Missouri State Bears

The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Teams
Missouri State University sponsors six men's and ten women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports:

Men's Intercollegiate Sports Women's Intercollegiate Sports
 * Baseball
 * Basketball
 * Football
 * Golf
 * Soccer
 * Swimming & Diving
 * Basketball
 * Cross Country
 * Field Hockey
 * Golf
 * Soccer
 * Softball
 * Swimming & Diving
 * Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)
 * Volleyball


 * Note = The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and the field hockey and men's swimming and diving teams compete in the Mid-American Conference.

The university also sponsors several club sports teams, including ice hockey (ACHA), lacrosse (MCLA), and roller hockey (NCRHA).

NIT Appearances
1986, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011

NAIA Appearances
The Bears made six appearances in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament. The combined NAIA Tournament record is 15-4.
 * 1939 - First round
 * 1943 - First round
 * 1949 - Second round
 * 1952 - National Champions
 * 1953 - National Champions
 * 1954 -Third Place.

Conference championships
MIAA (1924–1981) 19 1928, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978

Mid-Continent Conference (1982–1990) 4 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990

Missouri Valley Conference (1990–present) 1 1992 (Tournament), 2011(Regular Season)

Head coaches

 * W.A. Daggett (2 seasons, 11-9), 1908–1910
 * Corliss Buchanan (1 season, 13-8), 1910–1911
 * No team 1911-1913
 * Arthur Briggs (9 seasons, 105-31), 1913–1918, 1919–1923
 * Paul Andrews (1 season, 2-4), 1918–1919
 * Chester Barnard (1 season, 13-1), 1923–1924
 * Donald Holwerda (1 season, 9-6), 1924–1925
 * Andrew McDonald (23 seasons, 301-166), 1925–1943, 1945–1950
 * No team 1943-1945
 * Bob Vanatta (3 seasons, 73-11), 1950–1953, 2-time NAIA Champions
 * Edwin Mathews (11 season, 164-91), 1953–1964, NCAA Division II Runners-up
 * Bill Thomas (16 seasons, 265-158), 1964–1980, 3-time NCAA Division II Runners-up
 * Bob Cleeland (3 seasons, 39-46), 1980–1983
 * Charlie Spoonhour (9 seasons, 197-81), 1983–1992, 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances and 3 NIT appearances(1 NIT Quarterfinal)
 * Mark Bernsen (3 seasons, 48-37), 1992-1995 ''' 1 NIT Quarterfinal Appearance
 * Steve Alford (4 seasons, 78-48), 1995–1999, 1 NCAA Sweet 16 Appearance and 1 NIT Appearance
 * Barry Hinson (9 seasons, 169-117), 1999-2008  4 NIT Appearances (1 NIT Quarterfinal)
 * Cuonzo Martin (3 seasons, 61-41), 2008–2011 1 CIT Appearance (Champions), 1 NIT appearance (2nd round)
 * Paul Lusk, (1 season, 16-15) 2011–Present

Retired numbers

 * 22 - Winston Garland, 1985–1987
 * 32 - Daryel Garrison, 1971–1975; (Bears all-time leading scorer with 1,975 points)
 * 43 - Jerry Anderson, 1951–1955
 * 54 - Curtis Perry, 1966–1970
 * 32 - Danny Moore, 1996-1999

Bowl Games
 Note: The 1989 Pecan Bowl was the Midwest Regional Championship (FCS Playoff Quarterfinal).

Head coaches

 * Walter Langston (1 season, 4-2), 1909
 * Corliss Buchanan (2 seasons, 1-10), 1910–1911
 * Arthur Briggs (5 seasons, 76-54-11 ), 1912–1917, 1919–1933
 * Paul Andrews (1 seasons, 1-2), 1918
 * A.J. McDonald (4 seasons, 5-32-5), 1934–1937
 * Red Blair (7 seasons, 39-24-7), 1938–1946
 * Tommy O'Boyle (2 seasons, 16-4-1), 1947–1948
 * Fred Thomsen (4 seasons, 19-17-4), 1949–1952
 * Bill Dellastatious (2 seasons, 5-12), 1953–1954
 * Harold Stratton (1 season, 2-6-1), 1955
 * Aldo Sebben (5 seasons, 17-27-1), 1956–1960
 * Orville Pottenger (4 seasons, 24-12-2), 1961–1964
 * Jim Mentis (4 seasons, 20-21), 1965–1968
 * Don Cross (7 seasons, 23-45-3), 1969–1975
 * Rick Johanningmeier (10 seasons, 58-44-5), 1976–1985
 * Jesse Branch (9 seasons,55-44-1), 1986–1994
 * Del Miller (4 seasons, 21-23), 1995–1998
 * Randy Ball (7 seasons, 34-42), 1999–2005
 * Terry Allen (7 seasons, 27-42), 2006-Current

Division-One All-Americans
1985

AP Honorable Mention Don Hansen First Team 1986
 * Kevin Bor (OL)
 * David Heim (OL)
 * Brad Sellenriek (OL)
 * Keith Williams (RB)
 * Preston Estes (DL)
 * James Houston (LB)
 * Keith Williams (RB)

AP Honorable Mention 1987
 * Chris Tayrien (OL)

AP Second Team AP Honorable Mention AFCA First Team Don Hansen Second Team 1988
 * Matt Soraghan (LB)
 * Preston Estes (DL)
 * Ken Braden (LB)
 * Matt Soraghan (LB)
 * Preston Estes (DL)

AP Third Team AP Honorable Mention 1989
 * Mark Christensen (OG)
 * Doug Gardner (OC)
 * James Turnage (LB)

AP Third Team TSN First Team AFCA First Team 1990
 * Mark Christensen (OG)
 * Mark Christensen (OG)
 * Mark Christensen (OG)

