Gardner-Webb University Athletics: A Legacy of Achievement and Growth

Gardner-Webb University, located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, boasts a rich athletic history embodied by its teams, the Runnin' Bulldogs. As members of the NCAA Division I, the Big South Conference (primary), SoCon (wrestling), and ASUN (swimming & diving), Gardner-Webb fields 22 varsity teams. The athletic program has undergone several rebrandings, evolving from a hand-drawn mark in the 1960s-1980s to the runnin' bulldog logo launched in 1987, which was updated to reflect the university's status in 1993.

Football: A Tradition Since 1970

The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team first took the field in 1970. The team competes in the Division I FCS and are members of the OVC-Big South Football Association. The team plays its home games at the 9,000-seat Ernest W. Spangler Stadium in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Kris McCullough is the head coach.

Historic Season

In 2022, the Runnin’ Bulldogs football team topped off a historic season by winning its first Big South conference title since 2003. In that game, the Runnin’ Bulldogs ran for 240 yards and used a 21-point second quarter to roll to a 38-17 win over North Carolina A&T. During the playoffs, home teams were 20-2, and the Runnin’ Bulldogs were one of only two road squads to earn a win. Additionally, Gardner-Webb dominated the Big South honors for 2022. Quarterback Bailey Fisher was Offensive Player of the Year, defensive lineman Ty French was named Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Ty Anderson was the Defensive Freshman of the Year, linebacker William McRainey was voted the Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league, and GW head coach Tre Lamb was selected Coach of the Year.

Men's Basketball: Upset Victories and Tournament Berths

The Gardner-Webb men's basketball team has a history of notable success, including victories against prominent programs like Duke, UNC, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma, earning them ESPN coverage. In the 2007-2008 campaign, they defeated Kentucky. The 2014-2015 season saw the Runnin' Bulldogs beat both Clemson and Purdue, contributing to a 20-win season.

A Landmark Season

The 2018-2019 season was particularly successful, featuring an undefeated 13-0 home record and a 23-11 overall record, including wins against Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. The team won the Big South Tournament, earning its first Division I tournament berth.

Read also: The Gardner Minshew Story

Coaching Leadership

Rick Reeves served as head coach for nine seasons. During this time he turned the program around from only five wins in the year previous to his arrival to two championship appearances in the Big South Tournament including their first year in the Big South Conference. Reeves, who had previously coached at Liberty and Southern Mississippi, faced Liberty in the championship losing by one point to the defending champions in 2008-2009 and losing by two in 2009-2010 before finally defeating them by one in 2010-2011, earning a bid to the NCAA tournament. The program also had their first ever winning season since moving to Division I, finishing 17-15 in 2008-2009. In 2009-2010, the program set school records in wins (28) and also tied a Big South Conference Record in wins.

New Leadership

Jeremy Luther was named Head Men's Basketball Coach on October 17, 2024.

Women's Basketball: Dominance in the Big South

The Gardner-Webb Women’s Basketball team took its place in the history books on March 5, 2023, by winning both the Big South Tournament and the Big South regular season. At the championship game, the women claimed their 21st consecutive victory to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. They also finished 21-0 against Big South Competition, the best mark in the history of the league. Guards Lauren Bevis (High Point, N.C.) and Ki’Ari Cain (Sumter, S.C.) joined Williams and Smith on the All-Big South Conference team, with Bevis earning first-team honors and Cain earning an honorable mention selection. Guard L’Mia Littlejohn (Shelby, N.C.) earned a spot on the Big South Conference All-Academic Team. Littlejohnis an exercise science major who carries a 3.75 cumulative GPA. She plans to pursue a career in physical therapy upon graduation. Williams was the first Gardner-Webb standout to be named Player of the Year since Margaret Roundtree in 2010.

Women's Soccer: A Transition to Division I

In 2001 the Runnin' Bulldogs were the National Christian College Athletic Association Champions, following that tournament Mounce was named NCCAA National Women's Soccer Coach of the Year. In 2002 the Runnin' Bulldogs became a Division I program participating in the Atlantic Sun Conference. At the conclusion of their season, the team was ranked second in the nation for first-year division I programs by Soccer Buzz. In 2003 the Runnin' Bulldogs saw their first ever appearance in the Atlantic Sun Championship, finishing 5th in the league. For this accomplishment, former head coach Kevin Mounce was named A-Sun coach of the year. In 2004, GWU had a forward, Leeanna Woodworth who led the nation in scoring. She became A-Sun player of the year and broke many school records. In 2008 the team transferred to the Big South Conference.

