Department website: https://www.vanguardlions.com/

Jeff Bussell, Director of Athletics

Mission: The Intercollegiate Athletic Program is dedicated to the holistic growth and development of all student-athletes, teaching them to lead Christ-centered lives on and off the playing surface.  The program encourages a high standard of academic and athletic excellence that embraces character-building. Along with specific sports instruction, the department seeks significance by providing the student-athlete with the knowledge to impact his/her world through a lifetime of service to Christ. Athletics exists to recruit and educate a diverse group of Christian student-athletes to reach their full potential athletically, relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and academically—equipping them in mind and character to impact the world for Christ. 

Vanguard University participates in intercollegiate athletic programs that include competition in 19 sports. Women’s sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, softball, stunt, outdoor track and field, wrestling, and indoor volleyball. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, outdoor track and field, indoor volleyball, and wrestling. Vanguard University is a member of the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for 13 of its sports and is in year two of the three-year provisional membership process in the NCAA Division II. Vanguard University is a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in men's and women's wrestling and men's volleyball. 

At Vanguard University, student-athletes participate in highly competitive athletics, have the best access ratio to NCAA championships of any division, and can earn athletics scholarships. The balanced approach in athletics, academics, and community engagement allows Vanguard student-athletes to focus on their academic pursuits, internships, studies abroad, and all that interests them. Under the Division II philosophy, Vanguards aspires to a balanced approach in which student-athletes reach their highest potential in the sports they play, the academic goals they choose to pursue, the engagement with their campus and local communities, and the personal development and wellness they need to succeed in life after college.