Bryant Bulldogs
| Bryant Bulldogs | |
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| University | Bryant University |
| Conference | NEC |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Bill Smith |
| Location | Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| Varsity teams | 22 |
| Football stadium | Bulldog Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Chace Athletic Center |
| Baseball stadium | Conaty Park |
| Mascot | Tupper |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
| Colors | Black and Gold |
| Website | bryantbulldogs |
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The Bryant Bulldogs are the athletic teams representing Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The Bulldogs are currently in NCAA Division I reclassification process and compete at the Division I level as a member of the Northeast Conference. Bryant's largest rivalry during its Division II years was Bentley College, both founders of the Northeast-10 and both have prominent business programs. Bryant University athletics started out as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) before it transitioned into Division II. Bryant competed in the Northeast-10 Conference from the conference's founding in 1980 until 2008 when the university began the transition to Division I. In 2012, Bryant became a full Division I member.
Bryant University originally competed independently before the NCAA had classifications. The first teams were men's basketball and rowing, which started in 1896. The first women's team was women's basketball. When the NCAA began more strict classifications Bryant moved to the NAIA in 1963. During Bryant's tenure in the NAIA, it competed as an independent school. The university's tenure in the NAIA saw the men's basketball team record an undefeated regular season, going 22-0 before losing the final two games of the 1966-67 season in the District 32 Tournament. The 22-2 overall record was the team's best during the NAIA years. The move to Division II was partly because of the new campus, and the school's goals.
During their NAIA playing years, they were known as the Indians, and were located in Providence, Rhode Island, near Brown University. The school's largest rivalry at the time was Salem State College. The school was still a small business school, who was still only known on a local level. In 1976 the college left the NAIA In 1977 the college exited the NAIA and became a member of the NCAA at the Division II level. From there they became a charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference when the conference formed in 1979 and began play in 1980.
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