Helena Frye
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represents the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama, and currently competes in the NCAA Division I ASUN Conference. The team joined the ASUN Conference on July 1, 2018, and has since been led by head coaches Tony Pujol and Bobby Champagne. Under their leadership, the Lions have posted winning records and advanced to several tournaments, including the ASUN Tournament and the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship. The University of North Alabama's basketball program is considered one of the most successful in collegiate basketball, with two national championships, five Final Four appearances, and fourteen NCAA championship tournament appearances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | North Alabama Lions |
| University | University of North Alabama |
| Location | Florence, Alabama, United States |
| Current Conference | ASUN Conference |
| NCAA Division | Division I |
| NCAA Division II National Championships | 1979, 1991 |
| NCAA Division II Appearances | 14 |
| NCAA Division I Appearances | 0 |
| CBI Tournament Appearances | 1 |
| CBI Tournament Record | 0-1 |
| NIT Appearances | 1 |
| NIT Record | 0-1 |
| Head Coach | Tony Pujol |
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What You'll Learn
The North Alabama Lions basketball team
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represents the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama, US. The team currently competes in the ASUN Conference (Atlantic Sun Conference), having joined on July 1, 2018.
The Lions began their transition to NCAA Division I status in 2018 under the leadership of head coach Tony Pujol. In their first Division I season, the Lions posted a 10-22 record, earning a No. 6 seed in the ASUN Tournament. The following year, they improved by three wins and secured a No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
Prior to their move to Division I, the North Alabama Lions had a successful history in NCAA Division II. The team won the national championship in 1979 and 1991 and appeared in fourteen NCAA Division II men's basketball tournaments, making five Final Four appearances. Under head coach Bill L. Jones, who led the team from 1974 to 1988, the Lions secured three Gulf South Conference championships and four Final Four appearances, including the 1979 national championship.
More recently, under head coach Bobby Champagne (2003-2018), the Lions advanced to fifteen straight Gulf South Conference tournaments and four NCAA tournaments. In the 2007-08 season, they won the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship and finished with a 27-8 record. During the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, the Lions returned to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA South Regional.
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball program is one of the most successful in collegiate basketball, with two national championships, five Final Four appearances, and fourteen NCAA championship tournament appearances.
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Competes in the ASUN Conference
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represents the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama. The team competes in the ASUN Conference, joining on July 1, 2018, as part of their transition to NCAA Division I status. The Lions became the seventh member of the ASUN Conference and have since appeared in the ASUN Tournament, earning a No. 6 seed in their first season.
The ASUN Conference, formerly known as the Atlantic Sun Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference that participates in the NCAA's Division I level. The conference was established in 1978 and has since grown to include a variety of sports beyond basketball, including baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis.
As a member of the ASUN Conference, the North Alabama Lions have access to a range of resources and opportunities for growth and development. The conference provides a platform for competition and sportsmanship, allowing the team to test their skills against other Division I opponents.
In their first season in the ASUN Conference, the Lions posted a 10-22 record under the leadership of head coach Tony Pujol. Despite initial predictions placing them last in the preseason coaches' poll, the Lions exceeded expectations by securing a 7-9 league record and a No. 6 seed in the ASUN Tournament.
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball program has a rich history, with two national championships under their belt from their time in NCAA Division II. As they continue their journey in the ASUN Conference, the team strives to build upon their successes and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Division I basketball.
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Joined NCAA Division I in 2018
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represents the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama. In 2018, the team began its transition to NCAA Division I status, joining the ASUN Conference (also known as the Atlantic Sun Conference).
The Lions' first head coach for their inaugural Division I season was Tony Pujol, who led the team to a 10-22 record. Despite being predicted to finish last in the preseason coaches' poll, the Lions earned a No. 6 seed in the ASUN Tournament with a 7-9 league record. In Pujol's second year, the team improved with a three-win increase, earning a No. 5 seed in the conference tournament.
Prior to joining Division I, the North Alabama basketball program had been one of the most successful in collegiate basketball, with two national championships (1979 and 1991) and five Final Four appearances at the Division II level. They had also appeared in 14 NCAA Division II tournaments, with a record of 31-13.
