Faulkner University

Since Jim Sanderson’s return to Faulkner University in 1994, the Eagles basketball program has taken flight.  With an aggressive full court pressure defense and up-tempo fast break style on offense – the Eagles have earned their place among the nation’s elite NAIA programs. Faulkner has been ranked in the national Top 25 poll for an amazing 67 weeks and has had players elected All-American, national tournament MVP, to the NAIA all-tournament team as well as numerous players selected to all-conference teams. Prior to Sanderson’s return Faulkner had made only one appearance in the NAIA national tournament (1992) but has since made the trip to Tulsa and Kansas City seven times in the last nine years, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2000, the Fab Four in 2007 and winning the Division I national championship in 2001. 

Winning has been synonymous with Faulkner basketball as the Eagles have averaged 22 wins per season for the last 13 years and have never had a losing season during that same span.  Faulkner has had equal success in conference play – winning regular season championships in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 and tournament championships in 1999, 2002 and 2003.  Since Faulkner joined the GACC (now SSAC) no conference team has won as many conference games, gone to as many national tournaments or won as many conference championships as the Eagles.


The future of Faulkner Basketball continues to look bright – as the new state-of-the-art athletic complex provides the team with a new 2000 sq. ft. weight room training facility, as well as additional practice space.  The renovation of the dorms and new apartments will also make campus life off the court more comfortable for its student-athletes. 

Coach Jim Sanderson on the future outlook of his program:

“My main goal for the future of Faulkner basketball is to continue the process of developing people of high character who do not compromise and display championship traits both on and off the floor. If we continue to adhere to the process of being championship people, the results will take care of itself.”