GENERAL
UNA Has Claimed Seven National Championships:
The UNA Athletic program has won seven NCAA Division II National Championships with three in football (1993, 1994, 1995), two in men's basketball (1979, 1991), one in women's volleyball (2003) and one in softball (2016).
UNA is One of Just Five Schools With at Least Two Basketball and Two Football Titles:
UNA is one of just five schools in NCAA history on all levels to have won at least two National Championships in football and men's basketball. The others are Florida, Michigan State, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Northwest Missouri State. UNA was the first school to do it on any level when it won its second basketball title in 1991. Michigan State became the second in 2000 with a second men'a basketball title. UNA won football championships in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and men's basketball in 1979 and 1991. Michigan State has football national titles in 1952 and 1966 and men's basketball crowns in 1979 and 2000. Florida joined the group in 2007. The Gators have football titles in 1996, 2006 and 2008 and men's basketball national championships in 2006 and 2007. The fourth member of the group was Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, winning football titles in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 and basketball crowns in 1984, 1989, 2012, 2014. The latest addition has been Division II Northwest Missouri State. The Bearkats have football championships in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016 to go with basketball titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Two National Player of the Year Awards Named for Former UNA Athletes:
The Division II National Player of the Year Awards in two sports are named for former UNA student-athletes: The Josh Willingham Award in baseball and the Harlon Hill Trophy in football.
FOOTBALL
UNA was First Division II Football Program to Visit the White House:
In 1995 UNA became the first Division II football team invited to the White House. President Clinton invited the Lions to Washington, D.C. after UNA went 14-0 in 1995, winning its third consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. Ferris State became the second in 2023 as members of that team were invited by President Joe Biden as part of "College Athlete Day" on June 12.
Lions Reached NCAA Football Playoffs in 12 of Last 14 Seasons in Division II:
The University of North Alabama football program advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 12 of its last 14 seasons in Division II (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
UNA's 21 All-time Football Playoff Appearances Rank Second:
The University of North Alabama football program advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs 21 times, which still ranks tied for second in the history of the Division II Playoffs by current or former members.
Lions Prominent in National Football League:
The UNA football program has had 17 players drafted by National Football League teams, another 54 have signed NFL free-agent contracts and five former UNA Lions have gone on to play in the Super Bowl. Former UNA tight end Harlon Hill earned NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player honors with the Chicago Bears.
Five Former Lions Have Played in the Super Bowl:
Five former UNA Lions went on to play in the Super Bowl during their careers in the National Football League. The first was receiver Robert Steele who played as a backup with the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. A pair of former Lions were in the same secondary in Super Bowl XXIV as Lewis Billups and Daryl Smith were teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals. Wide receiver Stevie Hobbs was a team captain and special teams starter on the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI and defensive tackle Shawn Lee was a starting defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. Hobbs is the only former Lion on the winning team in the Super Bowl as Washington defeated the Buffao Bills 37-24.
UNA Has Won the Most GSC Football Championships - 13:
The Gulf South Conference is by far the most dominant NCAA Division II Conference with 10 National Championships - and UNA has won more GSC titles than any league
school with 13. In fact, UNA is the only school in the 46-year history of the Gulf South Conference to win four straight titles (2013-16).
Lions Finished in DII Football Top 25 Rankings 21 Times:
From 1980 to 2016, the UNA football program was ranked in the final AFCA Division II Top 25 21 times - including 14 final Top 10 rankings.
UNA's 32 All-time Football Playoff Victories Are Third Most in DII History:
The University of North Alabama's 32 all-time Division II Playoff wins rank as the third most in Division II history. The Lions have been to the playoffs 20 times, have won nine regional titles, made five championship game appearances and won three national championships.
National Football Player of the Year Award Named After UNA Football Alum:
The Division II College Football Player of the Year Award - the Harlon Hill Trophy - has been presented annually since 1986. It is named for former UNA football All-American Harlon Hill, who was NFL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player with the Chicago Bears in the 1950s. Not only is the award named after a former UNA player but two North Alabama players have won the awards as Division II National Player of the Year - Linebacker Ronald McKinnon in 1995 and Quarterback Will Hall in 2003. McKinnon is the only defensive player in the award's 29-year history to be named National Player of the Year.
Lions Pull in the Football Awards:
The University of North Alabama football program has produced 72 different players who earned All-American honors with the Lions - with 18 being named All-American in multiple seasons. In addition, UNA has had two Harlon Hill Trophy winners as Division II Football National Player of the Year, an inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, three inductees into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, A Rimington Trophy winner as Division II Center of the Year and two National Defensive Player of the Year honorees.
First NCAA Scholarship Football Team to Win Three Straight National Titles:
With three straight NCAA Division II Football National Championships from 1993-95, UNA became the first school in the history of NCAA scholarship football to win three consecutive football national titles. The only other schools to match that feat since have been FCS members Appalachian State (2005-07) and North Dakota State (2011-15 and 2017-19).
