High Point Panthers | |
---|---|
University | High Point University |
Conference |
Big South Conference Southern Conference (men's lacrosse) |
NCAA | Division I |
Athletic director | Dan Hauser |
Location | High Point, North Carolina |
Varsity teams | 16 |
Basketball arena | Millis Center |
Baseball stadium | George S. Erath Field at Coy O. Williard Baseball Stadium |
Other arenas | Vert Track, Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium (track, soccer, lacrosse) |
Mascot | Prowler the Panther |
Nickname | Panthers |
Colors | Purple and White |
Website | www |
The High Point Panthers are the 16 varsity athletic teams that represent High Point University (HPU) in North Carolina, United States. All of HPU's varsity teams compete at the NCAA Division I level. All sports except men's lacrosse compete in the Big South Conference. The men's lacrosse team joined the Southern Conference July 1, 2014. The Panthers joined Division I in 1999, after having been NCAA Division II and being members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) prior to 1992. HPU was a founding member of the North State Conference, which is now the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas.
Craig Keilitz became High Point's athletic director in January 2008 after serving as Associate AD at Wake Forest. He replaced Woody Gibson, who had been AD since 1999. HPU's other previous athletic directors include Jerry Steele, who was also basketball coach from 1972–2003, and Virgil Yow, who was also a coach. HPU's men's basketball coach is Scott Cherry, who was a member of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels' 1993 NCAA Championship team.
HPU's main athletic facilities are the Millis Center (basketball and volleyball), Vert Stadium (track, soccer and lacrosse) and Williard Stadium (baseball). In September 2010, President Nido Qubein announced plans to build a 5,000-seat basketball arena in the future.
A member of the Big South Conference, High Point sponsors teams in eight men's and eight women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
The High Point University men's basketball team is coached by Scott Cherry. The team began varsity play in 1927-28 and was a charter member of the North State Conference (now Conference Carolinas) from 1930-31 through 1996-97, when the school began its transition to NCAA Division I. High Point won 15 regular-season championships and 13 tournament championships while in the North State Conference and participated in the NAIA national tournament in 1939, 1942, 1946, 1951, 1964, 1965, 1969 and 1979. High Point participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1997.