did not revive the sport after the war). The university won the Dixie Conference tournament championship in basketball in 1951, 1952 and 1954; Mercer won the regular season championship in 1950, 1952 and 1953.

Mercer began competition in women's basketball in 1970; the team won the Southern Women's Athletic Conference championship in 1972. The university, competing in the Georgia Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, won the conference championship in 1974, 1976, 1979, 1980 (tournament and regular season) and 1982 (regular season). In 1985, Mercer advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four; the team was defeated (82–79) by Central Missouri State University. Mercer was a charter member of the New South Women's Athletic Conference in 1985–86 and won the conference championship in 1991; the conference merged with the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC; now known as the ASUN Conference) the same year.

Mercer became a charter member of the TAAC in 1978 and was the only charter member remaining with the conference before moving to the Southern Conference. The men's basketball team won the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament in 1981; the team was defeated (73–67) by the University of Arkansas. Mercer won the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament again in 1985; the team was defeated (65–58) by Georgia Tech.

Mercer discontinued football in 1942. The sport was reinstated in 2013; Mercer competed in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League for the 2013 season.

Mercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1, 2014; the university accepted an invitation on May 30, 2013, and joined alongside East Tennessee State University and Virginia Military Institute.[7] Mercer shifted from non-scholarship to scholarship football when it joined the conference.

Championships edit

Mercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1, 2014. The university was previously a member of the ASUN Conference (then known as the Atlantic Sun Conference); Mercer won 21 ASUN championships (12 tournament and nine regular season) including four in the spring of 2014. Mercer won four championships in its first year in the SoCon (two tournament and two regular season).

Southern Conference Tournament Championships

Soccer (M) 2016
Baseball 2015
Soccer (W) 2014

Southern Conference Regular Season Championships

Basketball (W) 2016, 2017
Baseball 2015
Soccer (M) 2014

ASUN Conference Tournament Championships

Baseball 1979, 1981, 1983, 2010
Basketball (M) 1981, 1985, 2014
Golf (M) 2014
Soccer (M) 1992, 1999, 2001
Soccer (W) 2010

ASUN Conference Regular Season Championships

Baseball 2013
Basketball (M) 2003, 2013, 2014
Basketball (W) 1991, 1992
Lacrosse (M) 2014
Soccer (M) 2000, 2002

CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) Championship

The men's basketball team won the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament following the 2011–12 season, the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to win a postseason championship.[8] During the tournament, the team defeated Tennessee State University, Georgia State University, Old Dominion University and Fairfield University en route to the championship game at Utah State University; Mercer won the championship game 70–67. The championship capped the best season in university history; the team finished the season with a 27–11 record.

Athletics director edit

Jim Cole, a Mercer graduate and a former minor league, professional baseball player in the Milwaukee Brewers system, is Mercer's athletics director. Cole, a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives, served as Governor Sonny Perdue's floor leader in the House and was selected to become Georgia Secretary of State in December 2009.[9] He declined the appointment to become athletics director.[10] Since becoming athletics director, Cole has overseen the addition of men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and sand volleyball; the reinstatement of football; and the construction of Mercer's football and lacrosse complex.

Cole replaced Bobby Pope who retired on June 30, 2010 after 21 years as athletics director.[11] Pope was affiliated with Mercer for 40 years starting in 1970 as a radio announcer, and in 1980 became sports information director.[12] He became athletics director in 1989 and oversaw construction of the University Center and renovation of the baseball, softball, and tennis facilities. Pope was inducted into Mercer's Hall of Fame in 2010.[13]

Notable coaches edit

Sports edit

Football edit

 
Homer and Ruth Drake Field House, a component of the Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex

Reinstatement – NCAA Record Wins

On November 19, 2010, Mercer announced the reinstatement of intercollegiate football beginning in the fall of 2013.[15] In 2013, Mercer competed as an NCAA Division I FCS non-scholarship program in the Pioneer Football League; in 2014, Mercer began competing as a scholarship program in the Southern Conference. Reinstatement came after a 70-year hiatus; the university suspended football during World War II and did not revive it. The final game was in 1941.[16]

The modern Mercer football program played its first game on August 31, 2013; the team defeated Reinhardt University before an overflow crowd (12,172 spectators) at the Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex.[17] Mercer finished the 2013 season undefeated at home with a 10–2 win–loss record (the two road losses were to the University of San Diego and Marist College), setting an NCAA Division I record for wins (10) by a start-up football program; Mercer had eight home wins..However, four of Mercer wins were from competing against teams in lower division levels of competition (3-NAIA schools and 1-Division III school)[18] [19] also an NCAA Division I record tied the same year (2013) by Auburn University, the FBS national runner-up, and Sam Houston State University who achieved its eighth victory in the FCS post-season. Mercer won its first game in the Southern Conference on September 27, 2014; the team defeated Virginia Military Institute on the road in Lexington, Virginia. Mercer finished its first season in the SoCon, and its second season since reinstatement, placing in last place in the SoCon, with an overall 6–6 win–loss record (1–5 in the conference) .[20]

 
Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex (under construction, view from the Homer and Ruth Drake Field House)

History

The reinstatement of football revives a storied university program. Mercer and the University of Georgia competed in the first football game in Georgia; UGA won 50–0 on January 15, 1892.[21] Later the same year, Mercer played Georgia Tech in Tech's first football game; Mercer won 12–6 on November 5, 1892.[22] Mercer football alumni include Wally Butts, one of the greatest personalities in Georgia sports history.[23] After his playing days at Mercer, Butts served as the head coach at UGA from 1939 to 1960 and as the school's athletic director from 1939 to 1963; he is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Other notable alumni are Joseph "Phoney" Smith and Bill Yoast. Smith was an All-American halfback and is Mercer's all-time leading scorer; he scored 176 points and later played for the semi-professional Ironton Tanks.[24][25] Yoast is the high school coach made famous in the movie Remember the Titans.

