Bob Jones University

==Athletics==
[[File:Bob Jones University Bruin Mascot.jpg|thumb|Mascot at a soccer game]]

The Bob Jones (BJU) athletic teams are called the Bruins. The university is a member of the [[National Christian College Athletic Association]] (NCCAA), primarily competing in the South Region of the Division II level.

The Bruins previously competed as a member of the [[NCAA Division III]] ranks, primarily competing as an [[NCAA Division III independent schools|NCAA D-III Independent]] from 2020–21 to 2022–23.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bjubruins.com/news/2023/5/26/general-update-on-bju-membership-in-ncaa-diii.aspx | title=Update on BJU Membership in NCAA DIII | date=26 May 2023 }}</ref>

BJU competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, and track & field, while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross-country, soccer, track & field, and volleyball.

===History===
In 2012, the university inaugurated intercollegiate athletics with four teams: men's soccer, men's basketball, women's soccer, and women's basketball. The university added intercollegiate golf and cross-country teams during the 2013–2014 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bju.edu/athletics/|title=BJU athletics|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811011910/http://www.bju.edu/athletics/|archive-date=August 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Men's and women's shooting sports were added in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bjubruins.com/|title=Bob Jones University Athletics – Official Athletics Website|website=Bob Jones University Athletics|language=en|access-date=October 20, 2019}} Although Bob Jones College theoretically participated in intercollegiate sports between 1927 and 1933–notably in football—the BJC sports teams mostly played high schools rather than other colleges. Turner, 40–41.</ref> Men's baseball began in the spring of 2021, and women's beach volleyball started in the spring of 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bjubruins.com/news/2018/7/16/casteel-named-head-coach-of-bruins-baseball-program.aspx|title=Casteel Named Head Coach of Bruins Baseball Program|website=Bob Jones University Athletics|language=en|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> On January 31, 2023, director of athletics Neal Ring announced his resignation. Ring had overseen Bruins Athletics since inception.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bjubruins.com/news/2023/1/31/ring-to-step-down-as-director-of-athletics-at-bob-jones-university.aspx | title=Ring to Step Down as Director of Athletics at Bob Jones University | date=31 January 2023 }}</ref>

Through its first 11 seasons, the athletic department amassed 22 NCCAA National Championships, nearly 100 All-Americans, and over 200 Scholar-Athletes. Bruins Athletics also received 6 straight Presidential Awards for Excellence, honoring the most successful NCCAA DII athletics program.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://greenvillejournal.com/sports/bob-jones-university-announces-upcoming-departure-of-director-of-athletics-neal-ring/#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2011%20years,Athletic%20Association%20DII%20National%20Championships | title=BJU announces upcoming departure of Director of Athletics Neal Ring | date=31 January 2023 }}</ref>

===Move to NCAA Division III===
In 2018, BJU explored [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) membership and applied for it in January 2020. The Bruins were accepted as [[NCAA Division III|Division III]] provisional members in June for three years, making it the only Division III school in the state. The school has been searching for a conference.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bruins Transition to NCAA DIII |url=https://today.bju.edu/perspective/bruins-transition-to-ncaa-diii/ |access-date=August 14, 2020 |work=BJU Today |date=January 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Jones University earns provisional NCAA membership |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2020/06/23/bob-jones-university-earns-provisional-ncaa-membership/3241716001/ |access-date=August 14, 2020 |work=Greenville News |date=June 23, 2020}}</ref>