The Shawnee State Bears are the athletic teams that represent Shawnee State University, located in Portsmouth, Ohio, in intercollegiate sports. They are a member of the NCAA Division II, primarily competing in the Mountain East Conference (MEC). The Bears previously joined the River States Conference in 2023 after 13 years in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). The Bears competed in the defunct American Mideast Conference (AMC) from 1991–92 to 2009–10; and as an NAIA Independent from 1986–87 (when the school began its athletics program and joined the NAIA) to 1990–91. In the 2026–27 academic year, the Shawnee State teams will join the Mountain East Conference (MEC) pending their acceptance into NCAA Division II.
The Shawnee State athletics program was established in 1986. The Bears have participated in 25 national championships and 17 conference championships in 7 of 11 sponsored sports.
Varsity teams Shawnee State competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports:
Men's sports Women's sports Baseball Basketball Basketball Bowling Bowling Cross country Cross country Golf Golf Soccer Soccer Softball Swimming Swimming Tennis Tennis Track and field Track and field Volleyball Co-ed sports
They will add football in the 2027–28 academic year after they join the MEC.
Club sports Apart from the varsity teams, the university has a men's volleyball club.Men's volleyball at ssubears.com
Accomplishments The SSU women’s basketball team won the NAIA Division II National Championship on March 16, 1999, with an 80–65 win over the University of Saint Francis (Indiana).
The SSU men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship on March 23, 2021, with an 74–68 win over the Lewis–Clark State College.
National championships
NAIA Sport Titles Competition Winning years Ref. Basketball (men's) National championship – Div. I 2021 The Shawnee State Men’s Basketball team are NAIA National Champions! on shawnee.edu, March 24, 2021 Basketball (women's) National championship – Div. II 1999 Shawnee State University, 1999 NAIA National Champions at the Ohio Basketball HOF
Other athletic highlights 1992 - softball team finishes 10th in NAIA National Tournament 1995 - softball team finishes 8th in NAIA National Tournament 1995 - women's basketball, NAIA National Tournament Final Four 1996 - softball team finishes as NAIA National Tournament Runners-up 1998 - softball team finishes 9th in NAIA National Tournament 1999 - women's basketball team won the NAIA Division II National Championship 2001 - softball team finishes 9th in NAIA National Tournament: 2008 - men's cross country team finishes 11th in NAIA National Championships: 2008 - women's cross country team finishes 13th in NAIA National Championships: 2021 - men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship
References
External links