History and Tradition of Maryville College Athletics  (Updated April 25, 2025)

For nearly 150 years, Maryville College has enjoyed a rich history of excellence in intercollegiate athletics. Maryville's first sponsored sport was baseball in 1876. It was soon followed by football (1889), track and field (1892), tennis (1898), men's basketball (1903), and cross country (1909). Although Maryville sported women's teams in the early 1900s, the modern era of athletics on the women's side began when the College reinstated varsity play during the 1974-75 season. Women's basketball hit the court that academic year, followed by volleyball in fall 1975, tennis in 1979 and softball in 1982. Soccer joined the lineup in 1988, followed by cross country and golf and the Scots were off and running.
 

The 2022-23 academic year saw the return of indoor and outdoor track and field for both men's and women's programs. Stunt becomes a varsity sport in 2025-26.
 

The early leaders of Maryville College recognized that personal and social values could be attained in sports competitions. They also believed that "one of the greatest social contributions of athletics is the development of leaders."

One of these campus leaders was the legendary Kin Takahashi. In 1889, Takahashi convinced several of his classmates to join him on the college's first football team. Besides being the coach and starting quarterback, Takahashi found time to organize and lead the community efforts to erect Bartlett Hall, today's student center.

Maryville's athletic heritage is rich in stories of great wins and not-so-great losses. Let's take a closer look at eight distinctive eras of Maryville Scots athletic history.

The Early Era (1876-1920) also known as the Gas-Lit Era saw the greatest upsurge of sports in this country's history. From the end of the Civil War until the turn of the century, practically all of our sports were founded and organized beginning in the late 1800s.

The newly formed Maryville College Athletic Association charged its officers in 1892 to prepare a College yell and to determine the colors for their teams to play. On March 12, 1892, approval was given to adopt the colors as garnet and orange.

With the colors selected, who was the student body to "yell" for? Prior to 1915, Maryville's athletic teams were referred to as the Blount Countians. In 1915 J.E. Kidder, the athletic editor of the school's newspaper the Highland Echo, called for a positive nickname for all of MC's teams. He stated," The Scotch Highlanders have always stood out prominently as a race of people who are sturdy, aggressive, and full of spirit. MC is located in the Highlands of the Chilhowie Mountains. As a natural sequence, it has been suggested that our teams be known as the Highlanders."

The Highlanders nickname remained in use for over 40 years until the end of the Lombe Honaker Era. Toward the end of the 1950s, the Highlanders gave way to the present-day Scots of Maryville College. A new set of logos to celebrate the Scottish heritage was unveiled in 2006 and is used on all uniforms and athletics equipment today.

The Lombe Honaker Era (1921-59) was highlighted by the greatest coach in MC history. Honaker pioneered the emphasis on new facilities to entice the best recruits in East Tennessee. The new baseball coach, football coach, basketball coach, and athletics director oversaw the development of several outdoor facilities and the Alumni Gymnasium.

The success of Honaker's teams developed a great feeling of pride and the Scots faithful loved to see their team's play.

The Scots of the Gridiron, led by Honaker, played in the first Tangerine Bowl, now known as the Citrus Bowl, in 1946. 

This school spirit lives on today as the Alma Mater. Developed on May 24, 1941, it is recited at the end of every Scots home football victory. The College Fight Song "On Highlanders," written in 1947, is shouted on top of victory hill and exclaimed by the winning football team. The Cooper Crazies continue the Scots' Spirit from football to basketball.

During his tenure, Honaker directed 38 seasons of football, basketball and baseball and amassed a phenomenal of 924 wins, 604 losses and 31 ties. He produced 15 All-American football performers and 23 baseball players who went on to play in the pros.

The Boydson Baird Era (1959-75) was another growth period for MC athletics. Maryville began its membership with the NCAA in 1965. The Scots competed on a regular basis against NAIA teams with athletic scholarships like Cumberland, Union, Tennessee Wesleyan, Milligan, King and Lincoln Memorial. They also continued to play the NCAA Division III powerhouses of Centre, Emory & Henry, Sewanee and Rhodes. Baird emulated Honaker's tasks in leading the football, basketball and baseball squads while serving as the College's AD. Just as Honaker did, Baird led the Scots to hundreds of victories. Baird was instrumental in the development of the present-day Cooper Athletic Center in 1970, and the main basketball and volleyball court is named Boydson Baird Gymnasium in his honor. Baird led the 1974 baseball team to the institution's first NCAA Division III postseason berth. During Baird's tenure, the creation of our women's sports programs began its evolution in 1975. In a summary provided by Rene A. Henry in her book "The Iron Indians," Baird was the head basketball coach and freshman football coach at William & Mary until returning to his alma mater, Maryville College, in 1959 as athletics director, head football coach and assistant professor of physical education. In six seasons at Maryville, his football teams had a 27-23 record and the 1963 team was his best with an 8-1 record. He coached the basketball team for several seasons and is the third-winningest baseball coach in Maryville history. His 1974 baseball team was the first in any sport in Maryville history to qualify for an NCAA tournament. Baird was born in Kilbourne, Ohio.

