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Bluefield Rams
Logo
UniversityBluefield University
AssociationNAIA
ConferenceAAC (primary)
Athletic directorCorey Mullins
LocationBluefield, Virginia
Varsity teams14 (7 men's, 6 women's, 1 co-ed)
Football stadiumMitchell Stadium
Basketball arenaDome Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumBowen Field
Softball stadiumGraham Rec Park
Soccer stadiumEast River Soccer Complex
Tennis venueBluefield City Courts
Other venuesFincastle on the Mountain
NicknameRams
ColorsBluefield Navy and Bluefield Red[1]
   
Websiteburams.com

The Bluefield Rams are the athletic teams that represent Bluefield University, located in Bluefield, Virginia, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[2] primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) for most of their sports since the 2014–15 academic year (which they were a member on a previous stint from 2001–02 to 2011–12);[3] while its football team competes in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) since the 2014 fall season.

They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level until after the 2019–20 school year to fully align with the NAIA.[4] The Rams previously competed in the Mid-South as a full member from 2012–13 to 2013–14. Athletes make up about 60% of the student population at Bluefield.[5] It served as host for the NCCAA Softball National Championship.[6]

Varsity teams

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Bluefield competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports:

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Golf
Football Soccer
Golf Softball
Soccer Track and field
Track and field Volleyball
Volleyball
Co-ed sports
Esports

Basketball

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The Bluefield Rams men's basketball team was often nationally ranked between 2007 and 2009 under head coach Jason Gillespie. In the 2008–09 season, the Rams won 27 games, including an 18–0 mark in AAC conference play and a regular season championship, but fell in the conference tournament to then-rival King University by one point, finishing the season ranked seventh in NAIA Division II. Guard/forward Omar Reed went on to play professionally with the San Antonio Spurs' NBA Development League affiliate, with the Boston Celtics organization, as well as internationally in Europe and Japan.[7]

Baseball

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The Bluefield Rams baseball team won its first NCCAA Division I national championship in 2009[8] and followed with a school-record 41 wins in 2010 before losing in the NCCAA World Series finals to North Greenville. In 2007 they were the NCCAA Mid-East Regional Champs, and made their fourth NCCAA World Series appearance in 2014. Current head coach Mike White has won over 200 games with Bluefield[9] and has sent multiple players to professional baseball. The Rams play their home games at Bowen Field. As of 2014, nine former Bluefield baseball players have gone on to play professionally.[10]

Football

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Bluefield fielded a football program from 1922 to 1941, but had not had a football program since the attack on Pearl Harbor.[11] On June 4, 2011, Bluefield University announced the return of a football program under head coach Mike Gravier, beginning with "club football" season in 2011, and began play in the NAIA in 2012.[12] The school hired Ordell Walker as the program's new head coach in 2013,[13] and the Rams earned their first win since the program's return with a 46–24 defeat of the Apprentice Builders in Newport News, Va., on September 13, 2014.[14] The Rams play their home games in 10,000-seat Mitchell Stadium.

Cross country

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Bluefield hired Coach Travis Yoder in 2014 to build a cross country and track and field program from ground zero. In his first year as head coach he had the schools first NCCAA national qualifier in school history (Kendall Haynes). After his first year Coach Travis Yoder left Bluefield. Bluefield then hired Coach Kendall Haynes to Coach cross country and is now building a track and field program as well. During Coach Haynes's first year in 2017 he had the schools first girls NCCAA national qualifiers in school history (Kenize Marshall and Jordyn O'Saben).

Facilities

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Mitchell Stadium
Bowen Field
Venue Sport(s) Ref.
Mitchell Stadium Football [15]
Bowen Field [n 1] Baseball
Graham Recreation Park [n 1] Softball [17]
East River Soccer Complex [n 2] Soccer [18]
Dome Gymnasium Basketball
Volleyball		 [19][15]
Bluefield City Courts Tennis [15]
Fincastle on the Mountain Golf [15]
Herb Sims Wellness Center (football training) [15]
Notes
  1. ^ a b Not owned by the university but by the city of Bluefield.
  2. ^ Not owned by the university. Operated by the East River Soccer Association.

Achievements

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In 2009, Bluefield won the NCCAA Baseball National Championship.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Bluefield University Brand Guidelines" (PDF). Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Members". Appalachian Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Membership Directory" (PDF). National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  5. ^ Athletic Overview Archived March 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Softball". Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ^ Tim Brafford (2014-02-27). "Bluefield College | Former Ram Omar Reed Ballin' in Japan | Christian College Virginia". Bluefield.edu. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  8. ^ "NCAA Baseball DI History" (PDF). Sidearm Sports. p. 1. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  9. ^ "White earns 200th career victory at Bluefield – NAIA – National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics". NAIA. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  10. ^ "Bluefield College Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  11. ^ "Football Returns to Bluefield College" (PDF). Bluefield University. June 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2010.
  12. ^ White, Jim (July 24, 2010). "Bluefield College names football coach". Religious Herald. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  13. ^ "Mid-South Conference Athletics News". Mid-southconference.org. May 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "Bluefield College | Rams Secure First Football Win Since '41 | Christian College Virginia". Bluefield.edu. November 20, 1941. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Bluefield College Athletics | Christian College Virginia | Bluefield College Athletic Facilities". Bcrams.com. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  16. ^ Bowen Field
  17. ^ Graham Recreation Park
  18. ^ East River Soccer Complex
  19. ^ Dome Gymnasium
  20. ^ Shoemaker, Chris. "BC BASEBALL BEGINS BID FOR NATIONAL TITLE". Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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