The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University

Missouri State University

Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...

. Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...

. The exceptions are the football team (Missouri Valley Football Conference), the field hockey team (Mid-American Conference

Mid-American Conference

The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...

) and the men's swimming and diving team (Mid-American Conference).

Men's sports Baseball College baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily... Basketball College basketball College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III.... Football College football College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities... Golf Soccer College soccer College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes... Swimming and Diving

Women's sports Basketball College basketball College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III.... Cross country Field Hockey Golf Soccer College soccer College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes... Softball Swimming and diving Track and field Volleyball

Club sports Ice Hockey (ACHA American Collegiate Hockey Association The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments.... ) Lacrosse (MCLA Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada... ) Roller Hockey (NCRHA National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association The National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association , is non-profit corporation and is the national governing body of collegiate inline hockey in the United States... )

NCAA Tournament Results

Season	Seed	Eliminated Round	Teams Defeated	Lost to
1987 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...	(13)	2nd Round	(4) Clemson (65-60)	(5) Kansas (63-67)
1988 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...	(13)	1st Round		(4) UNLV (50-54)
1989 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...	(14)	1st Round		(3) Seton Hall (51-60)
1990 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...	(9)	1st Round		(8) North Carolina (70-83)
1992 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...	(12)	1st Round		(5) Michigan State (54-61)
1999 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....	(12)	Sweet 16	(5) Wisconsin (43-32) (4) Tennessee (81-51)	(1) Duke (61-78)

NIT Appearances

1986

1986 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Louisiana Tech 67, Florida 62...

, 1991

1991 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Colorado 98, Massachusetts 91...

, 1993

1993 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - UAB 55, Providence 52...

, 1997

1997 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Connecticut 74, Arkansas 64Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996-97 schedule after Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster....

, 2000

2000 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Penn State 74, N.C. State 72...

, 2005

2005 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals & Finals:...

, 2006

2006 National Invitation Tournament

-Michigan Bracket:-Louisville Bracket:-Cincinnati Bracket:-Semifinals & Finals:...

, 2007

2007 National Invitation Tournament

The 2007 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams which did not participate in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...

, 2011

2011 National Invitation Tournament

-Colorado bracket:-Boston College bracket:-Virginia Tech bracket:-NIT Final Four - NIT Semifinals and NIT Championship Game:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City-See also:* 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...

NAIA Appearances

The Bears made six appearances in the NAIA

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

 Men's Basketball National Tournament

NAIA national men's basketball championship

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937 . The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities...

. The combined NAIA Tournament record is 15-4.

• 1939
  1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1939 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 3rd annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . This was also the year the NCAA Basketball tournament was started...
  
   - First round
• 1943
  1943 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1943 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 7th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game featured Southeast Missouri State University defeating...
  
   - First round
• 1949
  1949 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1949 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 12th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game featured Hamline University defeating Regis College...
  
   - Second round
• 1952
  1952 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1952 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 15th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format....
  
   - National Champions
• 1953
  1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 16th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game would feature Southwest Missouri State University,...
  
   - National Champions
• 1954
  1954 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
  The 1954 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 17th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The Southwest Missouri State University Bears were out to claim an...
  
   -Third Place.

Conference championships

MIAA

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is a college athletic conference which operates in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and effective in 2012 in Oklahoma in the Midwestern United States. The conference was formerly known as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic...

 (1924–1981) 19

1928, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1978

Mid-Continent Conference (1982–1990) 4

1987, 1988, 1989, 1990

Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...

 (1990–present) 1

1992 (Tournament), 2011(Regular Season)

Head coaches

• W.A. Daggett (2 seasons, 11-9), 1908–1910
• Corliss Buchanan (1 season, 13-8), 1910–1911
• No team 1911-1913
• Arthur Briggs (9 seasons, 105-31), 1913–1918, 1919–1923
• Paul Andrews (1 season, 2-4), 1918–1919
• Chester Barnard (1 season, 13-1), 1923–1924
• Donald Holwerda (1 season, 9-6), 1924–1925
• Andrew McDonald (23 seasons, 301-166), 1925–1943, 1945–1950
• No team 1943-1945
• Bob Vanatta
  Bob Vanatta
  Bob Vanatta was head basketball coach for Memphis State from 1956-62. He compiled a 109-34 record, including making it to the 1957 NIT Championship game.-External links:** article from Palm Beach Post - April 26, 2007...
  