Bobby Lamb – Head Coach

On January 20, 2011, Mercer announced the hiring of Bobby Lamb as its new head football coach.[26] Lamb compiled a record of 67–40 in nine seasons as the head coach at Furman University from 2002 to 2010. He played quarterback at Furman from 1982 to 1985 and was the Southern Conference player of the year in 1985.[27] Lamb was an assistant coach at Furman from 1986 until he became head coach in 2002.[27] He resigned from Furman after compiling a record of 5–6 for the 2010 season, his only losing season in nine years.[28] Lamb is a Georgia native; he was born in Augusta and graduated from high school in Commerce.[27] Lamb's record in his first two seasons at Mercer was 16–6.

Men's basketball edit

 
University Center (Hawkins Arena)

Bob Hoffman – Head Coach

Bob Hoffman was named men's basketball head coach in 2008.[29] Prior to Mercer, Hoffman was head coach at Oklahoma Baptist and Texas-Pan American, as well as the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, an NBA D-League team. Hoffman's overall record as a head coach at the collegiate level is 499–243 (as of the end of the 2012–13 season) including 99 wins at Mercer during his first five seasons (2008–13). His Mercer wins include victories over Alabama (twice), Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Florida State (then the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion), and Tennessee.

History

Hoffman replaced Mark Slonaker who served as head coach for ten seasons and was the 2002–03 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year. Slonaker received that award after leading Mercer to the best one season turnaround in NCAA history, improving from 6–23 to 23–6. The team won the Atlantic Sun regular season championship with a 14–2 conference record and made school history for number of wins (23); Mercer won 22 games in 1923–24 and 1984–85. The season ended with a loss in the Atlantic Sun tournament. Slonaker was the first National Coach of the Year to receive the award after it was named in honor of Jim Phelan. The four other finalists were Lute Olson (Arizona), Skip Prosser (Wake Forest), Bo Ryan (Wisconsin), and Tubby Smith (Kentucky). Mercer did not maintain this level of success, which prompted the university to hire a new head coach.

Mercer's basketball alumni include Sam Mitchell, a retired NBA player who became head coach of the Toronto Raptors. Mitchell was drafted with the seventh pick of the third round (54th overall) by the Houston Rockets in the 1985 NBA draft. He scored nearly 2,000 points at Mercer, the leading scorer in team history, and led Mercer to the 1985 Trans-America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships. More recent alumni include Will Emerson, a forward on the men's basketball team, who was the 2004–05 and 2005–06 Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student Athlete of the Year, only the third person to be selected twice for the award. Emerson was also named to ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-American first team in 2005 and 2006.

Mercer received national attention in November 2007 when the team defeated USC, which was ranked 18th in the nation at the time of the game.

Recent Achievements

In 2012, Mercer won the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament following the 2011–12 season; the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to win a postseason championship.[8] During the tournament, the team defeated Tennessee State, Georgia State, Old Dominion and Fairfield en route to the championship game at Utah State University; Mercer won the championship game 70–67. The championship capped the best season in university history; the team finished the season with a 27–11 record.

In 2013, Mercer won the conference regular season championship and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament, defeating Tennessee before losing to BYU; the team finished the season with a 24–12 record, the first time in university history that the team had back-to-back 20-win seasons.[30] Mercer had opened the season ranked first in the conference preseason standings; during the season, notable wins included victories over defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State and Alabama.

In 2014, Mercer won the conference regular season championship for the second year in a row (co-champion, tied with Florida Gulf Coast) and the conference tournament championship; the team defeated Florida Gulf Coast for the tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1985.[31] During the regular season, notable wins included victories over Seton Hall and Ole Miss. At the conclusion of the conference tournament, Mercer had a record of 26–8, the first time in university history the team had three straight 20-win seasons. Mercer coach Bob Hoffman was honored as the conference coach of the year for the second consecutive year; Mercer players were honored as the conference player of the year (guard, Langston Hall), defensive player of the year (forward, Daniel Coursey), and scholar-athlete of the year (forward, Jakob Gollon).[14][32] Mercer defeated Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Tennessee in the third round. The team finished the season with a 27–9 record.

