Young Harris College On the Move to NCAA Division II

July ushered in a new era for Mountain Lion athletics when Young Harris College got the news that it had been formally accepted as a candidate for membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level.

“We are very excited to begin the formal process to full membership in NCAA at the Division II level,” YHC President Cathy Cox said. “Our athletic department has worked diligently in leading this endeavor, and this achievement is a significant milestone in our on-going transformation to a four-year college. We know that NCAA membership will attract many talented student-athletes to Young Harris College.”

“I am very pleased that the NCAA membership committee considered YHC a worthy institution for provisional membership,” YHC Director of Athletics Randy Dunn said. “Obtaining full membership will be a three-year process, and if everything goes well, YHC should receive full NCAA membership in 2014-2015.”

 

During the first year of candidacy, Young Harris College will bring itself completely in line with NCAA policies and procedures and develop Division II schedules for its 12 intercollegiate sports teams: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball and men’s and women’s tennis.

 

Following the College’s first year as a candidate for membership, the NCAA’s membership committee will send representatives to campus to review and evaluate YHC’s progress, and will then make a recommendation to move Young Harris College to the next level of the membership process.

 

As a next step, the College immediately began work to complete the process for membership in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC).

 

“Young Harris College will be the only private college in Georgia in the esteemed Peach Belt Conference, one of the strongest and most prestigious Division II conferences in the country,” said Dunn, who successfully transitioned North Georgia College & State University to NCAA Division II and PBC membership prior to arriving at YHC in 2010.

 

Current PBC members include Armstrong Atlantic State University, Augusta State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia College & State University, University of North Carolina—Pembroke and University of South Carolina—Aiken.

 

PBC officials visited campus during September, and YHC will learn in the coming months if the College is admitted.

 

“Many individuals worked long and hard to make all of this happen, but President Cox should be the person most recognized for her vision, commitment and support during this process,” Dunn added.

 

During the 2010-2011 season, YHC competed as an independent school against other four-year institutions. Prior to that transition, Young Harris College’s athletic teams were among the finest in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The Mountain Lions claimed the 2006 NJCAA national championship in women’s soccer, the same season head coach Kathy Brown was named national Coach of the Year. In 2007, head coach Rick Robinson led Young Harris College’s baseball team to the Junior College World Series.

 

In addition, Young Harris College student-athletes have gone on to earn individual acclaim. Six former YHC baseball players have made it to the major leagues, with three currently playing: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis, ’03, Atlanta Braves right-handed pitcher Cory Gearrin, ’06, and Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, ’06. Markakis and Bryson Smith, ’09, a 2011 draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds, both earned the title of national junior college player of the year during their YHC careers. Many other former Mountain Lions have played professionally or have gone on to play at the highest collegiate levels in their respective sports.