   (3 seasons, 73-11), 1950–1953, 2-time NAIA Champions
• Edwin Mathews (11 season, 164-91), 1953–1964, NCAA Division II Runners-up
• Bill Thomas (16 seasons, 265-158), 1964–1980, 3-time NCAA Division II Runners-up
• Bob Cleeland (3 seasons, 39-46), 1980–1983
• Charlie Spoonhour
  Charlie Spoonhour
  Charlie Spoonhour is a retired high school and college basketball coach.Spoonhour received an education degree from the University of the Ozarks. He spent seven seasons as a high school basketball coach, then fourteen seasons bouncing between Division I assistant coaching positions and junior...
  
   (9 seasons, 197-81), 1983–1992, 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances and 3 NIT appearances(1 NIT Quarterfinal)
• Mark Bernsen (3 seasons, 48-37), 1992-1995 1 NIT Quarterfinal Appearance
• Steve Alford
  Steve Alford
  Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
  
   (4 seasons, 78-48), 1995–1999, 1 NCAA Sweet 16 Appearance and 1 NIT Appearance
• Barry Hinson
  Barry Hinson
  Barry Hinson originally from Marlow, Oklahoma, is the Director of External Relations for the University of Kansas basketball team and a former head coach. He also appears weekly on the 1320 KLWN radio show Rock Chalk Sports Talk in which he participates in a segment "Basketball & BBQ"...
  
   (9 seasons, 169-117), 1999-2008 4 NIT Appearances (1 NIT Quarterfinal)
• Cuonzo Martin
  Cuonzo Martin
  Cuonzo LaMar Martin is a retired American professional basketball player and is the current head coach of the University of Tennessee men's basketball team.-1986-1990:...
  
   (3 seasons, 61-41), 2008–2011 1 CIT Appearance (Champions), 1 NIT appearance (2nd round)
• Paul Lusk
  Paul Lusk
  Paul Lusk is an American basketball head coach. A former assistant coach at Purdue under Matt Painter, he was introduced as the new coach at Missouri State University on Friday, April 1, 2011.-Playing career:...
  
  , 2011-Present

Retired numbers

• 22 - Winston Garland
  Winston Garland
  Winston Kinnard Garland is an American former professional basketball player on the point guard position. He played collegiately at the Southeastern Community College for two seasons , and then at theMissouri State University for the two following seasons...
  
  , 1985–1987
• 32 - Daryel Garrison, 1971–1975; (Bears all-time leading scorer with 1,975 points)
• 43 - Jerry Anderson, 1951–1955
• 54 - Curtis Perry, 1966–1970
• 32 - Danny Moore, 1996-1999

FCS Playoffs

Season	Eliminated Round	Teams Defeated	Lost to
1989	Quarterfinals	Maine Maine Black Bears The Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams which represent the University of Maine. They compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with the majority of the teams playing in the America East Conference...  (38-35)	Stephen F Austin Stephen F. Austin State University Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...  (25-55)
1990	1st Round		Idaho Idaho Vandals The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....  (35-41)

Bowl Games

Season	Bowl	Champion		Runner-Up
1948	Missouri-Kansas Bowl Missouri-Kansas Bowl The Missouri-Kansas Bowl was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics post-season college football Bowl game played in Kansas City, Missouri for the 1948 season....	Emporia State Emporia State University Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...	34	Missouri State	20
1963	Mineral Water Bowl Mineral Water Bowl The Mineral Water Bowl is an annual American NCAA Division II college football bowl game between teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association hosted in Excelsior Springs, Missouri at Tiger Stadium....	Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Huskies football The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...	21	Missouri State	14
1966	Mineral Water Bowl Mineral Water Bowl The Mineral Water Bowl is an annual American NCAA Division II college football bowl game between teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association hosted in Excelsior Springs, Missouri at Tiger Stadium....	Adams State Adams State College Adams State College is a small state-supported liberal arts college in Alamosa, Colorado, U.S., in the San Luis Valley.-History:Adams State was founded in 1921 as a teacher's college but now offers a variety of programs including masters degrees in many fields...	14	Missouri State	8
1989	Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA...	Stephen F. Austin	55	Missouri State	25

Note: The 1989 Pecan Bowl

Pecan Bowl

Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA...

 was the Midwest Regional Championship (FCS Playoff Quarterfinal).

