2023-24 Liberty Athletics Year in Review
6/28/2024 9:14:00 AM | General
Liberty made quite an impression during its first year of Conference USA membership, winning a league-high 10 conference titles. Football and softball each swept the CUSA regular-season and championship titles, while men's golf, women's soccer, men's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's indoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field were all victorious at their respective CUSA Championship events.
Women's swimming & diving captured the Atlantic Sun Conference title, while field hockey earned a BIG EAST regular-season crown, bringing the Flames' yearly total to 12 conference championships.
FOOTBALL (13-1, 8-0 CUSA, Ranked No. 25 nationally [AP Poll])
The Flames enjoyed an incredible season of "firsts" under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell. Liberty finished 13-1 following its first-ever undefeated regular season, its first CUSA regular-season and championship game titles and its first New Year's Six bowl appearance (Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon).
Chadwell was honored for his accomplishments in leading the Flames as he was named the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of Five National Coach of the Year and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year.
The Flames finished the year ranked No. 25 in the final Associated Press national poll and were led by Group of Five National Player of the Year quarterback Kaidon Salter, who rewrote Liberty's record book with 44 total touchdowns and 3,965 yards of total offense.
VOLLEYBALL (15-14, 8-8 CUSA)
Liberty made it back-to-back winning seasons, headlined by its first-ever win over a Top 25 opponent (Sept. 7 at No. 23 Hawaii).
MEN'S SOCCER (9-6-3, 4-4-2 OVC)
During its first year of Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) membership, Liberty posted a 9-6-3 overall record for its highest win total since 2017. Midfielder Gabe Findley became the first Flame to earn all-region honors in five years.
WOMEN'S SOCCER (16-3-1, 5-2-1 CUSA)
The Lady Flames started the year with an 11-0 record, closing out a program-record 24-match unbeaten streak (21-0-3) which dated back to 2022. Liberty then claimed the school's first CUSA trophy in any sport, capturing the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship crown to earn its eighth NCAA Tournament bid.
FIELD HOCKEY (17-3, 7-0 BIG EAST, Ranked No. 7 nationally [NFHCA Poll])
The 17-3 Lady Flames defeated No. 1 and eventual national champion North Carolina, won the BIG EAST regular-season title with a 7-0 conference record and earned their first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.
CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
Liberty joined Houston (1998 and 2005) as the only two CUSA members ever to claim conference titles in men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field during a single year. The Flames' conference championship streaks reached 27 in a row for men's indoor track & field and 17 straight for men's outdoor track & field, both of which rank as the longest active streaks in the nation. A program-record three Lady Flames earned second team All-America honors at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Among them were now three-time All-American Calli Doan (10th place in steeplechase) and Katie Urbine (10th place in pole vault), the Lady Flames' first freshman ever to garner NCAA Division I All-America distinction.
MEN'S BASKETBALL (18-14, 7-9 CUSA)
The Flames' 18-14 season featured a Myrtle Beach Invitational championship in November. Kyle Rode wrapped up his standout career by collecting his third straight all-conference nod (second team All-CUSA).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (18-16, 11-5 CUSA)
Liberty went 12-3 in its final 15 contests to reach the CUSA title game during its first year as a conference member and end the season with an 18-16 record. The Lady Flames' first victory of the season was No. 548 of Carey Green's career, making him the winningest coach in Liberty Athletics history in any sport.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING (5-1, 1-1 ASUN)
The Lady Flames were victorious at the inaugural Atlantic Sun Women's Swimming & Diving Championship, capturing their sixth consecutive conference title overall. Kamryn Cannings placed 19th in the 100 butterfly at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championship, the best finish of any freshman in the event.
MEN'S TENNIS (18-9, Ranked No. 56 nationally [ITA Poll])
Liberty notched an 18-9 overall record, advancing to the Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship title match and making its second consecutive UTR Sports NIT Championship appearance. The Flames finished the year ranked No. 56 in the final ITA national rankings.
WOMEN'S TENNIS (18-7, 5-0 CUSA)
The 18-7 Lady Flames reached the Conference CUSA Women's Tennis Championship final and made their postseason tournament debut (UTR Sports NIT Championship).
WOMEN'S LACROSSE (6-12, 3-3 ASUN)
The Lady Flames paced the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.89) but saw their season halted in a one-goal loss to host Jacksonville during the Atlantic Sun semifinal round.
MEN'S GOLF
The Flames came from behind on the final day to win the CUSA Men's Golf Championship title in a playoff, winning their eighth conference title in program history. As a result, they competed in an NCAA Regional for the eighth consecutive season.
BASEBALL (24-34, 11-13 CUSA)
Liberty hit its most home runs in 22 years (76), including eight during the Flames' run to the semifinal round during their first visit to the Conference USA Baseball Championship.
SOFTBALL (38-25, 19-5 CUSA, Ranked No. 23 nationally [D1Softball Poll])
The Lady Flames went 38-25, including a sweep of the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships. Liberty then reached an NCAA Regional Final for the fourth time in program history, coming within one out of its first regional title before falling to the host team, No. 11 Georgia. The Lady Flames finished the year ranked No. 23 in the final D1 Softball national rankings.
