Central Arkansas Bears
Encyclopedia
The University of Central Arkansas participates in 14 NCAA Division I Varsity Sports and one Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA football), 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.
UCA presently competes in seven men's sports (American football
, basketball
, baseball
, soccer
, golf
, cross country
and track
) and eight women's sports (basketball, softball
, volleyball
, soccer, tennis
, golf, cross country and track).
From 1993 to 2006, UCA competed in the West Division of the Gulf South Conference
. In 2005-2006, UCA's men's athletic teams won the conference's All Sports Trophy. However, on July 1, 2006, UCA moved to the Southland Conference
, which is Division I-AA in football and Division I in all other sports. UCA plans to be a full Division I member by September 10, 2010. The Bears also compete in the Missouri Valley Conference
for men's soccer.
Prior to moving to Division II, UCA competed in NAIA
Division 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 14 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships (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 notably Monte Coleman
.
In 2008, the UCA Bear Football Team defeated more Southland Conference Opponents than any other conference team and were declared "Unofficial Southland Conference Champions." The Southland Conference nor the NCAA would recognize UCA as the champions due to the transition period from Division II.
The most famous athlete in school history is unquestionably Scottie Pippen
. Pippen was a 6'2" walk-on his first year at UCA, but by the time his sophomore year rolled around, he had grown to 6'7", and would be a starter for the next three seasons. Scottie was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
with the 5th pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and then traded to the Chicago Bulls
for Olden Polynice
. Polynice was never a major factor in the NBA, but Scottie won six world championships (1991–1993 and 1996–1998) while playing for the Bulls (1987 - 1998) alongside Michael Jordan
. 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 jersey at UCA is also retired, and hangs in the rafters. Pippen also played for the Houston Rockets
(1998 - 1999) and the Portland Trail Blazers
(1999–2003). Pippen is retired, and lives with his family in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
UCA presently competes in seven men's sports (American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
) and eight women's sports (basketball, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, soccer, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, golf, cross country and track).
From 1993 to 2006, UCA competed in the West Division of the Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
. In 2005-2006, UCA's men's athletic teams won the conference's All Sports Trophy. However, on July 1, 2006, UCA moved to the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, which is Division I-AA in football and Division I in all other sports. UCA plans to be a full Division I member by September 10, 2010. The Bears also compete in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
for men's soccer.
Prior to moving to Division II, UCA competed in NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
Division 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 14 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference championships (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
Landon Trusty
Landon Trusty is an American football tight end, currently a free agent.Trusty was most recently on the Injured reserve for 2006 season with the Denver Broncos of the NFL after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in spring minicamp...
, Willie Davis
Willie Davis (wide receiver)
Willie Clark Davis was a professional American football wide receiver who played for eight seasons in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Houston Oilers, and the Tennessee Titans. He is a scout for the Chiefs and a lecturer at the University of Maryland.-References:...
, Tyree Davis
Tyree Davis
Tyree Bernard Davis is a former professional American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Arkansas....
, Dave Burnette, Curtis Burrow
Curtis Burrow
-Career:Burrow was a member of the Green Bay Packers during the 1988 NFL season. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Central Arkansas.-References:...
, Andre Collins, David Evans, and most notably Monte Coleman
Monte Coleman
Monte Leon Coleman is a former American football linebacker who played for sixteen seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1979 to 1994...
.
In 2008, the UCA Bear Football Team defeated more Southland Conference Opponents than any other conference team and were declared "Unofficial Southland Conference Champions." The Southland Conference nor the NCAA would recognize UCA as the champions due to the transition period from Division II.
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
. Pippen was a 6'2" walk-on his first year at UCA, but by the time his sophomore year rolled around, he had grown to 6'7", and would be a starter for the next three seasons. Scottie was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
with the 5th pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and then traded to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
for Olden Polynice
Olden Polynice
Olden Polynice is a Haitian former professional basketball player. He played center for the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association.-Career:After graduating from All Hallows High School in the Bronx,...
. Polynice was never a major factor in the NBA, but Scottie won six world championships (1991–1993 and 1996–1998) while playing for the Bulls (1987 - 1998) alongside Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
. 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 jersey at UCA is also retired, and hangs in the rafters. Pippen also played for the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
(1998 - 1999) and the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
(1999–2003). Pippen is retired, and lives with his family in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.