Dallas Baptist University Athletics: A Tradition of Champions for Christ

Dallas Baptist University (DBU), located in Dallas, Texas, boasts a rich athletic history rooted in the development of "Champions for Christ." From its early days as Decatur Baptist College to its current status as a comprehensive university, DBU has fostered a culture of athletic excellence alongside its commitment to Christ-centered servant leadership. The Dallas Baptist Patriots, the university's athletic teams, exemplify integrity, honor, and a passion for DBU.

A Legacy of Growth and Achievement

Founded in 1898 as Decatur Baptist College, the first two-year institution of higher education in Texas, Dallas Baptist University embraces a legacy of quality academics and vibrant university life. In 1968, the college transitioned to senior college status, offering its first four-year bachelor's degrees in May 1970. The institution officially changed its name to Dallas Baptist University in 1985.

DBU's athletic program has mirrored this growth, evolving from its NAIA roots to its current standing as an NCAA Division II institution, with the exception of its baseball program, which competes at the Division I level.

Patriot Traditions and School Spirit

Athletic traditions contribute significantly to the vibrant atmosphere of DBU. The Regiment firing the cannon after a soccer goal or a baseball home run and ringing the bell after a basketball victory create energy in the "Blue Brigade" student section, fostering an exciting environment for all Patriot home games. The Patriot Cheerleaders and Patriettes Dance Team lead the crowd in cheers, chants, and the DBU Fight Song, further bolstering support for all Patriot athletics.

Other university-wide traditions intersect with athletic events, such as Midnight Madness, which kicks off the basketball season, and Homecoming week, featuring float building, Mr. Patriot, Extravaganza, a Tailgate Party, and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen.

Intercollegiate Athletics

The Dallas Baptist Patriots field 15 athletic teams that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). DBU also sponsors cheerleading, dance, bass fishing, lacrosse, and ice hockey at the club levels. As such, all athletic teams, except for baseball, compete in the Lone Star Conference while the baseball program is an associate member of Conference USA.

NCAA Division I Baseball

The DBU Baseball program stands as a testament to the university's commitment to athletic excellence. The program has enjoyed a long, storied tradition of winning baseball with 33 consecutive winning seasons. As a past NAIA member, DBU qualified for 10 NAIA World Series tournaments between 1984-2002 and was ranked in the top 10 for 16 consecutive seasons, including finishing twice as National Champion-Runner Up (1985 and 2000).

In their six years of active membership at the NCAA Division I level and competing as an Independent, DBU had a record of 208-132 and, in 2008, just their third year as a Division I member, received an at-large berth to the College Station NCAA Regional (as a #2 seed), after finishing the regular season with a 37-17 record and the 29th best RPI in the country. In 2011, the Patriots were again selected as an at-large bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament. They defeated Oklahoma, TCU, and Oral Roberts to win the Fort Worth Regional Championship. This allowed the Patriots to move along The Road to Omaha where they faced the University of California in the Santa Clara Super Regional.

DBU has had 130 players drafted or signed to professional contracts, with 23 of those coming since 2006. DBU has had a total of 11 former players playing in Major League Baseball. DBU’s most recent Major League player is 2009 All-Star from the Tampa Bay Rays, Ben Zobrist, who played for the Patriots in 2004. Also, Freddy Sanchez, a member of the 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, played at DBU in 1999.

The DBU Baseball team enters the 2025 season ranked No. 17 nationally after a decade of NCAA Regional appearances, with a talented roster featuring 21 returning lettermen and several key newcomers, including Division I transfers.

Read also: DCS Tuition Information

Looking ahead, Dallas Baptist University announced that DBU Baseball has accepted an invitation to join the Pac-12 Conference as an affiliate member on July 1, 2026, with the Patriots' inaugural Pac-12 season set for 2027.

NCAA Division II Athletics

DBU sponsors teams in seven men's and six women's NCAA sanctioned sports. All teams compete at the NCAA Division II level and compete in the Lone Star Conference, with the exception of the baseball team, which is a member of the Division I Conference USA, which they joined in the 2014 season. Although the baseball team played as an independent for several years, they accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference for the 2013 season.

Recently, for the first time in program history, the DBU Patriots are headed to the NCAA Division II Regional Elite Eight. DBU's Madison Brown, a standout in both women's cross country and track & field, represented the Lone Star Conference on the ballot for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The Dallas Baptist University Patriots men's basketball team has reached a historic milestone by advancing to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Finals for the first time in the program's history.

Club Sports

DBU also sponsors six intercollegiate club sports. During the team's first season as an NCAA program, DBU STUNT claimed victory at the inaugural Lone Star Conference Tournament.

For the fourth year in a row, DBU Cheer and Patriettes traveled to Daytona to defend their title and brought home the gold again. After winning back-to-back National Championship titles, the Dallas Baptist University Patriettes Dance and Cheer Teams were invited to City Hall to accept a proclamation from Mayor Johnson and celebrate DBU Patriots Day in Dallas. The DBU Family celebrates the National Championship victories of both the Patriettes Dance Team and DBU Cheer Team in Daytona Beach for the second year in a row.

Global Sports Mission Initiative

DBU athletics launched the Global Sports Mission Initiative in 2007 to allow student-athletes the opportunity to share the love of Christ, while using their God-given athletic talents and gifts to minister and spread the Word of God abroad.

The Patriot Baseball Team has taken an active role in supporting the University’s mission of developing servant leaders through participation in numerous volunteer and service projects throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth community and abroad. The Patriot Baseball Team has also taken part in the DBU Global Sports Mission Initiative (GSMI), traveling to Guatemala in the Fall of 2007. While in Guatemala, the Patriot Baseball team played three games against the Guatemalan National Team, as well as working in the orphanages and offering free baseball clinics throughout the community. The GSMI was created to allow DBU student-athletes the opportunity to share the love of Christ, while using their God-given athletic talents and gifts to minister and spread the Word of God abroad. Coach Heefner commented on the team’s desire to continue to serve when he said, “We consider it a great privilege to play a part in the University’s mission of developing servant leaders by serving in our surrounding community. It is something we will continue to do on a consistent basis. We are extremely blessed, and it is easy to lose perspective as college athletes. Every time we serve, we have the opportunity to grow in humility as we put others’ needs ahead of our own.

DBU Students traveled the globe during spring break to New York City, Washington D.C., and Costa Rica.

This January, the DBU dance team, the Patriettes, travelled to Northern England to spend a week in ministry, using their gift of dance to spread the love of Christ.

Christ-Centered Discipleship

The school's athletic department features a Christ-centered discipleship program, as a part of the mission to develop "Champions for Christ". DBU athletics also launched the Global Sports Mission Initiative in 2007 to allow student-athletes the opportunity to share the love of Christ, while using their God-given athletic talents and gifts to minister and spread the Word of God abroad.

Facilities

Dallas Baptist Women's Soccer Team is proud to call the Sedwick Soccer Field House their new home.

Individual Achievements and Recognition

DBU's Madison Brown, a standout in both women's cross country and track & field, will represent the Lone Star Conference on the ballot for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Dr. Chandler Jacobs became the first player in DBU history to garner USBWA National Player of the Week honors.

Other Sporting Activities

DBU is also home to a debate team that competes within the International Public Debate Association (IPDA).

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