Long known as a leader in intercollegiate athletics, the Lone Star Conference™ (LSC) is an innovative athletics conference that aims to provide a superior competitive experience for member institutions and to allow for comprehensive development of student-athletes through academic services and life skills programming. The LSC continues to build upon its proud history while aiming to be recognized as the premier NCAA Division II conference in the nation.
The league’s mission is to foster student participation and success among member institutions in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics as an integral part of each institution’s total educational program. The LSC shall pursue student-athlete development with highest regard to the principles of academic excellence, graduation success, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, resourcefulness, community service, gender equity, and diversity.
The LSC - founded on April 25, 1931 - has developed from a five-team conference of Texas-based schools to an 18-member league that spans the states of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
The league continues to assist its member institutions in the maintenance of intercollegiate athletic programs that are compatible with the highest standards of education and competitive sports.
Throughout the league's 93-year history, various institutions have competed under the LSC banner. The conference was formed in 1931 when North Texas State, Southwest Texas State, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Texas A&M-Commerce (then East Texas State) withdrew from the old Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The membership alignment has changed over the years, with current members added from 1954 to 2025.
Texas A&M-Kingsville (formerly Texas A&I) joined in 1954, and Angelo State in 1968. Conference membership remained within the Texas borders until 1984 when Eastern New Mexico was admitted. Since then, the LSC has included members from Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Cameron (1988, 1996) was added near the outset of an expansion phase, while Texas Woman's (1989) and previous member West Texas A&M (1986, 1993) joined the league soon after.
Midwestern State was admitted early in 1995. Harding reconnected with the league as an affiliate member in track and field from 2013-15, and McMurry was an affiliate member in indoor and outdoor track and field and football in 2014.
In 2016, UT Permian Basin and Western New Mexico were added to the league, while Lubbock Christian joined as an affiliate member in indoor and outdoor track and field that same year. Oklahoma Panhandle State was an affiliate member in football in 2016. DBU was an affiliate member in indoor and outdoor track and field in 2019.
On July 1, 2019, the LSC added eight schools as DBU, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s, Texas A&M International, Arkansas-Fort Smith and UT Tyler joined the league.
Central Washington University, Simon Fraser University, and Western Oregon University joined the league as affiliate members in football on July 1, 2022. Simon Fraser withdrew affiiate membership in spring 2023.
Sul Ross State rejoined the LSC on July 1, 2024 (member 1950-76). The University of Texas at Dallas became an LSC member July 1, 2025 and began competition with the 2025-26 seasons.
Past members of the LSC include Trinity, Houston, Lamar, Howard Payne, McMurry, Harding, Ouachita Baptist, Central Oklahoma, East Central (Okla.), Northeastern State (Okla.), Southeastern Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma, Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Commerce (East Texas A&M), and Arkansas-Fort Smith.
While the LSC has maintained a long-standing tradition of competitive athletic programs for its members, many teams and individuals have gone on to distinguish themselves on the national stage. Entering 2025-26 seasons, LSC member institutions have collected 83 NCAA national team championships since the league affiliated with NCAA Division II in 1981.
The LSC conducts conference championships in 19 sports (nine men and 10 women). Men's championships include football, soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, golf, and tennis. Women's titles are determined in volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, softball, stunt, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis, and golf.
The conference office is in Richardson, Texas, a northern suburb of Dallas. Jay Poerner serves as Commissioner, with assistance from Danielle Anderson (SWA/Compliance and Internal Operations), Greg Weghorst (Digital Media and Communications), Amy Carlton (Championships and Communications), and Christy Martiny (Business).
Updated 7/2/2025