Women's basketball edit

Susie Gardner – Head Coach

Susie Gardner was named women's basketball head coach in 2010. She replaced Jannell Jones who resigned to become the head coach of California State University, Los Angeles; Jones compiled a 35–56 record during three seasons at Mercer.[33][34] Gardner, former head coach at the University of Arkansas and Austin Peay University, was most recently an assistant coach at the University of Florida.[35] She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and compiled a 64–54 record in four seasons at Arkansas and a 112–93 record in seven seasons at Austin Peay. Gardner is the tenth head coach in Mercer's 41 years of women's basketball.[36]

Recent achievements

In 2013, Mercer advanced to the post-season Women's Basketball Invitational losing to McNeese State University; the team finished the season with a 20–12 record, the first 20-win season since 1991–92.[37] The post-season appearance was Mercer's first in a nationally sponsored tournament since 1985.[38]

Baseball edit

 
Claude Smith Field (baseball)

History

Mercer fielded its first baseball team in 1871.[39] Cy Young coached the team from 1903 to 1905 winning three Georgia State Championships.[40] In recent years, Mercer has won five Atlantic Sun Conference championships including the university's first regular season title in 2013.[41] Since the program began in 1871, ten Mercer players have advanced to the Major Leagues.[39]

First Pitch Classic

Mercer opens each baseball season with the annual First Pitch Classic.[42] First held in 2009, the event welcomes a distinguished guest with extensive baseball experience to the Macon campus; highlights include an autograph session and an evening banquet featuring the guest as the primary speaker. Speakers have included Jeff Francoeur (2009), Gordon Beckham (2010), John Smoltz (2011), Chipper Jones (2012), and Dale Murphy (2013).[42]

Recent Achievements

In 2010 under head coach Craig Gibson, Mercer won the conference tournament championship for the first time since 1983.[43] Mercer, with a 37–22 record, advanced to the NCAA Division I Atlanta Regional where the team defeated Elon University, but lost to Georgia Tech and the University of Alabama.[43][44] The team finished the season with a 38–24 record, one of the most successful in university history.[45][46]

In 2013, Mercer won the conference regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I Starkville Regional losing to the University of South Alabama and the University of Central Arkansas.[47] The team finished the season with a 43–18 record, the best in university history. With the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA Baseball College World Series, Mercer finished the season as the top fielding (.982 percentage) team in the nation out of all 296 eligible Division I teams; Mercer edged out the University of Nebraska, the University of California, Irvine and the University of Oregon.[48] In addition, junior outfielder Derrick Workman was named a first team Capital One Academic All-American, one of only eleven players in nation selected for this honor.[49]

Lacrosse edit

History Mercer added men's lacrosse during the 2010–11 academic year (2011 season); women's lacrosse was added for 2014–15 (2015 season).[50] The programs are the first in Georgia at the NCAA Division I level. The men's team won its first victory on March 19, 2011 against Carthage College.[51]

Recent achievements

The ASUN Conference (then the Atlantic Sun Conference) began sponsoring men's lacrosse in 2014; on February 22, 2014, Mercer won the conference opener, defeating Richmond.[52] Mercer went on to win the conference regular season championship (co-champion with High Point); the Bears were defeated in the opening round of the conference tournament.[53][54] Mercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1, 2014; on the same day, the Southern Conference took over sponsorship of men's lacrosse from the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The SoCon dropped men's lacrosse after the 2022 season due to conference realignment,[55] and Mercer returned men's lacrosse to the ASUN (which had reinstated men's lacrosse in the 2022 season).[56]

Facilities edit

 
University Center (Hawkins Arena) and Sikes Field (softball)

Mercer opened the University Center (also known as Hawkins Arena) on the Macon campus in 2004. The $40 million 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m2) center houses Mercer's athletics department, a 3,500-seat basketball arena, an indoor pool, work-out facilities, intramural basketball courts, an air-rifle range, offices, a food court, and numerous meeting facilities. Mercer's Claude Smith Field (baseball), Sikes Field (softball), and intramural fields are next to the center along with the university's tennis complex. Betts Stadium, the home of men's and women's soccer, is located on the eastern edge of campus between the School of Medicine and the university's newest intramural fields. In 2007, a 101-room Hilton Garden Inn opened on university-owned land adjacent to the University Center.

The University Center arena was named Hawkins Arena in April 2012. The naming honors J. B. Hawkins, former high school athletic director and basketball coach in Crawford County.[57][58]

In November 2011, the university began construction of the 10,200-seat Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex on the Macon campus.[59][60] The new facility, adjacent to Hawkins Arena and Mercer's other athletic facilities, has the following components: the Homer and Ruth Drake Field House, the William H. Anderson II Family Field, the Marshall and Jane Butler Family Plaza, and the Tony and Nancy Moye Family Football and Lacrosse Complex. Construction was completed in 2013; the Field Turf surface was completed in July 2012, the Drake Field House opened in November 2012.

Mercer's athletic facilities are located next to Interstate 75. Large parking lots are available for visitors-spectators arriving via the Mercer University Drive exit.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Color - Mercer University Style Guide". Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "Mercer University Accepts Invitation to Join the Southern Conference". News.mercer.edu. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  3. ^ "Mercer". Mercerbears.com. 2014-09-15. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Literature Study Guides – By Popularity". eNotes.com. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  5. ^ Spright Dowell (1958). A History of Mercer University, 1833–1953. p. 164.
  6. ^ . Cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  7. ^ "SoCon Adds ETSU, Mercer and VMI – SoConSports.com—Official Web Site of The Southern Conference". Soconsports.com. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  8. ^ a b "Mercer University News". .mercer.edu. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
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  13. ^ "Mercer". Mercerbears.com. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  14. ^ a b . Mercerbears.com. 2014-03-03. Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
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  16. ^ Robert E. Wilder, Gridiron Glory Days: Football at Mercer 1892–1942, Macon: Mercer University Press, 1982, ISBN 0-86554-052-7, p. 202
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  19. ^ http://www.mercerbears.com 2013 schedule
  20. ^ "Southern Conference Football - Standings/Schedules".
  21. ^ "UGA Football | New Georgia Encyclopedia". Georgiaencyclopedia.org. 2005-05-20. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  22. ^ [1] January 8, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Wally Butts (1905–1973) | New Georgia Encyclopedia". Georgiaencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
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  25. ^ Bryant, James C. (1993). A gift for giving: the story of Lamar Rich Plunkett. United States: Mercer University Press. p. 51. ISBN 0-86554-430-1.
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  27. ^ a b c "Furman Bio". Furman Athletics. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
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  56. ^ "Jacksonville, Lindenwood & Mercer Joining #ASUNMLAX for 2023 Season" (Press release). ASUN Conference. March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  57. ^ "The den - A student-centered online resource center from Mercer University". 19 March 2020.
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External links edit

