Lincoln College says ‘Game On’ with NAIA
College approved to join four-year athletic association

[April 20, 2018] 

LINCOLN 

Lincoln College celebrated its long-anticipated acceptance into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) with a “Game On” rally Wednesday, April 18. The rally featured coaches, student athletes, pep talks from Lincoln College President David Gerlach and Athletic Director Mark Perdue and special recognition of the men’s volleyball team, which captured the national championship April 14 in St. Louis.

Lincoln College President Dr. David Gerlach

“This is a major accomplishment and a critical step in returning to our roots as a four-year university,” Lincoln College President David Gerlach said. “Beginning next fall, our student athletes will be able to compete for a full four years. Our fans, who have been strong supporters of our athletes will now get to follow our athletes throughout their college careers.”

Lincoln College Athletic Director Mark Perdue

“Having the opportunity to help make the transition to the NAIA was one of the things that most attracted me to Lincoln College,” said Mark Perdue, who was recently appointed Athletic Director for Lincoln College. “This will benefit the college and our fans, but most important of all, it will be a terrific opportunity for our students. So many of our students have said they want to remain at Lincoln College, but they also want to continue to play sports in their junior and senior years. Now they will be able to do that.”

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) gave formal approval to Lincoln College’s application at their annual convention in Kansas City April 15. Lincoln College was one of eight institutions approved, bringing the total number of NAIA member institutions to 253.

The athletic organization is headquartered in Kansas City and is a governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships that seek to balance athletics with the overall college educational experience. The student-athlete is the center of all NAIA experiences. Each year more than 65,000 student-athletes have the opportunity to play college sports at NAIA member institutions.

The NAIA was the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black institutions into membership and the first to sponsor both men’s and women’s national championships.

In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character building aspects of sport. Through Champions of Character, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

According to the NAIAA, the program seeks to “change the culture of sport” by providing training to instill values “that build character, so students, coaches and parents know, do and value the right thing on and off the field.”

Perdue said he is looking forward to bringing the Champions of Character program to Lincoln College.

Introduction of LC Coaches

“Lincoln College has a strong tradition of outstanding student athletes. We had 37 Academic All-Americans last year and our core values fit in very well with those of the NAIA,” Perdue said. “Lincoln College also has a long tradition of community service by its students, but that is an area where you can always do more. I’m looking forward to working with local leaders to find new opportunities for our student-athletes to volunteer in the community.”

Bleachers fill for the "Game On" Rally

Members of the Lynx Men's Volleyball 2018 National Club Volleyball Federation (NCVF) DII National Championship team and coaches are called to the floor for recognition.

Lincoln College began as a four-year university, later specialized as a two-year college, and in recent years began expanding its degree programs to include four-year bachelor options.

Today on the Lincoln campus students can choose from 10 majors - Business Management, Community and Human Services, Conservation Biology, Criminal Justice, Exercise Science, Jazz Studies; Radio, Television, and New Media, Sport Management, Theatre, and Vocal Performance. Students can minor in six bachelor degree programs - Business Management, Criminal Justice, Diversity Studies, English Studies, Sport Management and in Vocal Arts.

The college hosts a degree granting program for adults juggling jobs and families. The Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) offers bachelors in Business Management, Criminal Justice Studies, Entrepreneurship, Health Services Administration, Liberal Arts, Organizational Leadership, Sport Management, and in Supply Chain and Logistics.

The college also continues to offer associate degrees in general studies and nursing, an agriculture program with transfer to University of Illinois, and has a number of agreements in place with other universities to ease the process of transfers.

More and more, both local adults wanting to expand their credentials and area high school students are finding the college more enticing.

The expanded four-year sports accreditation makes it even more appealing to local athletes. A number of local high school sport standouts have made LC their college choice in the past couple of years.

[Information received from Public Relations and Media Manager for Lincoln College, Mark Gordon, with additions by Lincoln Daily News]