Men's Swimming: Olympic Trials

Program history was made again in the summer of 2016. Gardner-Webb men, Nathan Lile and Connor Bos, made history by being the first GWU male swimmers to make the United States Olympic Time Trials in Omaha, NE.

Baseball: Pitcher of the Year

Gardner-Webb University hurler Bobby Alcock, from Lynn, Mass., was voted the 2023 Big South Baseball Pitcher of the Year. Alcock is the first-ever Runnin’ Bulldog to be voted Big South Pitcher of the Year. He concluded the regular season as the Big South leader in strikeouts (99), ERA (2.20) and batting average allowed (.170). Alcock went 7-2 overall with three combined shutouts in 81.2 innings pitched, and permitted just seven extra base hits all season (five doubles, two home runs among 48 allowed) in his 13 appearances. Named to the College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year Watch List, Alcock was a three-time Big South Pitcher of the Week honoree in 2023, and fanned at least 10 batters four times-including 12 in a 1-0 win over Longwood on March 18.

Wrestling: Individual Achievements

Oklahoma City native R.J. Mosley became a three-time NCAA qualifier at 165 pounds and the first Gardner-Webb wrestler to ever win back-to-back Southern Conference titles. Jha’Quan Anderson made his second appearance in the national championships after earning an at-large bid. The Conyers, Ga., native advanced all the way to the SoCon finals at 184 pounds before dropping a decision in the finals.

Men's Tennis: Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Putter became the first in GWU history to earn the title of Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Men’s Tennis.

Women's Track & Field: All-Academic Team

Prugh was named to the women’s All-Academic Team, and her season was also highlighted by a first-place honor for the 3000m Steeplechase at the Big South Outdoor Championship. Prugh also set a new Gardner-Webb school record with the finish.

Coaches of the Year

Griffith was selected as the coach of the year for the Big South for the second time in his career. The first came in 2019, which was the only other time in school history that GWU has won the conference title. He guided the team to a 15-6 mark in the regular season and 4-1 record against league opponents.

Read also: Scholarships and Aid Guide

Key Figures in Gardner-Webb Athletics History

Gardner-Webb University's athletic history is not only defined by team success but also by the contributions of remarkable individuals who have shaped the program's culture and legacy. These figures, ranging from coaches and athletes to administrators and benefactors, have each played a vital role in the growth and development of Gardner-Webb Athletics.

Hester Haynes

Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame IN1995.

Joan Cline

First female student-athlete inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame IN 1991. Joan Cline, the first women’s star player, played on the women’s basketball team of 1956-1959, under head coach Hester Haynes.

Martha Macon Dulin Hamrick

She was an ardent supporter of the University, along with her husband, O. ambassador to Great Britain. Despite living in Raleigh, N.C., and Washington, D.C., the Gardners never forgot their hometown of Shelby and the junior college in Boiling Springs. Dean of Women 1909-1936, service award given at commencement named in her honor. While in retirement from 27 years of teaching, she wrote a check for all of her savings to rebuild Gardner-Webb’s Hamrick Hall, which had been destroyed by fire.

Paige Bridges

Vice President of Student Development who worked at Gardner-Webb for nearly 40 years. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in public relations and Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Gardner-Webb.

Dr. Kristen Steibel

Gardner-Webb professor and the first School of Divinity faculty member to serve as the Bonnie Price Chair for Christian Formation and Leadership. Steibel earned her Bachelor of Arts from Gardner-Webb. She received her Master of Arts in religious education and her Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She joined the Gardner-Webb School of Divinity faculty in 2001. Before then, she was an associate professor of religious education at Gardner-Webb. Steibel is the former director of Campinas Baptist Theological College, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Additionally, she served on the faculties of South Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary and Baptist Religious Education Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Joyce Hamrick Bridges

One of the first African American students admitted to Gardner-Webb Junior College. While working her way through college, Joyce was a member of the Day Student Association, Secretary-Treasurer of the International Relations Club, a delegate to the Model United Nations Assembly, and reporter for The Pilot.