  • Official website

mercer, bears, athletic, teams, mercer, university, macon, georgia, united, states, mercer, only, private, university, georgia, with, ncaa, division, athletic, program, fields, teams, eight, nine, women, sports, university, competes, southern, conference, most. The Mercer Bears are the athletic teams of Mercer University in Macon Georgia United States Mercer is the only private university in Georgia with an NCAA Division I athletic program and fields teams in eight men s and nine women s sports The university competes in the Southern Conference for most sports In 2013 the football team competed in the Pioneer Football League Mercer BearsUniversityMercer UniversityConferenceSouthern Conference primary ASUN men s lacrosse Big South women s lacrosse Sun Belt beach volleyball NCAADivision I FCS Athletic directorJim ColeLocationMacon GeorgiaVarsity teams18 8 men s 10 women s Football stadiumFive Star StadiumBasketball arenaHawkins ArenaBaseball stadiumClaude Smith FieldSoftball stadiumSikes FieldSoccer stadiumBetts StadiumMascotTobyNicknameBearsColorsBlack and orange 1 Websitewww wbr mercerbears wbr com SoCon s logo in Mercer s colors Mercer joined the Southern Conference as a full member on July 1 2014 all university sponsored sports will compete in the Southern Conference except women s lacrosse and women s beach volleyball which are not sponsored by the conference 2 Contents 1 Sports teams 2 History and conference affiliations 3 Championships 4 Athletics director 5 Notable coaches 6 Sports 6 1 Football 6 2 Men s basketball 6 3 Women s basketball 6 4 Baseball 6 5 Lacrosse 7 Facilities 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksSports teams editA member of the Southern Conference Mercer University sponsors teams in eight men s and ten women s NCAA sanctioned sports 3 Men s intercollegiate sports Team article Head coach Women s intercollegiate sports Team article Head coach Baseball Bears baseball Craig Gibson Basketball Bears women s basketball Susie Gardner Basketball Bears men s basketball Greg Gary Beach volleyball v 1 Damian Elder Cross Country Jerod Wimms Cross Country Jerod Wimms Football Bears football Drew Cronic Golf Michele Drinkard Golf Kirk Kayden Lacrosse v 2 Samantha Eustace Lacrosse Bears Men s lacrosse v 3 Kyle Hannan Soccer Tony Economopoulos Soccer Bears men s soccer Brad Ruzzo Softball Stephanie DeFeo Tennis Eric Hayes Tennis Eric Hayes Track amp Field Outdoor only Ryan Bailey Volleyball Damian Elder Notes The beach volleyball team competes as an associate member of the Sun Belt Conference The women s lacrosse team competes as an associate member of the Big South Conference The men s lacrosse team competes as an associate member of the ASUN Conference History and conference affiliations editMercer was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association SIAA from 1906 to 1911 and from 1919 to 1937 the university won the conference championship in basketball in 1922 and 1924 4 Prior to 1924 the sports teams were known as the Baptists rather than the Bears 5 Without leaving the SIAA which focused mostly on basketball and track Mercer was a charter member of the Dixie Conference in 1930 the university played football in the new conference from 1930 to 1942 and won the conference championship in 1932 6 Mercer suspended athletics in 1942 during World War II but rejoined the Dixie Conference from 1948 to 1954 in all sports except football Mercer did not revive the sport after the war The university won the Dixie Conference tournament championship in basketball in 1951 1952 and 1954 Mercer won the regular season championship in 1950 1952 and 1953 Mercer began competition in women s basketball in 1970 the team won the Southern Women s Athletic Conference championship in 1972 The university competing in the Georgia Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women won the conference championship in 1974 1976 1979 1980 tournament and regular season and 1982 regular season In 1985 Mercer advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four the team was defeated 82 79 by Central Missouri State University Mercer was a charter member of the New South Women s Athletic Conference in 1985 86 and won the conference championship in 1991 the conference merged with the Trans America Athletic Conference TAAC now known as the ASUN Conference the same year Mercer became a charter member of the TAAC in 1978 and was the only charter member remaining with the conference before moving to the Southern Conference The men s basketball team won the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament in 1981 the team was defeated 73 67 by the University of Arkansas Mercer won the conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament again in 1985 the team was defeated 65 58 by Georgia Tech Mercer discontinued football in 1942 The sport was reinstated in 2013 Mercer competed in the non scholarship Pioneer Football League for the 2013 season Mercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1 2014 the university accepted an invitation on May 30 2013 and joined alongside East Tennessee State University and Virginia Military Institute 7 Mercer shifted from non scholarship to scholarship football when it joined the conference Championships editMercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1 2014 The university was previously a member of the ASUN Conference then known as the Atlantic Sun Conference Mercer won 21 ASUN championships 12 tournament and nine regular season including four in the spring of 2014 Mercer won four championships in its first year in the SoCon two tournament and two regular season Southern Conference Tournament Championships Soccer M 2016 Baseball 2015 Soccer W 2014 Southern Conference Regular Season Championships Basketball W 2016 2017 Baseball 2015 Soccer M 2014 ASUN Conference Tournament Championships Baseball 1979 1981 1983 2010 Basketball M 1981 1985 2014 Golf M 2014 Soccer M 1992 1999 2001 Soccer W 2010 ASUN Conference Regular Season Championships Baseball 2013 Basketball M 2003 2013 2014 