AP First Team AP Third Team: TSN Second Team TSN Honorable Mention AFCA First Team Walter Camp First Team 1991
 * DeAndre Smith (QB)
 * Chris Reed (OG)
 * DeAndre Smith (QB)
 * Chris Reed (OG)
 * DeAndre Smith (QB)
 * DeAndre Smith (QB)

AP First Team TSN First Team TSN Honorable Mention AFCA First Team Don Hansen First Team Don Hansen Second Team Don Hansen Honorable Mention Walter Camp First Team 1992
 * DT—Bill Walter (DT)
 * Bill Walter (DT)
 * Adrion Smith (CB)
 * Bill Walter (DT)
 * Bill Walter (DT)
 * Adrion Smith (CB)
 * Tim McDuffey (OT)
 * Bill Walter (DT)

AP Third Team TSN Honorable Mention Don Hansen Third Team 1993
 * Matt Irvin (OG)
 * Matt Irvin (OG)
 * Richard Grote (PK)

AP Second Team TSN Second Team Don Hansen Second Team Walter Camp First Team 1994
 * Adrion Smith (DB)
 * Adrion Smith (DB)
 * Adrion Smith (DB)
 * Adrion Smith (DB)

TSN Honorable Mention 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2004 2007
 * DeLaun Fowler (LB)
 * 	AP First Team:	
 * 	LB—DeLaun Fowler	
 * 	AP Third Team:	
 * 	OC—Luke Hake	
 * 	Don Hansen Third Team:	
 * 	LB—DeLaun Fowler	
 * 	P—Christ Hurst	
 * 	AP First Team:	
 * 	PK—Wayne Boyer	
 * 	DL—Mike Miano	
 * 	TSN First Team:	
 * 	PK—Wayne Boyer	
 * 	TSN Third Team:	
 * 	DL—Mike Miano	
 * 	Don Hansen First Team:	
 * 	RB—Michael Cosey	
 * 	PK—Wayne Boyer	
 * 	TSN Honorable Mention:	
 * 	DL—Mike Miano	
 * 	Walter Camp First Team:	
 * 	PK—Wayne Boyer	
 * 	AP First Team: 	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	TSN Second Team:	
 * 	OL—Brad Kubik	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	AFCA First Team:	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	Don Hansen Honorable Mention:	
 * 	OL—Brad Kubik	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	Walter Camp First Team:	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	Don Hansen Honorable Mention:	
 * 	PK—Travis Brawner	
 * 	Don Hansen Second Team:	
 * 	TE—Brad St. Louis	
 * 	Teamlink.com First Team:	
 * 	TE—Brad St. Louis	
 * 	Don Hansen Honorable Mention:	
 * 	WR—Jeff Hewitt	
 * 	DL—Luis Almanzar	
 * 	Don Hansen First Team:	
 * 	LB—P.J. Jones	
 * 	AP First Team:	
 * 	PK—Jon Scifres	
 * 	AP Third Team:	
 * 	DB—Darren Barnett	
 * 	TSN First Team:	
 * 	PK—Jon Scifres	
 * 	Don Hansen Second Team:	
 * 	PK—Jon Scifres	
 * 	Dopke.com First Team:	
 * 	PK—Jon Scifres	
 * 	AP Third Team:	
 * 	TE—Clay Harbor	
 * 	TSN Honorable Mention:	
 * 	TE—Clay Harbor	

WNIT Appearances
2002, 2005 (Champions), 2010, 2011, 2012

Conference championships
AIAW Division II (1969–1982) 5 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981

Mid-Continent Conference (1983–1992) 2 1991, 1992

Missouri Valley Conference (1992–2012) 9 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2012

Head coaches

 * Reba Sims (10 seasons, 129-116), 1969–1979
 * Marti Gasser (4 seasons, 62-60), 1979–1983
 * Valerie Goodwin-Colbert (4 seasons, 48-63), 1983–1987
 * Cheryl Burnett (15 seasons, 319-136), 1987–2002, 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2 Final Four Appearances, 1 Sweet 16 Appearance. 1 WNIT Appearance
 * Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (5 seasons, 95-61), 2002–2007, 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances, WNIT Championship
 * Nyla Milleson, (5th season, 89-69), 2007–present, 3 WNIT Appearances

Retired numbers

 * 10 Jackie Stiles, 1997-2001 (NCAA Division I Women's Basketball's all-time leading scorer with 3,393 points)
 * 35 Melody Howard, 1990–1994
 * 42 Jeanette Tendai, 1982–1986

Men's Ice Hockey
Missouri State men's ice hockey, known as the Ice Bears, began in 2001 and despite not being a varsity NCAA sport receives much attention on and off-campus. The Ice Bears currently compete at the Division II level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). The teams play off-campus at the 2,000-seat Mediacom Ice Park.

Men's varsity ice hockey finished the 2009-2010 season ranked 2nd in the MACHA DII with a record of 12-4-0 in 16 league games, the team lost in the MACHA Championship 1-5 to Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville. In addition to the ACHA DII team the University also fields a JV teams playing at the ACHA DIII level. The team won the MACHA DIII championship with a 5-3 win over Robert Morris University- Peoria.

Men's Lacrosse
Missouri State also fields a highly successful club Lacrosse Team. Founded in 2003, it competes in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division II in the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference (GRLC). In 2009 and 2010, the Bears received an automatic qualifier for the MCLA National Championships in Denver, Colorado, after winning the GRLC championship. The Bears finished the 2010 season with a record of 11-5, including victories over Creighton, Arkansas, and a 9-3 defeat of in-state rival the University of Missouri. Since 2003, MSU Lacrosse has fielded 5 All-Americans, 41 All-Conference players, 2 GRLC Tournament MVP's, and 2 GRLC Division II Coach's of the Year.