Savannah State Tigers and Lady Tigers

Conference affiliation

Savannah State University holds membership in the NCAA Division I (as members of the MEAC) and participates in the following sports: football, baseball, basketball (men and women), cross-country (men and women), tennis (men and women), track and field (men and women), volleyball (women only), golf (men), and softball (women). On March 20, 2010, the Tigers were accepted as provisional members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) beginning on July 1, 2010. On September 8, 2011, the university was confirmed as a full member of the MEAC Conference, making the Tigers eligible to participate in all conference championships and earn the conference's automatic berth to NCAA postseason competition in all sponsored sports. Before moving to Division I-AA, Savannah State was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division II (1981–2005), NCAA Division II and the Southeastern Athletic Conference in the NAIA (1929–1961).

Team colors

The official school colors for Savannah State are Burnt Orange and Reflex Blue. White is often used as a secondary color and for alternate jerseys.

Organization

Athletics at Savannah State University are administered by the Savannah State University Athletic Department. The department is headed by an athletic director who is responsible for the department's oversight and all matters related to the school's 16 NCAA Division I sports teams for men and women. The department dedicates about $2 million per year for its sports teams and facilities.

The current athletic director is Sterling Steward Jr.

Current facilities

Most athletic teams have on-campus facilities for competition, including Ted A. Wright Stadium for football, and Tiger Arena for basketball and women’s volleyball.

Football

The football team is traditionally the most popular sport at Savannah State. The games are played at Ted A. Wright Stadium. Since moving to NCAA Division I - FCS in 2000, the Tigers have compiled a 17-88 record as of the 2009–2010 season. Prior to moving to Division I-AA the team compiled a 97-108-4 record in NCAA Division II (1981–2000), a 15-20-0 record in NCAA Division III (1973–1980) and a 1-1-0 record as a member of the NAIA.

Men's basketball

Savannah State competes in NCAA Division I as an independent and plays home games in Tiger Arena on the university campus.

The school gained notoriety when they finished the 2004–2005 men's basketball season a winless 0-28, the first Division I team to do so since Prairie View A&M University in 1991–1992. The Tigers were the 2011-12 MEAC regular season champions and received an automatic bid into the 2012 NIT, their first ever appearance in any Division I tournament as a Division I member. The team posted a 21-10 overall mark and lead the MEAC in scoring defense, only allowing 58.9 points per game and were second in the conference in scoring margin (+5.4).

Baseball

The head coach is Carlton Hardy.

Conference championships and NCAA playoffs

Season-by-season record

Team awards and NCAA records

Notable players and coaches

Some notable Savannah State baseball players and coaches include:

Women's basketball

The current head coach is Cedric Baker. Baker was named head coach on July 30, 2003.

Team awards and NCAA records

Season-by-season record

     NCAA Division I Independent      SIAC (NCAA Division II)      NCAA Division III      NAIA Southeastern

Women's tennis

The current coach is Don Andrews who entered his first season as head coach in 2008.

Team awards and records

The Women's Tennis Team won the SIAC championship in 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998

Women's volleyball

The current head coach is Jolanta Graham who replaced Schannon Gamble in 2012.

Women'ssSoftball

The current head coach is Jose Gonzalez who entered his first season in 2008.

Men's golf

The current coach is Art Gelow.

Track and field

The current coach is Ted Whitaker who entered his first season as head coach in 1999.