 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2012) |
| Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Central Arkansas |
| Conference | ASun (primary) UAC (football) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Matt Whiting |
| Location | Conway, Arkansas |
| Varsity teams | 17 (7 men's, 10 women's) |
| Football stadium | Estes Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Farris Center |
| Baseball stadium | Bear Stadium |
| Softball stadium | Farris Field |
| Soccer stadium | Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex |
| Other venues | Prince Center (volleyball) |
| Mascot | Bruce D. Bear and Sugar Bear |
| Nickname | Bears and Sugar Bears |
| Colors | Purple and gray[1] |
| Website | ucasports |
 | |
The Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears represent the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in NCAA Division I ASUN Conference, The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA football) as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The athletic program is supported by the efforts of a diverse group of over 400 male and female student-athletes. Its men's teams are called the Bears and the women's are the Sugar Bears.[2]
UCA joined the ASUN in July 2021 after having been a member of the Southland Conference. At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but had committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future.[3] UCA played the 2021 season as a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), competing in a football partnership between the two leagues officially branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge".[4] The ASUN started its football league in the 2022 season, but maintained its football partnership with the WAC. After that season, the two conferences merged their football leagues to create the UAC.
- ^ UCA Standards Guide (PDF). September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "University of Central Arkansas — UCA". Uca.edu. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2016-04-02.
- ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport" (Press release). ASUN Conference. January 29, 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.