The early NCAA Division III Era (1974-79) saw the baseball team return to the NCAA tournament in 1977 under the direction of Billy Henry, who also served as athletics director. The Scots volleyball team hosted the very first NCAA national semifinals and final in 1981. The 1976-79 football squads provided the greatest four-year span in MC Football history at that time, going 28-7 including an 8-1 season in 1978. The 1976 men's tennis program earned its first bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference Era (1980-87)

The Scots enjoyed their eight-year association with the Old Dominion Athletic Conference from 1980-87. Men's basketball went 17-8 in 1984-85 and won MC's only ODAC title. The volleyball team earned NCAA regional bids following the 1981 and 1982 campaigns. Because of the travel demands, the Scots elected to withdraw from the ODAC and compete as an independent.  

The NCAA Division III Independent Era (1988-99)

The women's soccer program began its varsity status in the fall of 1988. Four sports (men's soccer , volleyball, men's basketball, and women's basketball) combined for 17 bids to the NCAA postseason. The 1991-92 men's basketball team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, going farther than any team in school history to date.

 The Great South Athletic Conference Era (2000-12)

The Scots won 58 Great South Athletic Conference championships from 2000-12, which was the best among all nine member institutions.

• Men's Cross Country (4) 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Women's Cross Country (3) 2002, 2006, 2008
• Men's Soccer (7) 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Women's Soccer (9) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Volleyball (9) 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011
• Men's Basketball (9) 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12
• Women's Basketball (8) 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12
• Baseball (4) 2001, 2002, 2007, 2009 
• Softball (1) 2002
• Women's Tennis (2) 2000-01, 2001-02
• Men's Tennis (1) 2009-10
• Men's Golf (1) 2010-11

In a dozen seasons, Maryville earned 15 different GSAC Presidents' Cups, which recognizes the league's overall winning program.

• 2001-02 GSAC Overall
• 2003-04 Men's Champion
• 2004-05 Men's Champion
• 2004-05 Women's Champion
• 2005-06 Men's Champion
• 2005-06 Women's Champion
• 2006-07 Men's Champion
• 2006-07 Women's Champion
• 2007-08 Men's Champion
• 2007-08 Women's Champion
• 2008-09 Men's Champion
• 2008-09 Women's Champion
• 2009-10 Men's Champion
• 2009-10 Women's Champion
• 2011-12 Women's Champion

Men's Basketball dominated Great South action with nine conference titles in the 12 years. At one stretch, the MC cagers received a postseason invitation for 11 consecutive seasons and the Scots have attended an amazing 20 NCAA tournaments in their history. The Scots posted a school-record 17-game winning streak in 2007-08. The program has produced five recent All-Americans. Sidney Ellis, from nearby Seymour, was named to the All-America team in 2004 and 2005. Bobby Golden, another local player from William Blount High School, earned similar honors during his senior season of 2006-07. Greg Hernandez earned All-American status in 2009-10, Eryk Watson in 2010-11 and Jaumonee Byrd in 2014-15.

For a dozen years, Men's Soccer produced seven Great South titles and three NCAA tournament appearances, including a national round of 16 appearance in 2005.

 

Baseball

The Scots baseball team continued its success on Scotland Yard with back-to-back conference titles in 2001 and 2002. Maryville captured the title again in 2007 and 2009, and the Scots were the only baseball-playing school in the Great South to boast four league titles. The Scots produced over 50 All-Region performers and numerous all-conference standouts as well as All-Americans Adam Rosen, Mark Morales and Nick Dean. Dean became the first Maryville College player drafted when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the 32nd round of the MLB Draft.

 

 

Women's Soccer

The Women's Soccer program finished with nine conference titles and eight NCAA tournament appearances while in the Great South Athletic Conference. The Scots had a 116-game conference winning streak snapped in 2011 with a draw in the league final.

 

Softball

The Scots Softball team won the GSAC and went to the NCAA regionals following the 2002 season. They returned to the NCAA tournament in 2007 after a 26-win season. MC won Great South regular-season titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

 

Women's Basketball

The Women's basketball program produced eight All-Americans in the modern era. They pace the athletic department with 22 NCAA tournament appearances. All-Americans Hayley Smith, Leah Onks-England, Jamie Parrott-Rogers, Natalie Munday, Alison Harmon, Janell Menard and Mackenzie Puckett are seven of the many talented Scots who graced the Boydson Baird Gymnasium floor.