Basketball W 1991 1992 Lacrosse M 2014 Soccer M 2000 2002 CollegeInsider com Postseason Tournament CIT ChampionshipThe men s basketball team won the CollegeInsider com Postseason Tournament following the 2011 12 season the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to win a postseason championship 8 During the tournament the team defeated Tennessee State University Georgia State University Old Dominion University and Fairfield University en route to the championship game at Utah State University Mercer won the championship game 70 67 The championship capped the best season in university history the team finished the season with a 27 11 record Athletics director editJim Cole a Mercer graduate and a former minor league professional baseball player in the Milwaukee Brewers system is Mercer s athletics director Cole a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives served as Governor Sonny Perdue s floor leader in the House and was selected to become Georgia Secretary of State in December 2009 9 He declined the appointment to become athletics director 10 Since becoming athletics director Cole has overseen the addition of men s lacrosse women s lacrosse and sand volleyball the reinstatement of football and the construction of Mercer s football and lacrosse complex Cole replaced Bobby Pope who retired on June 30 2010 after 21 years as athletics director 11 Pope was affiliated with Mercer for 40 years starting in 1970 as a radio announcer and in 1980 became sports information director 12 He became athletics director in 1989 and oversaw construction of the University Center and renovation of the baseball softball and tennis facilities Pope was inducted into Mercer s Hall of Fame in 2010 13 Notable coaches editBill Bibb men s basketball head coach 1974 89 compiled a record of 222 194 the most wins in Mercer history including three Atlantic Sun Conference championships and two NCAA Division I tournament appearances served as commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference 1991 2007 namesake of the Bill Bibb Trophy awarded annually to the conference s best athletic program Bill Hodges men s basketball head coach 1991 97 before coming to Mercer coached Larry Bird at Indiana State University and finished second in the 1979 NCAA Men s Division I Basketball Tournament Bob Hoffman men s basketball head coach 2008 present Mercer won the 2011 12 CollegeInsider com Postseason Tournament the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to win a postseason championship Atlantic Sun Conference coach of the year 2013 and 2014 14 Bobby Lamb football head coach 2011 present Mercer began competition in 2013 before coming to Mercer head coach at Furman University Southern Conference player of the year 1985 and Southern Conference coach of the year 2004 Bernie Moore football head coach 1926 28 after leaving Mercer served as football head coach at Louisiana State University and as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference Mark Slonaker men s basketball head coach 1997 2008 named the 2002 03 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year after leading Mercer to the best one season turnaround in NCAA history 6 23 to 23 6 Claude Smith baseball coach 1948 77 compiled a record of 405 314 2 namesake of Mercer s Claude Smith Field Barry Myers Head Baseball Coach Cy Young baseball coach 1903 05 Mercer won the Georgia State Championship all three years 1903 05 Sports editFootball edit Main article Mercer Bears football nbsp Homer and Ruth Drake Field House a component of the Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex Reinstatement NCAA Record WinsOn November 19 2010 Mercer announced the reinstatement of intercollegiate football beginning in the fall of 2013 15 In 2013 Mercer competed as an NCAA Division I FCS non scholarship program in the Pioneer Football League in 2014 Mercer began competing as a scholarship program in the Southern Conference Reinstatement came after a 70 year hiatus the university suspended football during World War II and did not revive it The final game was in 1941 16 The modern Mercer football program played its first game on August 31 2013 the team defeated Reinhardt University before an overflow crowd 12 172 spectators at the Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex 17 Mercer finished the 2013 season undefeated at home with a 10 2 win loss record the two road losses were to the University of San Diego and Marist College setting an NCAA Division I record for wins 10 by a start up football program Mercer had eight home wins However four of Mercer wins were from competing against teams in lower division levels of competition 3 NAIA schools and 1 Division III school 18 19 also an NCAA Division I record tied the same year 2013 by Auburn University the FBS national runner up and Sam Houston State University who achieved its eighth victory in the FCS post season Mercer won its first game in the Southern Conference on September 27 2014 the team defeated Virginia Military Institute on the road in Lexington Virginia Mercer finished its first season in the SoCon and its second season since reinstatement placing in last place in the SoCon with an overall 6 6 win loss record 1 5 in the conference 20 nbsp Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex under construction view from the Homer and Ruth Drake Field House HistoryThe reinstatement of football revives a storied university program Mercer and the University of Georgia competed in the first football game in Georgia UGA won 50 0 on January 15 1892 21 Later the same year Mercer played Georgia Tech in Tech s first football game Mercer won 12 6 on November 5 1892 22 Mercer football alumni include Wally Butts one of the greatest personalities in Georgia sports history 23 After his playing days at Mercer Butts served as the head coach at UGA from 1939 to 1960 and as the school s athletic director from 1939 to 1963 he is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame Other notable alumni are Joseph Phoney Smith and Bill Yoast Smith was an All American