Since joining NCAA Division I in 2018, the North Alabama Lions have yet to appear in the NCAA Tournament. However, they secured their first Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season championship in school history during their time in the division.
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Previous NCAA Division II success
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team has enjoyed considerable success in the past when competing in NCAA Division II. The team represented the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama, and has since transitioned to NCAA Division I status, joining the ASUN Conference in 2018.
The Lions men's basketball program is one of the most successful in collegiate basketball, with a history of achievements in the NCAA Division II tournaments. The team has claimed two national championships, in 1979 and 1991, and has made five Final Four appearances. They have a strong record of fourteen appearances in the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament, with a record of 31-13.
The foundation for the team's success was laid by Eddie Flowers, who initiated the school's athletic program in 1932 and coached the first basketball team. Flowers Hall, the university's basketball facility, is named in his honour.
Bill L. Jones, a Lion basketball alumnus, took over as head coach in 1974 and led the team to six NCAA Tournament appearances and four Final Four appearances, including the 1979 national championship. Jones's tenure saw the Lions win three Gulf South Conference championships and three GSC Tournament Titles.
Under the leadership of Coach Bobby Champagne, who began in 2003, the Lions returned to prominence, advancing to fifteen straight Gulf South Conference tournaments and four NCAA tournaments. In the 2007-08 season, the team won the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship.
The North Alabama Lions women's basketball team has also achieved success in NCAA Division II. The program has grown into a nationally respected team, making four trips to the NCAA Division II national tournament since 1984. In the 1993-94 season, the team won the NCAA South Regional championship and finished third at the Division II Elite Eight. The women's team received its first NCAA Division II Top 20 ranking in 1984, remaining in the Top 20 for eight consecutive weeks.
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Tony Pujol: head coach
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team represents the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama. The team currently competes in the ASUN Conference, having joined the Atlantic Sun Conference on July 1, 2018. The Lions began their transition to NCAA Division I status in 2018 under the leadership of head coach Tony Pujol.
Antonio Javier "Tony" Pujol is a Cuban American college basketball coach, born on July 20, 1967. Pujol played both basketball and baseball at Sterling College in Kansas, excelling in the latter with all-conference honours for three consecutive seasons. His coaching career began in 1992 when he took on the role of head basketball coach at La Progresiva Presbyterian High School in Miami, Florida. After three years, he moved to the Northwest Christian Academy in Miami, where he stayed for 13 impressive seasons, achieving a 250-46 record and winning state titles in 1999, 2003, and 2004.
Pujol's college coaching career started in 2004 as an assistant coach at Appalachian State under Houston Fancher. He remained there for two seasons before joining Anthony Grant's staff at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from 2006 to 2009. During his time at VCU, Pujol contributed to the team's success, including three Colonial Athletic Association regular-season titles and two CAA conference tournament wins. After the 2009 season, he followed Grant to the University of Alabama, where he stayed until 2014. Pujol took a brief hiatus from coaching before returning in 2016 as an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming under Allen Edwards.
On April 2, 2018, Pujol was hired as the seventh head coach in the 88-year history of the University of North Alabama's men's basketball program. He became the Lions' first head coach in the Division I era as the school transitioned to the ASUN Conference. In his first Division I season, Pujol guided the Lions to a 10-22 record, earning a No. 6 seed in the ASUN Tournament with a 7-9 league record, surpassing preseason expectations. The following year, he improved the team's performance by three wins and secured a No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. Entering his seventh season as head coach in 2024-25, Pujol continues to lead the North Alabama Lions as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of Division I basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
The North Alabama Lions men's basketball team is in NCAA Division I.
The North Alabama Lions began their transition to Division I status in 2018, joining the ASUN Conference.
Since joining Division I, the Lions have not yet appeared in the NCAA Tournament. In their first Division I season, they posted a 10-22 record, earning a No. 6 seed in the ASUN Tournament. They improved to a No. 5 seed in the conference tourney in their second year. More recently, they secured their first Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season championship.
Yes, the North Alabama Lions men's basketball program has had success in Division II, winning national championships in 1979 and 1991. They have also made five Final Four appearances and played in 14 NCAA Division II tournaments.
