Young Harris Mountain Lions

The Young Harris Mountain Lions are the athletic teams that represent Young Harris College, located in Young Harris, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) since the 2012–13 academic year for most sports; except women's lacrosse, which they compete with the Gulf South Conference (GSC). The Mountain Lions previously competed in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) during the 2010–11 academic year.

Young Harris Mountain Lions
UniversityYoung Harris College
ConferencePeach Belt (most sports)
Gulf South (women's lacrosse)
NCAADivision II
Athletic directorJennifer Rushton
LocationYoung Harris, Georgia
Varsity teams16
Basketball arenaYHC Recreation and Fitness Center
Baseball stadiumZell B. Miller Field
Softball stadiumYHC Softball Field
Soccer stadiumYHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field
Lacrosse stadiumYHC Soccer and Lacrosse Field
NicknameMountain Lions
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
Websiteyhcathletics.com

History

On July 1, 2014, the school completed the transition from the GCAA and the NJCAA to the NCAA at the Division II level. The college originally applied to the NCAA in 2010, but the application was rejected.[2] The school re-applied in 2011 and received acceptance into the three-year process to become a full member. As of the 2011–12 academic year, Young Harris was in the first year of candidacy-membership.[3]

Young Harris later became a member of the PBC, effective July 1, 2012.[4] As part of the transition process into the NCAA, the college began NCAA Division II and Peach Belt Conference schedules for its athletic teams and was immediately eligible for all regular-season championships and other conference awards.[4] During the transition process into the NCAA the college is ineligible for NCAA postseason automatic bids as well as for participation in any PBC Championships which award automatic bids to NCAA Tournaments.[4] As part of the transition to the NCAA, Young Harris reinstated its men's basketball program in 2010, bringing intercollegiate basketball to the college for the first time in 40 years; at the same time, YHC added women's basketball.[5] The college added men's and women's lacrosse teams and a competitive cheerleading team in the 2012-13 academic year.[6]

Varsity teams

Young Harris competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball; and co-ed sports include spirit cheerleading.

Individual teams

Men's basketball

The school fielded a successful men's basketball team in the 1950s and 1960s, and on November 13, 2010, the sport returned after a 40-year absence.[7] The men's head coach is Pete Herrmann, formerly at the University of Georgia. Women's basketball began at Young Harris on November 15, 2010 with coach Brenda Paul.[8]

Baseball

Baseball coach Rick Robinson earned his 500th win at Young Harris in April 2009, and had been highly successful in placing players in Division I schools. The Young Harris Baseball Team has captured eight Georgia Junior College titles and five Region XVII titles since 1999, and advanced to the Junior College World Series 2007. The team has averaged 49 wins per season each year since 2004. The team plays on the Zell B. Miller Field.

Men's soccer

The men's soccer team was a regional finalist in 2006 & 2007. In 1998, led by former coach Jim Thomas, the Young Harris Mountain Lions won the 1998 NJCAA Division I State Soccer Title.

Women's soccer

The Young Harris Lady Mountain Lions won the 2006 NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship, under coach Kathy Brown. Women's soccer coach Kathy Brown originally served as the assistant coach at Jacksonville State University before coming to Young Harris in 1997 and starting the women's soccer team. In just her first season as a head coach, Coach Brown celebrated her first state championship. Since then she has led the Lady Mountain Lions to seven more state titles.

References
  1. "Young Harris College - Quick Facts". July 10, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. Stillwell, Dan (July 14, 2010). "WVU Tech's bid to return to NCAA rejected". The Register-Herald. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  3. Staff (July 12, 2011). "YHC granted candidacy for NCAA Division II membership". Enotah Echoes. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  4. Staff (January 9, 2012). "Peach Belt Conference to add one more member". WRDW-TV. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  5. "Young Harris College extended an invitation to join the Peach Belt Conference". Young Harris College. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  6. Staff (December 5, 2011). "Young Harris to Add M&W Lacrosse in 2013". Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  7. "YHC drops heartbreaker in season opener" YHC Athletics website, November 13, 2010
  8. "YHC hits the road to take on Georgia Southwestern" YHC Athletics website, November 19, 2010
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