halfback and is Mercer s all time leading scorer he scored 176 points and later played for the semi professional Ironton Tanks 24 25 Yoast is the high school coach made famous in the movie Remember the Titans Bobby Lamb Head CoachOn January 20 2011 Mercer announced the hiring of Bobby Lamb as its new head football coach 26 Lamb compiled a record of 67 40 in nine seasons as the head coach at Furman University from 2002 to 2010 He played quarterback at Furman from 1982 to 1985 and was the Southern Conference player of the year in 1985 27 Lamb was an assistant coach at Furman from 1986 until he became head coach in 2002 27 He resigned from Furman after compiling a record of 5 6 for the 2010 season his only losing season in nine years 28 Lamb is a Georgia native he was born in Augusta and graduated from high school in Commerce 27 Lamb s record in his first two seasons at Mercer was 16 6 Men s basketball edit Main article Mercer Bears men s basketball nbsp University Center Hawkins Arena Bob Hoffman Head CoachBob Hoffman was named men s basketball head coach in 2008 29 Prior to Mercer Hoffman was head coach at Oklahoma Baptist and Texas Pan American as well as the Rio Grande Valley Vipers an NBA D League team Hoffman s overall record as a head coach at the collegiate level is 499 243 as of the end of the 2012 13 season including 99 wins at Mercer during his first five seasons 2008 13 His Mercer wins include victories over Alabama twice Auburn Duke Georgia Tech Florida State then the defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion and Tennessee HistoryHoffman replaced Mark Slonaker who served as head coach for ten seasons and was the 2002 03 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Slonaker received that award after leading Mercer to the best one season turnaround in NCAA history improving from 6 23 to 23 6 The team won the Atlantic Sun regular season championship with a 14 2 conference record and made school history for number of wins 23 Mercer won 22 games in 1923 24 and 1984 85 The season ended with a loss in the Atlantic Sun tournament Slonaker was the first National Coach of the Year to receive the award after it was named in honor of Jim Phelan The four other finalists were Lute Olson Arizona Skip Prosser Wake Forest Bo Ryan Wisconsin and Tubby Smith Kentucky Mercer did not maintain this level of success which prompted the university to hire a new head coach Mercer s basketball alumni include Sam Mitchell a retired NBA player who became head coach of the Toronto Raptors Mitchell was drafted with the seventh pick of the third round 54th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1985 NBA draft He scored nearly 2 000 points at Mercer the leading scorer in team history and led Mercer to the 1985 Trans America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships More recent alumni include Will Emerson a forward on the men s basketball team who was the 2004 05 and 2005 06 Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student Athlete of the Year only the third person to be selected twice for the award Emerson was also named to ESPN the Magazine s Academic All American first team in 2005 and 2006 Mercer received national attention in November 2007 when the team defeated USC which was ranked 18th in the nation at the time of the game Recent AchievementsIn 2012 Mercer won the CollegeInsider com Postseason Tournament following the 2011 12 season the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to win a postseason championship 8 During the tournament the team defeated Tennessee State Georgia State Old Dominion and Fairfield en route to the championship game at Utah State University Mercer won the championship game 70 67 The championship capped the best season in university history the team finished the season with a 27 11 record In 2013 Mercer won the conference regular season championship and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament defeating Tennessee before losing to BYU the team finished the season with a 24 12 record the first time in university history that the team had back to back 20 win seasons 30 Mercer had opened the season ranked first in the conference preseason standings during the season notable wins included victories over defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State and Alabama In 2014 Mercer won the conference regular season championship for the second year in a row co champion tied with Florida Gulf Coast and the conference tournament championship the team defeated Florida Gulf Coast for the tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1985 31 During the regular season notable wins included victories over Seton Hall and Ole Miss At the conclusion of the conference tournament Mercer had a record of 26 8 the first time in university history the team had three straight 20 win seasons Mercer coach Bob Hoffman was honored as the conference coach of the year for the second consecutive year Mercer players were honored as the conference player of the year guard Langston Hall defensive player of the year forward Daniel Coursey and scholar athlete of the year forward Jakob Gollon 14 32 Mercer defeated Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Tennessee in the third round The team finished the season with a 27 9 record Women s basketball edit Susie Gardner Head Coach Susie Gardner was named women s basketball head coach in 2010 She replaced Jannell Jones who resigned to become the head coach of California State University Los Angeles Jones compiled a 35 56 record during three seasons at Mercer 33 34 Gardner former head coach at the University of Arkansas and Austin Peay University was most recently an assistant coach at the University of Florida 35 She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and compiled a 64 54 record in four seasons at Arkansas and a 112 93 record in seven seasons at Austin Peay Gardner is the tenth head coach in Mercer s 41 years of women s basketball 36 Recent achievements In 2013 Mercer advanced to the post season Women s Basketball Invitational