Bryan College Lions

In the late 1970s, the men’s soccer team participated in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). While in the association, the soccer program won three NCCAA Championships: 1977, 1978, and 1979. In recent years, the men’s soccer team has competed in the AAC district tournaments and NAIA national tournaments. In 2018 and 2019, the men's soccer team made it to the championship round of the conference tournament. They lost both years to Reinhardt University and Union College respectively.[3][4]

In 2010, the Women’s Soccer team received the NAIA scholar team award for the maintaining a national 14^th highest GPA among NAIA programs.[5] In 2017, the Lady Lions won the regular season championship and represented the college in the NAIA national tournament. The 2017 season also recorded the most wins in program history.[6]

In 2013, Bryan College played in the AAC basketball tournament championship game, losing to the Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs.[7] In 2016, a Bryan College player set the all-time points and rebounding records for the program while also leading the NAIA (DII) in scoring average and total points.[8]

The women’s basketball program competed in the NAIA (DII) national tournament after winning the AAC tournament in 2017, 2018, and 2019.[9] In 2019, the team finished with a 31-2 record including wins in the AAC regular season and tournament championship, the winningest season in the program history.[10]

Baseball was added to the athletic program in 2002.[11] In 2012, the team represented the college at the AAC tournament in the championship game.[12] The 2012 season also set the record for the most wins in school history.[13] After winning the AAC regular season, the Lions represented Bryan College at the 2019 NAIA national tournament.[14]

In 2010, Bryan College restarted the softball program, with games beginning in the spring of 2011.[15] The Lady Lions struggled in their first season with an overall record of 6-40. Recently, the Lions have represented the college at the AAC tournament and upset multiple top-seeded programs.[16][17] The Lions finished the 2019 season with a record of 20-28, respectively.[18]

In 2013, the program hosted its first NAIA national tournament match after winning the AAC.[19] The Lady Lions recorded four straight AAC regular season championships[20] including a 2014 season that was undefeated in conference play.[21] In 2019, the Lions represented the college in the AAC conference tournament before falling to Union College.[22]

Golf, both men’s and women’s, was added to the athletic program in 2010.[23] Men’s and women’s golfers were awarded several honors, including AAC player of the year,[24] All-American nomination,[25] and AAC player of the week.[26]

In 2017, the team participated in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship with several groups of anglers. The Lions won the National Championship and the 2017 Cabela’s School of the Year Award.[27][28] In 2019, two students won the Bassmaster College Classic.[29]

Bryan College announced an inaugural shooting team beginning in the Fall of 2020. Competitions will begin in the Fall of 2020.[30] The shooting team will be competing in the Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships. Six events are included in the competitions including American Trap, International Trap, American Skeet, International Skeet, Sporting Clays, and Five Stand. The shooting team is a co-educational program and will be competing in Division III of the Scholastic Clay Target Program.[31]

In 2017, Bryan College announced the introduction of a Martial Arts Academy that competes across the south eastern region. Students train in Isshinryu karate.[32] The Martial Arts Academy is a co-educational program open to male and female undergraduate students.[33]

The Debate Team, while not a physical sport, is considered an academic sport by Bryan College.The team was established by devoted students and Communications professor Mr. Micheal Palmer. Though Mr. Palmer still advises the Debate Team, it adopted a new coach, Elizabeth Absher, in 2014.[34] The team competes in Parliamentary style, limited preparation debate and travels around Tennessee and other SouthEastern states. This means that the team does not know the topic in which they are debating until fifteen (15) minutes before a round starts. Each tournament has four preliminary rounds and up to three out-rounds (Quarter-final, Semi-final, and Final). In 2019, the Bryan College Debate Team won the TIFA (Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association) championship in the Varsity (Open) Division which was held at Carson-Newman University in Johnson City, Tennessee. On March 2, 2019, the debate team held their first ever debate tournament at Bryan College. As of Spring 2020, the Debate Team has six people: four (two teams) compete in the Novice Division and two (the Captains) compete in the Varsity (Open) Division.

All rival athletic programs that compete against the Lions are in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.[35]

• Tennessee Wesleyan
• Reinhardt
• Union

• Official website