 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2015) |
| Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Missouri State University |
| Conference | Missouri Valley (primary) MVFC (football) CUSA (beach volleyball; primary on July 1, 2025) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Kyle Moats |
| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
| Varsity teams | 19 |
| Football stadium | Robert W. Plaster Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Great Southern Bank Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Hammons Field |
| Soccer stadium | Allison South Stadium |
| Mascot | Boomer the Bear and Growl the Bear |
| Nickname | Bears and Lady Bears Beach Bears (beach volleyball) |
| Fight song | The Scotsman |
| Colors | Maroon and white[1] |
| Website | missouristatebears |
 | |
The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University). Missouri State's athletics programs date back to 1908. Missouri State competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, but will start a transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision on July 1, 2024. The majority of sports play in the Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State football competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the women's beach volleyball team, nicknamed Beach Bears instead of "Bears" or "Lady Bears",[2] competes in Conference USA (CUSA), having moved from the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association after the spring 2023 season.[3] Men's swimming & diving had competed in the Mid-American Conference through the 2023–24 season, but sponsorship of that sport transferred from that conference to the MVC in July 2024.[4] Missouri State will become a full member of CUSA on July 1, 2025.[5]
Missouri State athletics are frequently abbreviated as "MOST" when televised.
- ^ "Colors - Identity Standards - Missouri State University". February 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ See, e.g., "Beach Volleyball Program Will Join C-USA in 2024" (Press release). Missouri State Athletics. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
The Beach Bears will part ways with the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) next season to join TCU and Tarleton State as affiliate members of Conference USA.
- ^ "BVB: C-USA Adds TCU, Tarleton State and Missouri State as Affiliate Members for Beach Volleyball" (Press release). Conference USA. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ "MVC To Sponsor Men's Swimming & Diving in 2024-25" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ "CUSA Adds Missouri State" (Press release). Conference USA. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.