Longwood University - Athletics

Athletics

The Longwood University Lancers athletics program fully transitioned into a NCAA Division I in 2007, after competing as an independent since the 2004-2005 season. It continued competing as an independent until affiliation with the Big South Conference in 2012. The men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's sports offered include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and tennis. The program has produced a number of professional athletes, most notably Jerome Kersey (NBA), Michael Tucker (MLB), and Tina Barrett (LPGA), all of whom were part of the school's inaugural Athletics Half of Fame Class in 2006.

In 1980, Longwood's men's basketball team reached the NCAA Division III Final Four. Longwood has been home to two Division II NABC First Team All Americans: Jerome Kersey (1983,1984) and Colin Ducharme (2001). Ducharme was also named the DII National Player of the Year by the NABC in 2001, while leading the Lancers to DII East Regional Finals. Longwood's women's basketball team is also steeped in tradition, competing in the NCAA Division II Tournament 4 times, most recently in 2003.

In 1991, Longwood's baseball team won the Division II South Atlantic Regional Championship and advanced to the DII College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. The baseball team has had 29 winning seasons in its 33 year history.

Longwood's women's golf team has won 5 Division II National Golf Coaches Association National Championships (1987–88, 1990, 1993, 1995) and has finished second 4 times.

Longwood's softball team has a strong history and has beaten many nationally ranked opponents.

Prior to joining the Big South Athletic Conference, Men's soccer was a member of the Atlantic Soccer Conference (ASC) and captured their first conference title in 2008 and repeated in 2011. Women's lacrosse played in the National Lacrosse Conference and took home conference titles in 2009 and 2010. The Women's Lacrosse team will join the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2013. Also, the field hockey team plays in the NorPac Conference. The women's soccer team also captured a championship in the (now defunct) United Soccer Conference. In 2007 the men's golf team became the first to reach NCAA Division I postseason play.

In August 2011 the University unveiled its new mascot- a horse named Elwood.

On January 23, 2012, Longwood accepted an invitation to join the Big South Conference, becoming its twelfth member, and fourth in Virginia.

On August 19, 2012, Longwood released its new fight song, "Hail to Longwood U". It has been a big hit.