By DAVID ORR, Centenary Director of Athletics and Recreation
As the 2026-27 athletic year is about to begin, it’s a good time to assess the progress made in recent years and look ahead for opportunities to advance.
Centenary Athletics: Building momentum for the future
Centenary College is successfully transitioning into its third century and celebrated its 200-year anniversary in style. One of the most exciting milestones was the return of college football to Centenary after an absence of more than 80 years. Led by head coach Byron Dawson, the Gents took the field and immediately brought a renewed sense of pride, enthusiasm, and community spirit to the Centenary campus and the Shreveport-Bossier City region.
The return of football was made possible through significant investments in athletics facilities. Atkins Field, home of Gents Football, Ladies and Gents Soccer, and Gents Lacrosse, underwent a remarkable transformation with the addition of new spectator grandstands, a press box, video board, enhanced lighting, and an upgraded sound system. Adjacent to Atkins Field sits the Athletic Fieldhouse, which houses offices and locker rooms for Gents Football, Ladies Softball, and Ladies Soccer.
Connecting these facilities is a newly constructed football practice field featuring synthetic turf and LED lighting. The practice complex provides our student-athletes with a first-class training environment while maximizing scheduling flexibility and facility usage. Additional improvements throughout the outdoor athletics complex have enhanced entrances, parking, and tailgating areas, creating a more welcoming and enjoyable experience for fans and visitors. If you have not experienced a Saturday evening football game on campus, it is well worth the trip. The atmosphere, energy, and sense of community have quickly become a hallmark of Centenary Athletics.
Looking ahead: Continued facility enhancements
As Centenary Athletics continues to grow, strategic investments in facilities remain a priority. While the successful launch of football represented a major step forward, facility development is never truly finished. Ongoing evaluation of our athletic venues ensures that we continue to provide student-athletes, coaches, alumni, and fans with an outstanding experience.
Future improvements will focus on maintaining first-class competition and practice facilities while strengthening areas that impact student-athlete development, recruitment, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and the overall game-day atmosphere. The goal is simple: create an environment that supports championship-level competition while enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.
Conference realignment and a changing landscape
The landscape of college athletics continues to evolve at every level. Conference realignment has reshaped relationships, rivalries, recruiting territories, and travel considerations across the country. While these changes often garner attention at the Division I level, Division III institutions are not immune to the effects.
For Centenary, conference affiliation remains one of the most important strategic considerations in athletics. Strong conference partnerships create opportunities for meaningful rivalries, manageable travel, competitive balance, and enhanced student-athlete experiences. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has provided an excellent home for Centenary Athletics, and the relationships built within the conference continue to benefit our student-athletes and athletic programs.
At a time when college athletics often appears focused solely on revenue generation and media rights, Division III remains centered on educational values, competitive excellence, and the overall student-athlete experience. That foundation continues to serve institutions like Centenary very well.
The value of the FloSports extension
The continued partnership between the SCAC and FloSports has significantly increased visibility for Centenary Athletics and Division III sports as a whole. The ability for parents, alumni, recruits, and supporters to watch competition from anywhere in the country has transformed how we connect with our athletic community.
For a college like Centenary, whose alumni network extends well beyond northwest Louisiana, digital exposure is more important than ever. Livestreaming provides consistent access to athletic events and offers recruiting advantages by showcasing facilities, campus life, and competitive experiences to prospective student-athletes and their families.
While nothing replaces attending an event in person, streaming technology has become an important tool for growing engagement and strengthening connections with the broader Centenary family.
NIL, the transfer portal, and Division III athletics
No discussion about the future of college athletics would be complete without mentioning Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities and the transfer portal. These developments have dramatically changed the landscape, particularly at the Division I level.
At the Division III level, the impact has been somewhat different. While NIL opportunities now exist for many student-athletes, Division III institutions remain focused on academics, campus involvement, and the broad educational experience. Student-athletes continue to choose schools like Centenary because they value a close-knit campus environment, meaningful relationships with faculty and coaches, and the opportunity to compete at a high level while pursuing academic and career goals.
The transfer portal has certainly created additional movement across all levels of college athletics. In some ways, Division III institutions have benefited by attracting student-athletes seeking a better balance between academics and athletics. At the same time, retaining talented student-athletes requires institutions to continue investing in facilities, coaching staffs, student support services, and the overall campus experience.
Ultimately, Division III’s greatest strength remains unchanged. Student-athletes are competitors, leaders, scholars, and members of the campus community. Their experience extends beyond wins and losses, preparing them for success long after their playing careers have ended.
Moving forward
Centenary Athletics has experienced tremendous momentum over the past several years. The return of football, significant facility enhancements, growth in fan engagement, and continued competitive success across numerous sports have positioned the College for an exciting future.
As we look ahead, our commitment remains focused on providing a transformational student-athlete experience while building facilities, programs, and partnerships that honor Centenary’s history and support its future. The foundation has been laid, and the best may still be ahead.
Contact David at dorr@centenary.edu