Athletic Program History
LSU Alexandria was established in 1960 as a two-year community college. During the late-1970s and mid-1980s LSUA offered a variety of athletic teams that competed at the club level. Sports consisted of men’s baseball, women’s softball, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. At this time the University was not a member of any national association or conference. Due to a major budget crunch which affected higher education in the state of Louisiana, the athletic program was dropped following the spring of 1985.
During the summer of 2003, LSUA made the transformation from a two-year community college to a four-year university. Following the change to four-year status, the University decided to pursue the creation of an intercollegiate athletics program.
Keeping with the mission of the University, the student body was consulted in the decision making process in creating the athletic program. Students were surveyed during the spring of 2004 as to their interest in starting an athletic program. LSUA students indicated that they were in favor of starting an athletic program consisting of men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball.
Once student interest was evaluated, the University approached the Student Government Association (SGA) with a proposal for creating the program. After consulting with the SGA, it was decided to take the proposal to the students in the form of a student referendum to be conducted during the fall of 2004. In the referendum, the proposal for funding the athletic program through a Student Athletic Fee passed with over a 2/3 majority. Following the referendum, SGA wrote a resolution supporting the University’s efforts.
The University, with the student referendum and the SGA resolution, requested that the LSU Board of Supervisors approve the University’s proposal for funding baseball and softball. The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the proposal during their May 2005 board meeting and the Student Athletic Fee went into effect with the fall 2006 semester.
Final approval was granted to LSU Alexandria by the LSU Board of Supervisors during their February 2006 board meeting and the Louisiana Board of Regents during their March 2006 board meeting for the implementation of baseball and fast-pitch softball teams for the 2006-07 academic year. At their meetings, both boards also approved the University’s request to amend the 2006-07 Capital Outlay Budget Request to include the construction of a baseball/softball complex on campus.
LSU Alexandria applied for membership with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) during the spring of 2006 and was recognized as a provisionary member at the NAIA National Convention in June of 2006.
During the spring of 2006, a committee was charged with selecting a mascot for the University. This committee selected the “Generals” as the official mascot for the athletics program. This selection was approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors at their July 2006 board meeting.
LSU Alexandria selected Mr. Dan Purvis as the University’s first Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach during the fall of 2006. Coach Purvis began his duties as Athletic Director in January of 2007. The University also hired Ms. Casey Goodman as its first Head Softball Coach in May of 2008. Coach Goodman joined the Athletic Department staff in June of that same year.
The men’s baseball and the women’s softball teams began practices during the fall of 2007. Both teams began competition in their inaugural seasons during the spring of 2008. The softball team practiced and played its home games on field 5 of the Bringhurst Softball Complex. The baseball team practiced at Cheatham Field and played its home games at Bringhurst Field.
During the late fall of 2007 and early spring of 2008, dirt work began on LSU Alexandria’s baseball/softball complex. The Louisiana National Guard, under the leadership of Major General Bennett Landreneau, moved approximately 100,000 cubic yards of dirt from what is now known as Guard Lake, to raise the ground elevation to the level required for construction. More than 40 soldiers participated in this groundwork, which was a MOS-related training operation for the National Guard.