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“Overall, our move to the NAIA has resulted “Since moving to the NAIA, the biggest HE SAID IT
in more recognition for the athletics program and advantage is having players who can remain
HE SAID IT the University as a whole,” said James Hagler, at MGA for their junior and senior years. The
associate director of Athletics and Recreation, chance to work with more mature athletes is a
who played a key role in the transition. welcome opportunity. As a coach, I have
“One of the most significant changes has been enjoyed the higher level of competition as well.”
the number of opportunities we can now give to
student-athletes. In earlier years we had a total SCOTT MOE,
of about 100 student-athletes playing on various head coach, Knights men’s basketball
teams. Now we have more than 180 competing in
10 sports. They come from 10 different states and baseball captured the SSAC championship earlier
represent 19 different countries.” this year.
What is now Middle Georgia State University In other significant moves, Knights
was created in January 2013 when Middle Georgia athletics added teams in women’s volleyball and
College, a two-year school in Cochran, cross-country. The program again earned the
consolidated with Macon State College, a Champions of Character Silver Award in 2016.
baccalaureate institution. Macon State did not Just recently, MGA hired a new athletics
offer intercollegiate sports but Middle Georgia director, Chip Smith, who has served in
College had an athletics program that competed various capacities with the athletics departments
in the National Junior College Athletics Associa- of University of North Carolina Charlotte,
tion. Western Carolina University, Morehead State
University, Eastern Kentucky University, and
“Our athletics program is now a true national Virginia Military Institute.
program. We are playing teams from across the Smith said his goals for the coming year
U.S. This gives our athletes a better experience.” include helping Knights teams improve
competitive performance in the SSAC and in
TOM BATES, head coach, Knights tennis NAIA post-season play. He is working to raise
revenue for the program though the newly
Middle Georgia College athletics had a long formed Knights Athletic Association and through
record of competitive success at the junior college advertising and sponsorship packages.
level, especially in baseball. So an essential part “We’re also working to earn status as a Gold
of Middle Georgia State’s growth was figuring Star institution in the NAIA Champions of
out how to maintain that tradition as part of a Character program,” Smith said. “The most
university-level athletics league. important job we have is working to instill
As a first step, students of the previous character and build values among student-
institutions chose a new mascot – Knights – and athletes.”
school colors – purple, black and silver/gray.
About a year later, in fall 2014, Middle Georgia More than 180 student-athletes, from
State joined the NAIA, which is the governing 10 states and representing 19 countries,
body of small athletics programs that “are dedi- compete in 10 sports.
cated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.”
Shortly afterward, Middle Georgia State
joined the Southern States Athletic Conference,
one of the NAIA’s 21 conferences. Knights
Learn more about Knights athletics at www.mgaknights.com.
Fall 2017 MGA TODAY 17