Head coaches

• Walter Langston (1 season, 4-2), 1909
• Corliss Buchanan (2 seasons, 1-10), 1910–1911
• Arthur Briggs (5 seasons, 76-54-11 ), 1912–1917, 1919–1933
• Paul Andrews (1 seasons, 1-2), 1918
• A.J. McDonald (4 seasons, 5-32-5), 1934–1937
• Red Blair
  Red Blair
  -Basketball:-External links:* at Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
  
   (7 seasons, 39-24-7), 1938–1946
• Tommy O'Boyle
  Tommy O'Boyle
  Tommy O'Boyle was a college football coach at Southwest Missouri State and Tulane. From 1947 to 1948, he served as Southwest Missouri State's head football coach, and was very successful going 7-2-1 and 9-2 in his 2 seasons, giving him an overall record there of 16-4-1. In 1962, an opportunity...
  
   (2 seasons, 16-4-1), 1947–1948
• Fred Thomsen
  Fred Thomsen
  -External links:*...
  
   (4 seasons, 19-17-4), 1949–1952
• Bill Dellastatious (2 seasons, 5-12), 1953–1954
• Harold Stratton (1 season, 2-6-1), 1955
• Aldo Sebben (5 seasons, 17-27-1), 1956–1960
• Orville Pottenger (4 seasons, 24-12-2), 1961–1964
• Jim Mentis (4 seasons, 20-21), 1965–1968
• Don Cross (7 seasons, 23-45-3), 1969–1975
• Rick Johanningmeier (10 seasons, 58-44-5), 1976–1985
• Jesse Branch (9 seasons,55-44-1), 1986–1994
• Del Miller (4 seasons, 21-23), 1995–1998
• Randy Ball (7 seasons, 34-42), 1999–2005
• Terry Allen (2 seasons, 8-14), 2006-Current

Division-One All-Americans

1985

AP Honorable Mention

• Kevin Bor (OL)
• David Heim (OL)
• Brad Sellenriek (OL)
• Keith Williams (RB)
• Preston Estes (DL)
• James Houston (LB)

Don Hansen First Team

• Keith Williams (RB)

1986

AP Honorable Mention

• Chris Tayrien (OL)

1987

AP Second Team

• Matt Soraghan (LB)

AP Honorable Mention

• Preston Estes (DL)
• Ken Braden (LB)

AFCA First Team

• Matt Soraghan (LB)

Don Hansen Second Team

• Preston Estes (DL)

1988

AP Third Team

• Mark Christensen (OG)

AP Honorable Mention

• Doug Gardner (OC)
• James Turnage (LB)

1989

AP Third Team

• Mark Christensen (OG)

TSN First Team

• Mark Christensen (OG)

AFCA First Team

• Mark Christensen (OG)

1990

AP First Team

• DeAndre Smith (QB)

AP Third Team:

• Chris Reed (OG)

TSN Second Team

• DeAndre Smith (QB)

TSN Honorable Mention

• Chris Reed (OG)

AFCA First Team

• DeAndre Smith (QB)

Walter Camp First Team

• DeAndre Smith (QB)

1991

AP First Team

• DT—Bill Walter (DT)

TSN First Team

• Bill Walter (DT)

TSN Honorable Mention

• Adrion Smith (CB)

AFCA First Team

• Bill Walter (DT)

Don Hansen First Team

• Bill Walter (DT)

Don Hansen Second Team

• Adrion Smith (CB)

Don Hansen Honorable Mention

• Tim McDuffey (OT)

Walter Camp First Team

• Bill Walter (DT)

1992

AP Third Team

• Matt Irvin (OG)

TSN Honorable Mention

• Matt Irvin (OG)

Don Hansen Third Team

• Richard Grote (PK)

1993

AP Second Team

• Adrion Smith (DB)

TSN Second Team

• Adrion Smith (DB)

Don Hansen Second Team

• Adrion Smith (DB)

Walter Camp First Team

• Adrion Smith (DB)

1994

TSN Honorable Mention

• DeLaun Fowler (LB)

1995

• AP First Team:
• LB—DeLaun Fowler
• AP Third Team:
• OC—Luke Hake
• Don Hansen Third Team:
• LB—DeLaun Fowler
• P—Christ Hurst

1996

• AP First Team:
• PK—Wayne Boyer
• DL—Mike Miano
• TSN First Team:
• PK—Wayne Boyer
• TSN Third Team:
• DL—Mike Miano
• Don Hansen First Team:
• RB—Michael Cosey
• PK—Wayne Boyer
• TSN Honorable Mention:
• DL—Mike Miano
• Walter Camp First Team:
• PK—Wayne Boyer