losing to McNeese State University the team finished the season with a 20 12 record the first 20 win season since 1991 92 37 The post season appearance was Mercer s first in a nationally sponsored tournament since 1985 38 Baseball edit nbsp Claude Smith Field baseball HistoryMercer fielded its first baseball team in 1871 39 Cy Young coached the team from 1903 to 1905 winning three Georgia State Championships 40 In recent years Mercer has won five Atlantic Sun Conference championships including the university s first regular season title in 2013 41 Since the program began in 1871 ten Mercer players have advanced to the Major Leagues 39 First Pitch ClassicMercer opens each baseball season with the annual First Pitch Classic 42 First held in 2009 the event welcomes a distinguished guest with extensive baseball experience to the Macon campus highlights include an autograph session and an evening banquet featuring the guest as the primary speaker Speakers have included Jeff Francoeur 2009 Gordon Beckham 2010 John Smoltz 2011 Chipper Jones 2012 and Dale Murphy 2013 42 Recent AchievementsIn 2010 under head coach Craig Gibson Mercer won the conference tournament championship for the first time since 1983 43 Mercer with a 37 22 record advanced to the NCAA Division I Atlanta Regional where the team defeated Elon University but lost to Georgia Tech and the University of Alabama 43 44 The team finished the season with a 38 24 record one of the most successful in university history 45 46 In 2013 Mercer won the conference regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA Division I Starkville Regional losing to the University of South Alabama and the University of Central Arkansas 47 The team finished the season with a 43 18 record the best in university history With the conclusion of the 2013 NCAA Baseball College World Series Mercer finished the season as the top fielding 982 percentage team in the nation out of all 296 eligible Division I teams Mercer edged out the University of Nebraska the University of California Irvine and the University of Oregon 48 In addition junior outfielder Derrick Workman was named a first team Capital One Academic All American one of only eleven players in nation selected for this honor 49 Lacrosse edit History Mercer added men s lacrosse during the 2010 11 academic year 2011 season women s lacrosse was added for 2014 15 2015 season 50 The programs are the first in Georgia at the NCAA Division I level The men s team won its first victory on March 19 2011 against Carthage College 51 Recent achievementsThe ASUN Conference then the Atlantic Sun Conference began sponsoring men s lacrosse in 2014 on February 22 2014 Mercer won the conference opener defeating Richmond 52 Mercer went on to win the conference regular season championship co champion with High Point the Bears were defeated in the opening round of the conference tournament 53 54 Mercer joined the Southern Conference on July 1 2014 on the same day the Southern Conference took over sponsorship of men s lacrosse from the Atlantic Sun Conference The SoCon dropped men s lacrosse after the 2022 season due to conference realignment 55 and Mercer returned men s lacrosse to the ASUN which had reinstated men s lacrosse in the 2022 season 56 Facilities edit nbsp University Center Hawkins Arena and Sikes Field softball Mercer opened the University Center also known as Hawkins Arena on the Macon campus in 2004 The 40 million 230 000 square foot 21 000 m2 center houses Mercer s athletics department a 3 500 seat basketball arena an indoor pool work out facilities intramural basketball courts an air rifle range offices a food court and numerous meeting facilities Mercer s Claude Smith Field baseball Sikes Field softball and intramural fields are next to the center along with the university s tennis complex Betts Stadium the home of men s and women s soccer is located on the eastern edge of campus between the School of Medicine and the university s newest intramural fields In 2007 a 101 room Hilton Garden Inn opened on university owned land adjacent to the University Center The University Center arena was named Hawkins Arena in April 2012 The naming honors J B Hawkins former high school athletic director and basketball coach in Crawford County 57 58 In November 2011 the university began construction of the 10 200 seat Tony and Nancy Moye Football and Lacrosse Complex on the Macon campus 59 60 The new facility adjacent to Hawkins Arena and Mercer s other athletic facilities has the following components the Homer and Ruth Drake Field House the William H Anderson II Family Field the Marshall and Jane Butler Family Plaza and the Tony and Nancy Moye Family Football and Lacrosse Complex Construction was completed in 2013 the Field Turf surface was completed in July 2012 the Drake Field House opened in November 2012 Mercer s athletic facilities are located next to Interstate 75 Large parking lots are available for visitors spectators arriving via the Mercer University Drive exit See also editList of college athletic programs in Georgia U S state List of alumni of Mercer University WMUM FM Mercer University RadioReferences edit Color Mercer University Style Guide Retrieved April 8 2016 Mercer University Accepts Invitation to Join the Southern Conference News mercer edu 2013 05 30 Retrieved 2015 07 18 Mercer Mercerbears com 2014 09 15 Retrieved 28 October 2016 Literature Study Guides By Popularity eNotes com Retrieved 2015 07 18 Spright Dowell 1958 A History of Mercer University 1833 1953 p 164 Conference Champions Cfbdatawarehouse com Archived from the original on 2015 06 01 Retrieved 2015 07 18 SoCon Adds ETSU Mercer and VMI SoConSports com Official Web Site of The Southern Conference Soconsports com Retrieved 2015 07 18 a b Mercer University News mercer edu Retrieved 2015 07 18 James Salzer 2009 12 31 Rep Jim Cole will be new Secretary of State Gold Dome Live Blogs ajc com Archived from the original on 2010 03 10 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Lough Michael A 2010 01 06 Rep Jim Cole to become Mercer