A new era is officially underway in Northeast Texas as the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved full Division I membership status for East Texas A&M University during its meeting on June 23.
As Northeast Texas’ only Division I university, East Texas A&M—which has 14 sports teams—is now immediately eligible for NCAA postseason competition. This announcement comes at a time of unprecedented growth and achievement for the university, including recent elevation to Research 2 (R2) classification by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, record enrollment during Fall 2024, and the largest graduating class in university history this spring.
“Achieving full Division I membership is a tremendous milestone for our university. This accomplishment reflects the dedication, perseverance, and passion of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni, and loyal supporters who have poured their hearts into this journey,” said East Texas A&M President Mark Rudin. “Division I membership opens the door to an exciting new era of opportunity for East Texas A&M, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us!”
The Lions officially joined the Southland Conference and initiated the Division I reclassification process on July 1, 2022. Since then, the school’s athletics department has recorded impressive performances with multiple sports recording top-three finishes in Southland Conference standings, 25 individual conference championships, four conference player of the year awards, three student-athletes earning All-America honors, three Olympians, and one NFL Draft pick.
“Achieving approval for full NCAA Division I membership status marks a proud moment in the rich history of East Texas A&M University and Lion Athletics. Furthermore, it is a testament to the vision, strength, resilience, and commitment of our entire university community to unlock the full potential of this institution,” said Director of Athletics Jim Curry. “We are grateful to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and the NCAA Division I Strategic Vision and Planning Committee for their belief in our candidacy, and to the Southland Conference and our students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and university stakeholders who have supported this initiative in countless ways over many years.”
“As momentous as this accomplishment is, we recognize that it’s not the end of the journey, but in fact the start of the next chapter of East Texas A&M University and Lion Athletics. We commit to building a culture of excellence worthy of this achievement and look forward to expanding upon our proud championship history, now at the highest level of college athletics.”
Along with an impressive showing on the playing surface, the Lions also took care of business in the classroom, with multiple programs recording perfect 1,000 Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores as well as one student-athlete earning Academic All-America honors. In total, 609 student-athletes were named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll over the past three years , including a record number during the 2024-25 academic year.
“This is a historic day, not just for East Texas A&M but for the entire Southland Conference,” said Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant. “East Texas A&M’s elevation to full Division I status reflects not just athletic success, but a campus and community united behind a shared vision. The Lions have demonstrated the ambition, investment, and drive that define our league, and we’re excited to see them compete, grow, and lead at the Division I level.”
The first official competition for East Texas A&M as a full Division I member comes on August 14 as the soccer team hosts Little Rock to begin its season. Volleyball, football, and men’s and women’s cross country teams start their seasons on August 29-30.
Article source and photo credit: East Texas A&M Lion Athletics
