Union University Athletics

 
NCAA DIVISION II 
Union was approved for active NCAA Division II membership in the July 2014 after completing their 3-year membership process. Union's official return to the NCAA began September 1, 2014. Prior to the early 1970's, Union experiences success as members of the NCAA Small College Division and later NCAA Division II. Union won the NCAA Small College Baseball National Title in 1963 along with several region and national tournament appearances in baseball and men's basketball during the school's previous era of NCAA competition. Union's 1968 men's basketball team advanced to the NCAA DII Region Title game, before falling to the eventual national champion by two points. 
 
Looking back over this process, Union has continued to work and compete at a high level in many areas, while dealing with many challenges on and off the field with a new conference, new national association, and a new level of competition.

Since rejoining NCAA DII in 2014, Union has advanced to the national tournaments in women's cross country, women's basketball (region title 2018, NCAA DII Final Four 2018) and men's basketball. Union has also claimed one of the highest academic honors in the NCAA, given when women's cross country runner BethAnne Davis earned the NCAA's Elite 89 Award for having the high GPA at the National Championships.

ABOUT UNION UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Union is an active member of NCAA DII and the Gulf South Conference. In July of 2014, Union was recommended to be moved to active NCAA DII membership after a successful 3-year membership process. Union's athletic programs ended a great partnership and winning tradition with the NAIA in June of 2012. Union currently offers 11 varsity sports including men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, baseball, and softball. In the fall of 2012, Union added women's golf and the team completed their inaugural season in 2012-13.

In the NAIA, Union captured five women's basketball national titles (1998, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010). Union also has won national titles in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in volleyball (2003), men's soccer (2004), softball (2001, 2002, 2004, 2013) and women's basketball (2014). As a member of the NAIA's TranSouth Conference from 1996 - 2012, Union captured the TranSouth Conference All Sports Trophy 10 times, including nine straight (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012).

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE 
Union has also found success athletically in one of the toughest division II leagues in the country. The Gulf South Conference, a charter member of the NCAA Division II, has won 54 National Championships since 1971 in 13 different sports. In the two years of competition during the transition period, Union earned one first place finish in the regular season (women’s basketball), three second place regular season finishes (men's golf, men’s soccer, women’s cross country) and two third place finishes (women’s basketball, men’s golf). These were all regular season finishes as Union was not permitted to play postseason during the membership process. Since becoming active members of the GSC in 2014-15, Union has won seven GSC Regular Season Titles (women's basketball 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and eight GSC Tournament Titles (women's cross country 2014, 2016, women's basketball 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). Union has advanced to GSC Tournament play in all 11 sports since becoming active members in 2014. Union has had three student-athletes named as GSC Top Ten Award Winners (Amy Philamlee 2015, Jacob Whitney 2017, Janey Berends 2018). In the spring of 2021, due to COVID, soccer and volleyball moved seasons from the fall to the spring. Volleyball won the GSC Spring Championship Series Regular Season, while men's soccer won the GSC Spring Championship Series Tournament Title.

UNION UNIVERSITY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
In the classroom, Union continues to shine as one of the top schools in the region and nation with high rankings on numerous national publications. Union has a national Academic Success Rate of 86 percent, tops in the GSC, which is well above the conference and NCAA DII averages. The Union women's cross country team earned the highest GPA among all NCAA DII schools in 2017 and 2018. The men's cross country team posted the nations high team GPA in 2017. 
                                                              
UNION ATHLETIC FACILITIES
Union competes day in and day out using some of the finest facilities around. Fred DeLay Gymnasium seats 1,823 people and is the home of the Union volleyball and basketball teams. Fred DeLay Gymnasium is a part of the Pennic Academic Complex which houses the athletic offices, locker rooms for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and volleyball, weight room facility, as well as, a training room. Fesmire Fields, the home of Union baseball and softball, has a press box, grandstands, lights, tarps, and concessions to provide top level atmosphere for home events. The Smith Soccer Complex is the home of the Union soccer teams and also serves as the start and finish for Union home cross country course. The soccer complex includes a game field with lights and a 1,000-seat grandstand, with press box and concessions. It also includes a lighted practice field. The Fesmire Field House is a 18,000 square foot facility that houses offices and locker rooms for baseball, softball, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer. It also includes a training room, visiting locker rooms, and a 9,000 square foot indoor turf practice facility.
 
MISSION TRIP/COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES 
In addition to quality academics and athletes, Union University also provides numerous opportunities for students to participate in mission trips. Union is very active in community service work locally, as well as, working with various organizations and independently with mission work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Above the numerous trips taken by the general Union student body, including many student-athletes, the sports teams themselves are involved with mission work. Over the last few years, several teams have made international mission trips including women’s basketball (Haiti twice, Africa), women’s soccer (Eleuthera), and men’s soccer (Brazil). All of the sports teams are involved in numbers service projects independently, in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and with the University student body as a whole.
 
UNION UNIVERSITY AT A GLANCE
A private, Christian, four-year, coeducational, liberal arts-based university offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Founded in 1823, Union is the oldest institution affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Located in Jackson, Tennessee, Union is approximately 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west of Nashville. Union also has extension campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Our Mission: Union University provides Christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to Church and society.

LIVING AT UNION
Union University is a residential institution which seeks to express its commitment to academic excellence within a close-knit learning community. Focusing on the residential experiences of its students, Union is committed to offering the finest living-learning environment.

Living on campus provides students with unique opportunities and challenges. Residence Life programs focus on development in the areas of education, spiritual life, cultural understanding, building relationships and service. Within this context, the Residence Life staff is committed to aiding in the growth of individual students.
 
Union's Residence Life facilities are among the best available anywhere. The design combines the benefits of fellowship and community with the opportunity for privacy. Each four-bedroom apartment features a private bedroom for every student - a longstanding Union tradition - as well as a living room, kitchen, one or two bathrooms and washer and dryer facilities. Student Commons buildings adjacent to the residence buildings provide opportunities for recreation, relaxation and group gatherings.