athletics director Politics Macon com Archived from the original on 2012 03 06 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Lough Michael A 2010 06 15 Pope decides to retire at end of month Mercer Macon com Archived from the original on June 18 2010 Retrieved 2010 07 23 News amp Features 4 19 2006 Pope Inducted into Macon Sports Hall of Fame mercer edu 2006 04 19 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Mercer Mercerbears com Retrieved 2015 07 18 a b Hall Coursey and Hoffman Highlight A Sun Awards Mercer Mercerbears com 2014 03 03 Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 Mercer University News mercer edu Retrieved 2015 07 18 Robert E Wilder Gridiron Glory Days Football at Mercer 1892 1942 Macon Mercer University Press 1982 ISBN 0 86554 052 7 p 202 Mercer Unveils 2014 Schedule for Inaugural SoCon Season Mercer Mercerbears com 2014 02 11 Archived from the original on 2014 07 24 Retrieved 2015 07 18 2013 Schedule Mercer Archived from the original on 2015 09 22 Retrieved 2015 08 11 http www mercerbears com 2013 schedule Southern Conference Football Standings Schedules UGA Football New Georgia Encyclopedia Georgiaencyclopedia org 2005 05 20 Retrieved 2015 07 18 1 Archived January 8 2005 at the Wayback Machine Wally Butts 1905 1973 New Georgia Encyclopedia Georgiaencyclopedia org Retrieved 2015 07 18 Garbin Patrick 2008 About them Dawgs Georgia football s memorable teams and players United States Scarecrow Press p 48 ISBN 978 0 8108 6040 7 Bryant James C 1993 A gift for giving the story of Lamar Rich Plunkett United States Mercer University Press p 51 ISBN 0 86554 430 1 Bobby Lamb Named to Lead Mercer s Return to the Gridiron Mercer University January 20 2011 Retrieved April 15 2011 a b c Furman Bio Furman Athletics Retrieved February 16 2011 Bobby Lamb Resigns Football Post At Furman Furman Athletics November 19 2010 Retrieved February 16 2011 Bob Hoffman Head Coach Mercer Mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 2012 13 Men s Basketball Schedule Mercer Mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 Men s Basketball Captures A Sun Title Punches NCAA Tournament Ticket Mercer Mercerbears com 2014 03 09 Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 Gollon Named A Sun Scholar Athlete of the Year Mercer Mercerbears com 2014 03 04 Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 MercerBears MercerBears 2010 06 09 Archived from the original on 2010 06 13 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Lough Michael A 2010 06 10 Jones resigns from Mercer Mercer Macon com Archived from the original on 2010 06 13 Retrieved 2010 07 23 MercerBears MercerBears 2010 06 24 Archived from the original on 2010 11 27 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Susie Gardner Named Mercer Women s Basketball Coach Atlantic Sun Conference Official Site Atlanticsun org 2010 06 24 Archived from the original on 2011 08 07 Retrieved 2010 07 23 2012 13 Mercer Women s Basketball Schedule Mercer Mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 Mercer Set to Host McNeese State in First Round of WBI Mercer Mercerbears com 2013 03 20 Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 a b Mercer University Baseball Players Who Made it to a Major League Baseball Team Baseball almanac com Retrieved 2010 07 23 Cy Young Biography ESPN Espn go com Retrieved 2015 07 18 No 1 Mercer Set for A Sun Tournament Play Mercer Mercerbears com 2013 05 21 Archived from the original on 2015 07 21 Retrieved 2015 07 18 a b News from Macon and Warner Robins GA and beyond The Telegraph macon com Archived from the original on 2012 12 14 a b Lough Michael A 2010 05 31 Bears earn NCAA berth with A Sun title Sports Top Story Macon com Archived from the original on 2012 03 06 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Lough Michael A 2010 06 06 Mercer rebounds eliminates Elon in Bears first ever NCAA Regional victory Mercer Macon com Archived from the original on 2010 06 11 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Lough Michael A 2010 06 07 Mercer s regional run comes to end Mercer Macon com Retrieved 2010 07 23 dead link Lough Michael A 2010 06 13 Peach State baseball teams enjoy banner spring Georgia College amp State University Macon com Retrieved 2010 07 23 dead link No 3 Mercer Drops Extra Inning Heartbreaker in Starkville Regional Elimination Game mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2014 07 24 Baseball mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2014 07 24 Workman Voted Capital One Academic All America First Team Member Mercer University Athletics Archived from the original on 2013 06 21 Retrieved 2013 07 19 News amp Features 6 18 2009 Mercer to Add Lacrosse mercer edu 2009 06 18 Retrieved 2010 07 23 Mercer Lacrosse Nets First Ever Program Victory Mercer University March 19 2011 Archived from the original on April 6 2011 Retrieved April 15 2011 Men s Lacrosse Rallies for Historic Win against Richmond mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2014 03 08 Men s Lacrosse Clinches Share of A Sun Regular Season Title mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2014 04 24 2014 Mercer Men s Lacrosse Schedule mercerbears com Archived from the original on 2014 05 16 Fallis Jeremy June 2 2022 Breaking Down the Division I Men s Conference Landscape USA Lacrosse Magazine Retrieved June 22 2022 Jacksonville Lindenwood amp Mercer Joining ASUNMLAX for 2023 Season Press release ASUN Conference March 30 2022 Retrieved May 11 2022 The den A student centered online resource center from Mercer University 19 March 2020 News from Macon and Warner Robins GA and beyond The Telegraph macon com permanent dead link Football Returns Archived from the original on 2012 01 18 Retrieved 2012 01 04 News from Macon and Warner Robins GA and beyond The Telegraph macon com Archived from the original on 2014 02 01 Retrieved 2012 09 18 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mercer Bears amp oldid 1192065650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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