Kennesaw State University Athletics

Kennesaw State Athletics: The NAIA Years (1982-1994)

1980 - A Promise

Dr. Betty L. Siegel is an applicant for President of Kennesaw State (then: Kennesaw College). The Dean of Education at Western Carolina at the time, she tells the selection committee at KSU she if she is appointed, she will initiate intercollegiate athletics at Kennesaw State.

Dr. Siegel was named President in 1981 and served in that role for 25 years and was the longest-serving female president of a state university in the United States.

1982-83 - Year One.

James “Spec” Landrum is introduced as the first Director of Athletics at Kennesaw College, leading nine sponsored sports onto the field of play.

Initially called the “Golden Owls,” KC started with women's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis and men's and women's track and field.

Landrum asks the art department at KC to design a logo that becomes the first official mark of Kennesaw College athletics.

The Owls competed as independents in 1982 with no initial athletic aid until 1983-84.

1983-84 - Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Kennesaw College enters the GIAC in 1983 after being an independent in 1982-83.

Now at 103 student athletes, KC begins its baseball program that goes 30-20 in its first season of competition.

1985-86 - First National Champion + Men's Hoops Arrives

Jon Hough secures a 10th-place finish for men's golf at the NAIA Golf Nationals and becomes the first national individual champion at KC.

Turner repeats as an All-American while the women's track and field squad earns the first team championship in KC athletics history by taking the NAIA District crown.

Men's basketball enters the fray as KSU's 11th sponsored sport.

1991-92 - Don't Let the Owls Get Hot

Between baseball, women's and men's basketball and softball, KSC athletics post a 132-46 record. Including second (softball), fourth (men's golf) and ninth (women's basketball) national NAIA finishes.

Head coach Ron Walker leads women's basketball to its third GIAC title in five years and earns the program's first-ever bid to the NAIA National Tournament. Tracey Marchman earns NAIA District Player of the Year honors.

Softball surges to a 46-8 season behind NAIA District Player of the Year Laura Munson and finish runner-up at the NAIA National tournament. Tonya Carlisle, Leah Crawford and Kelly McDuffie earn All-American honors.

Men's golf, led by head coach Bill Hill and All-Americans Pat Abney and Kyle Owen, place fourth in the NAIA Nationals.

Baseball posts a 39-19 season with two All-GIAC selections.

The Owls Club is established as the fundraising arm of Kennesaw State College athletics.

Dr. Siegel and Dr. Waples receive permission to pursue membership in the NCAA. The Peach Belt Conference approves membership for KSC beginning with the 1994-95 academic year.

1992-93 - Best in the Nation

Softball becomes the first program in school history to be ranked No. 1 nationally and ends the year in fourth - its third top-four finish in three years. Four earn All-American honors while Tracey Britt is named NAIA District Player of the Year.

Men's and women's basketball sweep their NAIA District tournaments and finish 17th in the NAIA. Men's golf posts an eighth-place finish at NAIA Nationals.

Marcia Merck and April Satterfield earn All-District honors for women's cross country and run in the NAIA Nationals.

KSC is approved for a two-year transition to NCAA Division II.

1993-94 - National Champions

Baseball finishes 48-14 and wins their first NAIA National Championship in KSC's history, defeating Southeastern Oklahoma 2-0 in the final. Ryan Coe becomes the first All-American in program history and earns KSC Athlete of the Year.

Softball is again ranked No. 1 in the nation and posts a fourth-straight top-four finish. Six earn All-American honors.

Women's tennis' Michelle Turner is named the PBC's Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Men's basketball makes the NAIA Region final while women's basketball goes 10-1 in region play.

KSC completes all final qualifications for membership in the NCAA Division II and Peach Belt Conference. Men's and women's basketball did not play a conference schedule. Baseball competed in the GIAC while men's and women's cross country as well as softball played in the PBC. 

1993-94 marked the final season of competition at the NAIA level for Kennesaw State College in any sport.