Men’s Soccer to Compete in Southern Conference Starting in 2026
4/29/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Liberty's men's soccer program will have a more regional conference home starting in 2026 when the program joins the Southern Conference.
The Flames' men's soccer program moved to the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023 after Conference USA became the athletics department's primary conference affiliation home.
"We appreciate Commissioner Michael Cross and the SoCon membership affording Liberty men's soccer with this opportunity," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. "The SoCon will provide us with quality regional competition and a reduction in travel and missed class time."
The Southern Conference will be the men's soccer program's fourth conference since the athletics department moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 1988.
Liberty's men's soccer program was a long-time member of the Big South Conference (1991-2018), winning conference championships and making the NCAA Tournament while in the league in 2007 and 2011.
Liberty Athletics, along with its men's soccer program, was a member of the ASUN Conference for five seasons (2018-23), before the athletics department started its transition to the FBS level where a majority of its teams joined Conference USA on July 1, 2023.
"We are grateful to our Liberty Administration to allow us to find a new conference home in the well-respected Southern Conference," said Head Coach Kelly Findley. "Joining the SoCon is a strategic step that aligns with our vision for sustained growth and competitiveness, and we are eager to test ourselves and continue striving for excellence on and off the field."
During the program's two seasons as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Liberty posted an 4-4-2 conference record in 2023 (9-6-3 overall) and a 5-3-2 mark in 2024 (7-7-3 overall).
The addition of Liberty's men's soccer program reinforces the SoCon's recently announced approach to the changing landscape of college sports (Southern Conference Announces Plan in Anticipation of NCAA Settlement).
The addition of the Flames men's soccer programs upholds the SoCon's commitment to the tag line "It's All Here" which encompasses the leagues identity within the NCAA landscape including a tight geographic footprint in the Southeast, unity among its institutions, opportunity both in the classroom and as athletes, and authenticity as a competitive league focused on the student athlete experience.
During the 2024 season, SoCon men's soccer champion Furman knocked off No. 14 North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion runner-up No. 8 Marshall in the second round.
"We warmly and heartily welcome Liberty University to the Southern Conference as an associate member in men's soccer. Liberty brings a tradition of athletic and academic commitment which aligns perfectly with the history and values of the SoCon," said Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross. "Their addition strengthens our men's soccer standing nationally, provides another rival within our geographic footprint, and offers exciting new competitive opportunities for our member institutions. We look forward to Liberty joining us on the pitch in 2026 and contributing to the SoCon's rich soccer tradition."
For more information on Southern Conference men's soccer teams, please visit www.soconsports.com/msoc.
About Southern Conference
The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes ten member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College.
The Flames' men's soccer program moved to the Ohio Valley Conference in 2023 after Conference USA became the athletics department's primary conference affiliation home.
"We appreciate Commissioner Michael Cross and the SoCon membership affording Liberty men's soccer with this opportunity," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. "The SoCon will provide us with quality regional competition and a reduction in travel and missed class time."
The Southern Conference will be the men's soccer program's fourth conference since the athletics department moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 1988.
Liberty's men's soccer program was a long-time member of the Big South Conference (1991-2018), winning conference championships and making the NCAA Tournament while in the league in 2007 and 2011.
Liberty Athletics, along with its men's soccer program, was a member of the ASUN Conference for five seasons (2018-23), before the athletics department started its transition to the FBS level where a majority of its teams joined Conference USA on July 1, 2023.
"We are grateful to our Liberty Administration to allow us to find a new conference home in the well-respected Southern Conference," said Head Coach Kelly Findley. "Joining the SoCon is a strategic step that aligns with our vision for sustained growth and competitiveness, and we are eager to test ourselves and continue striving for excellence on and off the field."
During the program's two seasons as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Liberty posted an 4-4-2 conference record in 2023 (9-6-3 overall) and a 5-3-2 mark in 2024 (7-7-3 overall).
The addition of Liberty's men's soccer program reinforces the SoCon's recently announced approach to the changing landscape of college sports (Southern Conference Announces Plan in Anticipation of NCAA Settlement).
The addition of the Flames men's soccer programs upholds the SoCon's commitment to the tag line "It's All Here" which encompasses the leagues identity within the NCAA landscape including a tight geographic footprint in the Southeast, unity among its institutions, opportunity both in the classroom and as athletes, and authenticity as a competitive league focused on the student athlete experience.
During the 2024 season, SoCon men's soccer champion Furman knocked off No. 14 North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national champion runner-up No. 8 Marshall in the second round.
"We warmly and heartily welcome Liberty University to the Southern Conference as an associate member in men's soccer. Liberty brings a tradition of athletic and academic commitment which aligns perfectly with the history and values of the SoCon," said Southern Conference Commissioner Michael Cross. "Their addition strengthens our men's soccer standing nationally, provides another rival within our geographic footprint, and offers exciting new competitive opportunities for our member institutions. We look forward to Liberty joining us on the pitch in 2026 and contributing to the SoCon's rich soccer tradition."
For more information on Southern Conference men's soccer teams, please visit www.soconsports.com/msoc.
About Southern Conference
The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes ten member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College.
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