First Collegiate Football Team to Win 40 Games in Three Years:
UNA was the first college football program in NCAA history to win as many as 40 games in just three seasons when the Lions went 41-1 from 1993-95.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
UNA Was First School From the State of Alabama To Win a Men's Basketball National Championship:
UNA was the first school from the state of Alabama to win a collegiate basketball national championship (1979). The Lions then won a second NCAA Division II National Championship in 1991.
UNA Had One of Division II's Most Successful Men's Basketball Programs:
On the NCAA Division II level, UNA won seven NCAA Regional Championships, made five Final Four appearances and won two NCAA Division II National Championships. UNA had an all-time 31-13 record in the NCAA Tournament with a .704 winning percentage.
UNA One of Just Ten DII Schools With Multiple DII Men's Basketball Titles:
UNA is one of just ten institutions in NCAA Division II history to have won multiple men's basketball National Championships. (Bakersfield, Central Missouri, Evansville, Florida Southern, Kentucky Wesleyan, Metro State, North Alabama, Northwest Missouri State, Virginia Union and Winona State).
Former Lion Drafted by World Champion Lakers in 1980:
Former UNA men's basketball player Otis Boddie was drafted into the National Basketball Association by the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in 1980, after leading UNA to three Final Fours and one NCAA Division II National Championship during his four years with the Lions. Boddie was taken in the sixth round as the 137th overall pick. The Lakers roster included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes, Norm Nixon and Michael Cooper. Although Boddie did not make the Lakers roster, he is the only player in UNA history drafted into the NBA.
First Basketball Game in Flowers Hall Featured the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics:
On October 5, 1972, the first basketball game played in Flowers Hall was an NBA pre-season battle between the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks featured "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Walt Bellamy and Lou Hudson, while the Celtics lineup included John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Don Chaney, Paul Silas and Don Nelson.
Three NBA Games Have Been Played in Flowers Hall:
NBA exhibition games were played in Flowers Hall in 1972, 1973 and 1974. The first game in the new building on October 5, 1972, featured the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics. On October 3, 1973, the Hawks played the Capital Bullets. Then in 1974, the Hawks played the Detroit Pistons in Flowers Hall. The roster of NBA players who played in Flowers Hall includes "Pistol Pete" Maravich, Walt Bellamy and Lou Hudsonof the Atlanta Hawks; John Havlicek, Jo Jo White, Dave Cowens, Don Chaney, Paul Silas and Don Nelson of the Boston Celtics; Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld and Mike Riordan of the Capital Bullets and Leon Douglas of the Detroit Pistons.
VOLLEYBALL
UNA Was First, and still Only School From the State of Alabama To Win a Volleyball Championship:
UNA was the first and still only school from the state of Alabama to win a collegiate volleyball national championship (2003). The UNA volleyball program has won 16 Gulf South Conference Championships, competed in the NCAA Tournament 14 times and reached three Final Fours.
GOLF
UNA Golf Program Among Nation's Elite:
The UNA men's golf program has competed in the NCAA Regional Tournament 16 times, winning four regional championships. The Lions have played in the DII National Tournament 10 times in the last 19 years.
UNA Golfers Have Received National Awards:
Not only have UNA golfers been named first, second or third-team All-American 16 times since 1996, but two Lions also received elite national awards. In 2009 Jake Greer received the Phil Mickelson Award as the Top Freshman Golfer in the NCAA Division II. In 2010, UNA golfer Brett Munson won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the Division II National Golfer of the Year.
BASEBALL
UNA Baseball Program Posted 30 Consecutive Winning Seasons:
The UNA baseball program posted a string of 30 consecutive winning seasons from 1984-2013. During that time the Lions won five GSC Championships and made 12 NCAA Playoff Appearances.
Two Former Baseball Players Competed in 2014 World Series:
Two former University of North Alabama baseball players found themselves on opposite sides of the 2014 World Series as Josh Willingham (1998-00) and the Kansas City Royals faced Sergio Romo (2004) and the San Francisco Giants.
UNA Has Had Five Former Lions Compete in the Major Leagues:
Five former University of North Alabama baseball players have reached the Major Leagues: Cedric Landrum (Cubs, Mets), Terry Jones (Rockies, Expos) , Jim Czajkowski (Rockies), Josh Willingham (Marlins, Nationals, A's, Twins, Royals) and Sergio Romo (Giants).
Willingham Hit Two Grand Slams in a Single Major League Game:
Former UNA Lion Josh Willingham is one of just 13 players in the history of Major League Baseball to hit two grand slams in a single game. On July 27, 2009, while playing for the Washington Nationals, Willingham hit two grand slams against the Milwaukee Brewers in a 14-6 win by the Nationals. He also tied a franchise record with eight runs batted in. The bat that he used to hit the two grand slams is on display in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Willingham connects on his second grand slam of the day.
See Video Here
Willingham's bat on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
UNA Soccer Program Has Produced Two National Players of the Year:
The UNA women's soccer program produced the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year in 2011 and 2014. Chloe Roberts claimed the honor in 2011 and Chloe Richards in 2014.
UNA Soccer Program Has Played in NCAA Tournament Six Times:
Beginning in 2009, UNA made six appearances in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015).
