Student Athletes Fare Well In Classroom

OBU's overall athletic program was ranked fourth in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for overall success in the 2011-12 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings. That achievement was bolstered by a strong academic showing for the university's varsity athletes, as they compiled a 3.01 grade point average for the academic year.

"I am extremely proud of our student-athletes for their accomplishments in the classroom," said OBU Athletic Director Robert Davenport. "This is a compliment to our student-athletes as well as to the coaches who recruited them. OBU strives to assist our student-athletes as they work toward college degrees while competing for championships."

OBU fielded 19 varsity teams for the 2011-12 year, competing in the NAIA's Sooner Athletic Conference. The university claimed national championships in men's swimming and diving and women's outdoor track and field. The OBU men's basketball, women's indoor track and field, and women's swimming and diving teams each finished second in the nation.

"Not many universities at any level can say that their athletic department GPA is 3.01 while finishing in fourth place in the Directors' Cup standings," Davenport said. "This is a great accomplishment for our athletes, coaches and university."

A total of 344 student-athletes participated in varsity sports for OBU in 2011-12. The university is adding women's lacrosse for the 2012-13 year. OBU will return to varsity football starting in 2013-14 year. The university last competed in varsity football in 1940.