Women's swimming & diving captured the Atlantic Sun Conference title, while field hockey earned a BIG EAST regular-season crown, bringing the Flames' yearly total to 12 conference championships.
FOOTBALL (13-1, 8-0 CUSA, Ranked No. 25 nationally [AP Poll])
The Flames enjoyed an incredible season of "firsts" under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell. Liberty finished 13-1 following its first-ever undefeated regular season, its first CUSA regular-season and championship game titles and its first New Year's Six bowl appearance (Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon).
Chadwell was honored for his accomplishments in leading the Flames as he was named the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of Five National Coach of the Year and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year.
The Flames finished the year ranked No. 25 in the final Associated Press national poll and were led by Group of Five National Player of the Year quarterback Kaidon Salter, who rewrote Liberty's record book with 44 total touchdowns and 3,965 yards of total offense.
VOLLEYBALL (15-14, 8-8 CUSA)
Liberty made it back-to-back winning seasons, headlined by its first-ever win over a Top 25 opponent (Sept. 7 at No. 23 Hawaii).
MEN'S SOCCER (9-6-3, 4-4-2 OVC)
During its first year of Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) membership, Liberty posted a 9-6-3 overall record for its highest win total since 2017. Midfielder Gabe Findley became the first Flame to earn all-region honors in five years.
WOMEN'S SOCCER (16-3-1, 5-2-1 CUSA)
The Lady Flames started the year with an 11-0 record, closing out a program-record 24-match unbeaten streak (21-0-3) which dated back to 2022. Liberty then claimed the school's first CUSA trophy in any sport, capturing the CUSA Women's Soccer Championship crown to earn its eighth NCAA Tournament bid.
FIELD HOCKEY (17-3, 7-0 BIG EAST, Ranked No. 7 nationally [NFHCA Poll])
The 17-3 Lady Flames defeated No. 1 and eventual national champion North Carolina, won the BIG EAST regular-season title with a 7-0 conference record and earned their first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship.
CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD
Liberty joined Houston (1998 and 2005) as the only two CUSA members ever to claim conference titles in men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field and women's outdoor track & field during a single year. The Flames' conference championship streaks reached 27 in a row for men's indoor track & field and 17 straight for men's outdoor track & field, both of which rank as the longest active streaks in the nation. A program-record three Lady Flames earned second team All-America honors at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Among them were now three-time All-American Calli Doan (10th place in steeplechase) and Katie Urbine (10th place in pole vault), the Lady Flames' first freshman ever to garner NCAA Division I All-America distinction.
MEN'S BASKETBALL (18-14, 7-9 CUSA)
The Flames' 18-14 season featured a Myrtle Beach Invitational championship in November. Kyle Rode wrapped up his standout career by collecting his third straight all-conference nod (second team All-CUSA).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (18-16, 11-5 CUSA)
Liberty went 12-3 in its final 15 contests to reach the CUSA title game during its first year as a conference member and end the season with an 18-16 record. The Lady Flames' first victory of the season was No. 548 of Carey Green's career, making him the winningest coach in Liberty Athletics history in any sport.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING (5-1, 1-1 ASUN)
The Lady Flames were victorious at the inaugural Atlantic Sun Women's Swimming & Diving Championship, capturing their sixth consecutive conference title overall. Kamryn Cannings placed 19th in the 100 butterfly at the NCAA Division I Women's Swimming & Diving Championship, the best finish of any freshman in the event.
MEN'S TENNIS (18-9, Ranked No. 56 nationally [ITA Poll])
Liberty notched an 18-9 overall record, advancing to the Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship title match and making its second consecutive UTR Sports NIT Championship appearance. The Flames finished the year ranked No. 56 in the final ITA national rankings.
WOMEN'S TENNIS (18-7, 5-0 CUSA)
The 18-7 Lady Flames reached the Conference CUSA Women's Tennis Championship final and made their postseason tournament debut (UTR Sports NIT Championship).
WOMEN'S LACROSSE (6-12, 3-3 ASUN)
The Lady Flames paced the nation in caused turnovers per game (15.89) but saw their season halted in a one-goal loss to host Jacksonville during the Atlantic Sun semifinal round.
MEN'S GOLF
The Flames came from behind on the final day to win the CUSA Men's Golf Championship title in a playoff, winning their eighth conference title in program history. As a result, they competed in an NCAA Regional for the eighth consecutive season.
BASEBALL (24-34, 11-13 CUSA)
Liberty hit its most home runs in 22 years (76), including eight during the Flames' run to the semifinal round during their first visit to the Conference USA Baseball Championship.
SOFTBALL (38-25, 19-5 CUSA, Ranked No. 23 nationally [D1Softball Poll])
The Lady Flames went 38-25, including a sweep of the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships. Liberty then reached an NCAA Regional Final for the fourth time in program history, coming within one out of its first regional title before falling to the host team, No. 11 Georgia. The Lady Flames finished the year ranked No. 23 in the final D1 Softball national rankings.
Coach McKay Talks About The 2026-27 Signing Class
Thursday, November 20
Jenna Otts & Coach White Talk About Facing FIU In The CUSA Tournament
Tuesday, November 18
Coach Chadwell Talks About Preparing For LA Tech
Tuesday, November 18
Brylan Green & Vaughn Blue Talk About Preparing For LA Tech
Tuesday, November 18