Volleyball

MC's volleyball team earned nine Great South Titles and 10 NCAA tournament bids. Head coach Kandis Schram eclipsed the 600-win plateau in 2011 and had her first All-American in Jennifer Seivers following the 2007 season. Karen Tobias, a volleyball graduate from Ohio, set an NCAA career record for all divisions with 1,110 digs during her tenure at Maryville.

 

The USA South Athletic Conference Era (2012-13 to 2021-22)

The Scots won 29 USA South Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships from 2012-2024. Football and women's golf remained active in the USA South through 2024-25.

• Football (5) 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2024
• Women's Basketball (5) 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17
• Men's Basketball (4) 2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21
• Women's Soccer (6) 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Volleyball (4) 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020
• Men's Soccer (3) 2016, 2017, 2018
• Softball (2) 2018, 2019

Additionally, Maryville College claimed 15 USA South Athletic Conference Tournament Crowns in that span, earning NCAA Automatic Qualifiers for each except for the COVID shortened 2020-21 season.

• Women's Soccer (2) 2014, 2019
• Women's Volleyball (4) 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020
• Women's Basketball (2) 2015-16, 2020-21
• Men's Soccer (2) 2016, 2018
• Men's Basketball (3) 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21
• Softball (2) 2018, 2019

Maryville College claimed its first USA South Men's Presidents Cup at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.
 

The Collegiate Conference of the South Era (2022-23 to present)

Maryville moved into the new Collegiate Conference of the South in fall 2022, joining Agnes Scott, Belhaven, Berea, Covenant, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Piedmont and Wesleyan. Asbury replaced Berea to start the 2024-25 season.

The Scots have won 8 Collegiate Conference of the South Regular Season Championships since joining the league as a department in the fall of 2022. Football and women's golf transition to the Southern Athletic Association beginning in fall 2025.

• Baseball (2) 2024, 2025
• Men's Basketball (3) 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
• Women's Soccer (3) 2022, 2023, 2024

Additionally, Maryville College has claimed 6 Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament titles in that span.

• Baseball (1) 2024
• Men's Basketball (2) 2022-23, 2023-24
• Softball (1) 2024
• Women's Soccer (2) 2023, 2024

Maryville College claimed the Women's Commissioner's Cup in 2023-24.

Athletics Facilities

 

Cooper Athletic Center

As individual and team success has grown over the years, so too has Maryville's athletics training services and athletics facilities. Since the completion of the Cooper Athletic Center in 1970, every athletic facility has undergone an extensive renovation, giving Maryville a competitive set of playing venues in NCAA Division III. The centerpiece of MC's athletic facilities is the Cooper Athletic Center. The $1.7 million structure opened Dec. 12, 1970, when the Scots basketball team hosted Centre. It received a million-dollar renovation in 1991. The Cooper Athletic Center houses three regulation basketball courts, a pair of volleyball courts, an athletic training room, an equipment room, and a 3,000 square-foot weight room. New gymnasium lights were added in fall 2022, and a new video scoreboard and sound system in fall 2023. The latest improvement saw a completely new floor for all three gyms during the summer of 2024.


 

Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium, Honaker Field (Football)

Constructed in 1952, a quaint football atmosphere with close proximity to the action is provided for a capacity crowd of 5,000. Renovations to the home bleachers and press box occurred in 1993. A new concession stand and bathroom were added in 1997. Visitor stands were enhanced in 2001, along with the entire field and entrance.

 

Practice Football Field (Football)

 A practice field adjacent to the Cooper Athletic Center was installed in 1975. The natural surface was updated in 1986.

 

Scotland Yard (Baseball)

 

Soccer Complex (Soccer)

 A game field and practice field were installed in 1989. The game field was renovated and new LED lighting added to begin the 2021 season.

 

Tennis Courts (Tennis) 

  The tennis courts were installed in 1998 to develop the college's intercollegiate tennis program. A new surface was installed in 2013 to enhance the student-athlete experience.

 

Softball Field (Softball)

The present softball facility was built in 1984. A press box was added to the perimeter in 2011. The facility was completely updated in 2018, and new LED lighting was added before the 2022 season.  

Cross Country Course (Cross Country)

Established in 2002, the Maryville College woods are a challenging and picturesque environment to host the program's cross country events on campus. 

Athletic Program History

Founded in 1819 and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA, Maryville College combines a regionally and nationally ranked liberal arts education with an array of competitive NCAA Division III athletic teams.