Katie Harris

Faculty Athletics Representative and professor in the School of Psychological Science and Counselor Education. She is the president of the N.C. Counseling Association and serves as coordinator for GWU Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs. Webb is also a volunteer with the American Red Cross, providing counseling for the military community and serving as the Blue Ridge Piedmont Chapter Mental Health Lead, consisting of 12 counties.

Brooke Humphrey

in Concord, N.C. She played Division 1 Volleyball at Gardner-Webb, and after graduating, continued to compete with the AVP, Association of Volleyball Professionals.

Belva Beam

Associate Athletics Director, Senior Women’s Administrator. She joined the Gardner-Webb University family in 1980, and has been the backbone of the school’s athletics programs.

Margaret Martin

First woman to serve on GWU board of trustees, appointed in 1933 and held every position on the board. She also served on the boards of Mars Hill College and Wake Forest University. When her husband died in 1930, she took over the business they started, Eagle’s Store in Kings Mountain, N.C., and with the profits became a benefactor for all three colleges and also a school in South America.

Susan R. Daniel

The University’s first female member of the senior staff and associate provost emerita. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Army after 21 years of active duty service, she started her full-time teaching career, 10 years at one college and then 18 years at Gardner-Webb.

Dot Wilkinson

Became paralyzed at age 17 after a car wreck. Gardner-Webb made accommodations for her to attend because she was in a wheelchair. Students nominated her for homecoming queen without her knowledge and she won. She’s been a national speaker, but now works as a teacher at a community college.

Mrs. George T. Noel

In 1983, Mrs. Noel established the Dr. George T. Noel Memorial Fund for Visually Impaired Students, the first such fund for students enrolled in Gardner- Webb’s program for the blind. She named the scholarship in memory of her late husband, who was an ophthalmologist in Kannapolis for nearly 30 years. A second major endowment provided permanent housing in a completely renovated facility and in 1986 the Noel House, which contains the University’s programs for handicapped students, was dedicated in honor of Mrs. Noel and in memory of her husband.

Mildred Lovelace

Gardner-Webb Senior College head coach of women’s basketball from 1975-1979. The team played its first game on November 18, 1975 and picked up their first win soon after, beating UNC Charlotte.

Hall of Fame Inductees

Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. She finished her basketball career as one of the top-10 career scorers and rebounders.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. She finished her Soccer career as a program leader in points and goals served.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. She finished her career as one of the the top female two-sport performers in school history.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. She finished her basketball career as a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. She led the volleyball team to SAC championships in 1997 and 1999.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. She finished her four-year volleyball career with 115 wins and remains the program’s leader with 2,059 kills.
One of the most decorated players in Gardner-Webb’s soccer history, she was inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. She finished her four years as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 135 points - 20 points more than any other GWU performer.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. She finished her swimming career as one of the most successful student-athletes in program history - regardless of sport. She was named Northeast Conference (NEC) Most Outstanding Swimmer three times and won a combined 22 conference titles in her four seasons. She sparked Gardner-Webb to four NEC team championships in four seasons.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. She finished her career as one of the most decorated swimmers in program history. She won 12 individual NEC and Southern States Conference titles, set three Gardner-Webb records and posted an NCAA “B” qualifying time in the 400 IM. Her contributions helped GWU post three consecutive conference championships in the NEC.
Inducted into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. She spent time with Gardner-Webb’s volleyball program as part of her two-sport career in Boiling Springs, but it was her excellence with the GWU track & field program that turned heads. Maxwell Knippen finished her career as one of the most honored and decorated throwers in program history.

Marie Mason

Gardner-Webb’s first distance learner. She battled polio as a child and as a result lived in an iron lung from the time she was 11-years-old until her death at age 71 in 2009. Mason never let the fact that she was limited physically inhibit her ability to learn. While at Gardner-Webb, she participated in her class via intercom, which allowed her to talk with her professors and fellow classmates. She graduated from Gardner-Webb in 1958 at the top of her class. After graduation, she continued her education at Wake Forest University. She also wrote a book, “Breath: Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung,” the story of her life.

Hall of Fame Selection Committee

The Hall of Fame Selection Committee is appointed by the President and is chaired by the Vice President of Advancement. Additional members of the Committee include Executive Director of the Bulldog Club, Athletic Director, Senior Women’s Athletic Administrator, and Director of Alumni Relations. An induction ceremony will take place once a year. Hall of Fame inductees must be present at the ceremony. The selected individuals will be notified by the Chair of the Selection Committee and will be provided details regarding this honor.

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