1997

• AP First Team:
• PK—Travis Brawner
• TSN Second Team:
• OL—Brad Kubik
• PK—Travis Brawner
• AFCA First Team:
• PK—Travis Brawner
• Don Hansen Honorable Mention:
• OL—Brad Kubik
• PK—Travis Brawner
• Walter Camp First Team:
• PK—Travis Brawner

1998

• Don Hansen Honorable Mention:
• PK—Travis Brawner

1999

• Don Hansen Second Team:
• TE—Brad St. Louis
• Teamlink.com First Team:
• TE—Brad St. Louis

2000

• Don Hansen Honorable Mention:
• WR—Jeff Hewitt
• DL—Luis Almanzar

2001

• Don Hansen First Team:
• LB—P.J. Jones

2004

• AP First Team:
• PK—Jon Scifres
• AP Third Team:
• DB—Darren Barnett
• TSN First Team:
• PK—Jon Scifres
• Don Hansen Second Team:
• PK—Jon Scifres
• Dopke.com First Team:
• PK—Jon Scifres

2007

• AP Third Team:
• TE—Clay Harbor
• TSN Honorable Mention:
• TE—Clay Harbor

NCAA Tournament Results

Season	Eliminated Round	Teams Defeated	Lost to
1991 1991 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -West Regional - Las Vegas, NV:-East Regional - Philadelphia, PA:-Midwest Regional - Austin, TX:-Final Four - New Orleans, LA :-References:...	2nd round	Tennessee Tech (94-64)	Tennessee (47-55)
1992 1992 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -West Regional - Seattle, WA:-Midwest Regional - Boulder, CO:-Mideast Regional - West Lafayette, IN:-Final Four - Los Angeles, CA:-References:...	Final Four	Kansas (75-59) Iowa (61-60) UCLA (83-57) Mississippi (94-71)	Western Kentucky (72-84)
1993 1993 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -Mideast Regional - Iowa City, IA:-Midwest Regional - Nacogdoches, TX:-West Regional - Missoula, MT:-Final Four - Atlanta, GA:...	Sweet 16	Oklahoma State (86-71) Maryland (86-82)	Louisiana Tech (43-59)
1994 1994 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1994 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament featured 64 teams for the first time ever. The Final Four consisted of North Carolina, Purdue, Louisiana Tech, and Alabama, with North Carolina defeating Louisiana Tech 60-59 to win its first NCAA title on a 3 point shot by Charlotte Smith as...	2nd round	Northern Illinois (75-56)	Virginia (63-67)
1995 1995 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1995 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament featured 64 teams. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Tennessee, Stanford, and Georgia...	2nd round	Utah (49-47)	Colorado (34-78)
1996 1996 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1996 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament took place from March 15 – March 31, 1996. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Georgia, Stanford, and Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Georgia 83–65 in the championship game.-Regional cities:...	1st round		Texas (55-73)
1998 1998 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1998 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 13, 1998 and concluded on March 29, 1998 when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri on March 27 - March 29, 1998. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, NC State, and Arkansas...	1st round		Notre Dame (64-78)
1999 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 12, 1999 and concluded on March 28, 1999 when Purdue won its first national championship in any women's sport. The Final Four was held at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California on March 26 - March 28, 1999. Purdue defeated...	2nd round	Cal.-Santa Barbara (72-70)	Colorado State (70-86)
2000 2000 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -Midwest Regional - Portland, OR:-Mideast Regional - Memphis, TN:-West Regional - Kansas City, MO:-Final Four - Philadelphia, PA :-See also:* 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament* 2000 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament- Notes :...	1st round		Auburn (74-78)
2001 2001 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -West Regional - Spokane, WA:-Midwest Regional - Denver, CO:-East Regional - Pittsburgh, PA:-Final Four - St. Louis, MO :-See also:* 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament* 2001 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...	Final Four	Toledo (89-71) Rutgers (60-53) Duke (81-71) Washington (104-87)	Purdue (64-81)
2003 2003 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 22, 2003 and concluded on April 8, 2003 when the Connecticut Huskies won their second straight national title. The Final Four was held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on April 6 - April 8, 2003...	1st round		Texas Tech (59-67)
2004 2004 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 20, 2004 and concluded on April 6, 2004 when Connecticut won a third consecutive national championship, becoming only the second school in history to accomplish such a feat. The Final Four was held at the New Orleans Arena in...	1st round		Notre Dame (65-69)
2006 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament -Albuquerque:-Bridgeport:-San Antonio:-Cleveland Regional:-Albuquerque Regional:-Bridgeport Regional:-San Antonio Regional:-Final Four – TD Banknorth Garden :...	1st round		Purdue (52-73)

WNIT Appearances

2002

Women's National Invitation Tournament

The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...

