The Gulf Star Conference was an NCAA Division II conference that existed for three academic years from 1984–85 to 1986–87. All of the schools subsequently joined the Southland Conference. Dave Waples was the only commissioner, with the conference office located in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Aftermath Although the Southland eventually took in all of the former Gulf Star schools, only four (Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Southwest Texas State) joined the Southland immediately upon the Gulf Star's demise. The other two Gulf Star members, Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana, initially became independents. Nicholls State joined the SLC for the 1991–92 school year. SLU became a member of the Trans America Athletic Conference (now known as the Atlantic Sun Conference) in that same year, and moved to the Southland in 1997–98. To date, only Nicholls State, Northwestern State, and Southeastern Louisiana remain in the Southland Conference, as Southwest Texas State (now known as Texas State) joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2013 while Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin moved to the Western Athletic Conference in 2021.
Member schools Final members Institution Nickname Location Founded Affiliation Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentconference NCAA Men's basketball records Colonels Thibodaux, Louisiana 1948 Public 1984 1987 D-I Independent(1987–91) Southland(1991–present) Demons Natchitoches, Louisiana 1884 Southland(1987–present) Bearkats Huntsville, Texas 1879 Southland(1987–2021)Western (WAC)(2021–2023) C-USA(2023–present) Lions Hammond, Louisiana 1925 D-I Independent(1987–91)Trans America (TAAC)(1991–97) Southland(1997–present) Bobcats San Marcos, Texas 1899 Southland(1987–2012)Western (WAC)(2012–13) Sun Belt(2013–present) Lumberjacks &Ladyjacks Nacogdoches, Texas 1921 Southland(1987–2021)Western (WAC)(2021–2024) Southland(2024–present)
Notes
Membership timeline
Championships Baseball +Gulf Star Conference baseball champions Season Team Record 1985 12–6 1986 16–4 1987 17–3
Football +Gulf Star Conference football champions Season Team Record 1984 Nicholls State 4–1 Northwestern State 1985 Sam Houston State 4–1 Stephen F. Austin 1986 Sam Houston State 3–1
Men's basketball
+Gulf Star Conference basketball champions Season Team Record 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87
References