WILSON, N.C. — November 21, 2024 — Barton College is bringing NCAA DII collegiate football to Wilson. On Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, the Barton College Board of Trustees made the bold, unanimous decision to approve a football program for the Barton campus.
Barton College’s decision to add football to its NCAA DII program reflects its commitment to fostering students’ intellectual, spiritual, social, and cultural growth. This aligns with the NCAA Division II philosophy prioritizing the educational well-being of student-athletes. Barton has previously earned multiple Allan Sharp Awards for having the highest academic success rate among Conference Carolinas institutions, based on NCAA graduation rates over six years. The college aims to maintain and enhance its dedication to academic excellence among student-athletes.
In alignment with the College’s BartonBold Strategic Plan, the addition of football will intentionally focus on campus vibrancy, institutional growth and vitality, and balance in the current gender ratio of 70/30 women to men.
Energy around the football program will also strengthen and encourage greater levels of involvement and engagement from all across the campus and community. In addition, Barton’s appreciation for deep and meaningful traditions can translate to new opportunities for students, alumni, and friends to connect to the College and create lasting memories, while fostering school spirit. Strategic growth will further Barton’s influence in the community, region, and beyond.
An Exciting Time for Barton College Athletics
“This is an exciting time for Barton College,” said President Dr. Douglas N. Searcy. “Over the past three years, we’ve embraced bold initiatives for faculty and staff and are actively engaging our students. To expand our reach and foster new opportunities, we need to make strategic choices. Introducing football to campus is a prime example of such a choice, which will generate enthusiasm among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Wilson community.
The Board’s decision was made following great thought and deliberation. This decision followed on the heels of a feasibility study, which included trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and student participation. Complemented by an administrative review, a number of detailed analyses were conducted, which included business, enrollment, financial aid, and social models to ensure a successful fit for the Barton College community.
A Full Team for Barton College Football
The next step will be the appointment of an Implementation Team (which will include faculty, staff, and student leaders) that will oversee the process of officially establishing the football program on campus. An effective implementation of the Barton football program will rely on the successful selection of the right coach, building appropriate facilities to support the program, and continuing to provide an environment of safety and well-being for our student-athletes, while instilling a healthy attitude toward competitive excellence. The College is committed to a healthy integration of the football program into the Barton Experience.
The Implementation Team will be charged to make decisions concerning timeline, conference affiliation, coaching choices, scheduling, recruitment processes, contact information, and internal facility planning, among other details. Further information will follow in the coming weeks regarding the inaugural season. The College is committed to a healthy integration of the football program into the Barton and Wilson communities.