, 2005 (Champions)

Women's National Invitation Tournament

The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...

, 2010

Women's National Invitation Tournament

The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...

, 2011

Women's National Invitation Tournament

The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...

Conference championships

AIAW Division II (1969–1982) 5

1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981

Mid-Continent Conference

Mid-Continent Conference

The Summit League is an NCAA Division I college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. On June 1, 2007, the conference changed its name from the Mid-Continent Conference.- Current membership :...

 (1983–1992) 2

1991, 1992

Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...

 (1992–2007) 9

1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005

Head coaches

• Reba Sims (10 seasons, 129-116), 1969–1979
• Marti Gasser (4 seasons, 62-60), 1979–1983
• Valerie Goodwin-Colbert (4 seasons, 48-63), 1983–1987
• Cheryl Burnett (15 seasons, 319-136), 1987–2002, 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2 Final Four Appearances. 1 WNIT Appearance
• Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (5 seasons, 95-61), 2002–2007, 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances, WNIT Championship
• Nyla Milleson
  Nyla Milleson
  Nyla Milleson is the women's basketball coach of the Lady Bears of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.Milleson began her coaching career in 1989-90 as the head coach of Junction City High School, where she turned a struggling program into one of the top-ranked teams in the state of...
  
  , (3rd season, 64-58), 2007–present, 2 WNIT Appearances

Retired numbers

• 10 Jackie Stiles
  Jackie Stiles
  Jackie Marie Stiles is a retired basketball shooting guard who set scoring records in college, and then played briefly in the Women's National Basketball Association .-High school:...
  
  , 1997-2001 (NCAA Division I Women's Basketball's all-time leading scorer with 3,393 points)
• 35 Melody Howard, 1990–1994
• 42 Jeanette Tendai, 1982–1986

Men's Ice Hockey

Missouri State men's ice hockey, known as the Ice Bears, began in 2001 and despite not being a varsity NCAA sport receives much attention on and off-campus. The Ice Bears currently compete at the Division II level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association

American Collegiate Hockey Association

The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....

 (ACHA) in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association

Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association

The Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association is a ACHA club hockey league comprising colleges and universities in the Midwestern USA. The Gold Division comprises ACHA Division II club hockey programs. The Silver Division comprises smaller colleges and universities at the ACHA D-II and D-III levels...

 (MACHA). The teams play on-campus at the 2,000-seat Mediacom Ice Park

Mediacom Ice Park

Mediacom Ice Park is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Springfield, Missouri. The arena is owned and operated by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and serves as a location for community recreation and the home for the Missouri State University Ice Bears ice hockey team, Springfield...

.

Men's varsity ice hockey finished the 2009-2010 season ranked 2nd in the MACHA DII with a record of 12-4-0 in 16 league games, the team lost in the MACHA Championship 1-5 to Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville

SIU Edwardsville Cougars

The Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Cougars are a member of NCAA Division I and compete within the Ohio Valley Conference...

. In addition to the ACHA DII team the University also fields a JV teams playing at the ACHA DIII level. The team won the MACHA DIII championship with a 5-3 win over Robert Morris University- Peoria.

Men's Lacrosse

Missouri State also fields a highly successful club Lacrosse Team. Founded in 2003, it competes in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association

Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association

The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...

 (MCLA) Division II in the Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference

Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference

The Great Rivers Lacrosse Conference is a conference in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association . The GRLC incorporates teams in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin and is divided into two divisions, Division I and Division...

 (GRLC). In 2009 and 2010, the Bears received an automatic qualifier for the MCLA National Championships in Denver, Colorado, after winning the GRLC championship. The Bears finished the 2010 season with a record of 11-5, including victories over Creighton

Creighton University

Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...

, Arkansas

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...

, and a 9-3 defeat of in-state rival the University of Missouri

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...

. Since 2003, MSU Lacrosse has fielded 5 All-Americans, 41 All-Conference players, 2 GRLC Tournament MVP's, and 2 GRLC Division II Coach's of the Year.

External links

• Missouri State Athletics
• Missouri State Ice Bears Hockey
• Springfield News-Leader MSU blog
• Bear Nation Blog and Forum