College Sports Established
1890
Location
Nashville, Tennessee
College Name
Belmont University
Collegiate History
1981 - Present / NCAA Division I
1989 - 2004 / NAIA Division I
Conference History
2022 - Present / Missouri Valley Conference
2012 - 2022 / Ohio Valley Conference
2001 - 2012 / Atlantic Sun Conference
1996 - 2001 / Independent
Nickname
Bruins - The Belmont Bruins are among the most popular NCAA teams in college sports. But do you know where their nickname came from? The origins of the Belmont Bruins can be traced back to a student-led campaign that began in 1996.
At that time, students wanted to choose a mascot and name for their team that reflected school spirit and pride. After much debate, they decided on "Bruins" as they symbolized strength, courage, and determination—traits all athletes strive for during competition.
In addition to its emotional connotations, the word itself is derived from an Old English term meaning “brown bear” or “black bear” – two animals known for being powerful yet agile creatures with great endurance—all qualities any successful athlete needs! It seemed appropriate, given Belmont's athletic prowess across many different sports.
To further emphasize this concept even more so than just using "Bruins," students chose two mascots: Bruiser (a brown bear) and Blaze (a black panther). These characters embody physical strength and mental toughness, traits necessary when competing at any level against tough opponents! Furthermore, having these mascots helps add another layer of fun to attending games while showing off school spirit too!
All things considered - there's no doubt why fans have embraced 'Belmont Bruins' as its official moniker since then; after all these years later, it still captures what makes this program special - sheer dedication & resilience combined with a sense of community & camaraderie amongst players & fans alike who support them every step along the way towards victory!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1951
- 1972
- 2018
- 2021
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Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) Winning
In 1963 Belmont joins the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) in basketball. In 1972 The Bruins win the VSAC championship, the first conference championship in school history. -
Matt Reynolds a Standout Pitcher
Matt Reynolds (2008-2012): Reynolds was a standout pitcher for the Bruins and was selected in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft by the New York Mets. He has played for several MLB teams. -
Belmont Wins Second OVC Basketball Championship
In 2021 Belmont wins its second OVC basketball championship and advances to the NCAA tournament for the ninth time.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bruins
In their early days in Division I, Belmont was part of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). 1988-2012, they won 11 regular season championships and 8 tournament titles, including 4 consecutive OVC Tournament Championships from 2006-2009. This success led them to move up to Atlantic Sun Conference in 2012, where they continued winning by claiming 3 more regular season championships and 2 tournament titles before joining the current conference home - The Ohio Valley Conference - for the 2019–20 school year.
Throughout all these successes over these past few decades, there have been some truly remarkable players who have put on a Bruin uniform, including NBA Hall Of Famer Ian Clark, who played for Belmont during the 2011–12 season, All-American Craig Bradshaw (2014), First Team All OVC selection Kerron Johnson (2013), three-time Player Of Year award winner Jami Cornwell(2016 & 2017) among others.
In addition to all this success on the court over the last several years under Head Coach Rick Byrd’s tenure since 1986, Belmont also stands out off the court due to its commitment towards academics, having placed 28 student-athletes onto Academic All-District teams between the 2014 & 2018 seasons combined. With such an impressive athletically and academic track record, it should be no surprise that many consider Bruins one best mid-major programs nationwide today!
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