Best NAIA Baseball Schools

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As someone who played Division 1 and NAIA baseball, I was very impressed with the quality of play throughout the country in NAIA.

The small towns, unique ballparks, and mix of talent found in NAIA baseball may not get the same level of attention or budgets that giant Power 5 programs do, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some very talented programs and players.

Many players end up playing NAIA baseball because they were overlooked by Division 1 programs due to being from small towns or high schools that didn’t get the same level of exposure as kids from bigger cities. 

The big difference between Division 1 and NAIA baseball was the depth throughout the roster top to bottom.

Some of the best NAIA programs can hang with top Division 1 programs for one game, but if they played a 3-game series, the depth, and power arms that Division 1 schools have would likely wear down most NAIA programs over the course of a season.

Some great NAIA baseball programs are spread out all over the country, with some of the best programs in cold weather states, which you wouldn’t typically see in Power 5 baseball. 

NAIA Baseball Program Championships (By Active NAIA Schools)

  1. Lewis Clark State 19
  2. Cumberland 3
  3. Tennessee Wesleyan 2
  4. Southeastern 2 

Lewis Clark State is the best historical NAIA baseball program of all time, with 19 championships and 18 Major Leaguers in program history, and were led by legendary head coach Ed Cheff who recently passed away.

Notable NAIA Baseball Players that have made MLB

Numerous NAIA players are drafted by MLB teams every season and many have made it to the Major Leagues. Here are some of the best NAIA players of all time:

Ben Zobrist- Olivet Nazarene University

One of the most notable NAIA baseball players was Ben Zobrist, who won a world series with the Chicago Cubs. Zobrist grew up in a small town in Eureka, Illinois and wasn’t planning on playing college baseball. 

Late in his high school career, he participated in a showcase and was discovered by an Olivet Nazarene University coach who offered him a scholarship. 

Zobrist went on to play at Dallas Baptist for his senior year and then went on to have a nearly 13-year MLB career that included a World Series MVP with the Cubs.

Gaylord Perry-Campbell University

Gaylord Perry pitched for Campbell University in the late 50s when they were an NAIA program. Perry went on to win 2 Cy Young awards in 1972 and 1978 and was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. 

Perry was one of the most entertaining pitchers of his era and was alleged to have doctored the ball with different substances on his different types of pitches as he lost velocity later in his career.

Scott Brosius-Linfield College

Scott Brosius is best known for his time playing for the Yankees during their 3x World Series runs in the late 90s. Brosius grew up in a small town in Oregon and played at Linfield College in Oregon. Linfield has since moved up to Division 3. 

Lou Brock-Southern University

Perhaps the most famous NAIA player of all time was Lou Brock, who played at then NAIA program Southern University in Baton Rouge. Southern won the NAIA championship when Brock was a player and signed with the Cubs out of college. 

The Cubs traded Brock to the Cardinals, where Brock went on to have a Hall of Fame Career with 2 World Series titles, 6 All-Star appearances and his number retired with the Cardinals.

David Justice-Thomas More University

David Justice was one of the prominent faces of the Atlanta Braves during their World Series runs in the 90s and played at Thomas More College in Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. 

Justice only played American Legion baseball during the summer months, but the Braves took a chance on Justice based on his athleticism and drafted him in the 4th round of the 1985 draft. 

Joe Morgan, Oakland City College

Joe Morgan played at Oakland City College and did not garner much pro interest due to his 5’7 height.

Morgan signed with the Hoston Colt 45s and was traded to the Reds, where he became a key part of the big red machine of the Reds in the 70s. 

Morgan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 and was one of the main announcers on Sunday Night Baseball for nearly 20 years.

Other notable NAIA MLB Players

  • Son Sutton
  • Seth Brown
  • Ray King
  • Don Sutton
  • Steve Liddle
  • Stephen Vogt

Top NAIA Baseball Programs 

1.Lewis-Clark State, Lewiston Idaho

As mentioned above, Lewis-Clark State is the best historical NAIA baseball program and has 39 World Series titles and 19 titles. Legendary former head coach Ed Cheff helped build LC State into a powerhouse from his time coaching the program from 1977-2010. LC State hosts the NAIA College World Series in Lewiston Idaho every year.

2. Southeastern University-Lakeland, Fl

Southeastern University is situated in beautiful Lakeland, Florida where they get nearly year-round perfect baseball weather. Southeastern won the NAIA World Series titles in 2022 and 2018 and should have staying power due to the number of top recruits nearby and their winning momentum.

3. Bellevue University-Omaha, NE

Bellevue has made 14 World Series appearances in school history and won the title in 1997. Former coach Mike Evans coaches at Bellevue for 2022 years and helped turned Bellevue into an NAIA powerhouse based out of Omaha, Nebraska.

4. Faulkner University-Montgomery AL

Faulkner is part of the Southern States Athletic Conference based in Montgomery, Alabama, and won the NAIA world series title in 2013. Faulkner has made 9 College World Series appearances with its last appearance being in 2022.

5. Cumberland University-Lebanon, TN

Cumberland University has been an NAIA powerhouse that won the national title in 2004, 2010, and 2014 and is a member of the Mid-South Conference.

6. Oklahoma City University- Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City has made 15 College World Series appearances and has been a powerhouse in the middle of the country for the last several decades. Oklahoma City won the title in 2005 and has been a three time runner up.

7. Tennessee Wesleyan University- Athens, TN

Tennessee Wesleyan has 5 NAIA world series appearances and won the title in 2012. They are based in Athens, Tennessee and are members of the Appalachian Athletic Conference

8. St. Thomas University-Miami Gardens, FL

St. Thomas University has made 6 NAIA World Series appearances and are members of the Sun Conference based out of Miami Gardens, Florida.

9. LSU Shreveport-Shreveport, LA

LSU Shreveport has made it to the NAIA world series 4 times and is part of the Red River Athletic Conference.

LSU Shreveport made the 2022 and 2021 World Series and are favorites to make it back in 2023.

10. Georgia Gwinnett-Lawrenceville, Georgia

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Georgia Gwinnett is won the National Title in 2021 and has made 5 NAIA World Series appearances over the last 8 years. They are based in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

11. Westmont-Santa Barbara, California

Westmont is based in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Santa Barbara, and the baseball program is consistently in the NAIA top 25.

The team made the World Series in 2022 and is ranked in the top 10 heading into 2023.

12. Oklahoma Arts and Science-Chickasha, Oklahoma

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is another legit NAIA baseball program that made the NAIA world series in 2022.

They are consistently near the top of the SAC conference standings every year.

13. Indiana Southeast-New Albany, Indiana

Indiana Southeast made the World Series in 2021 and followed that up with another solid year in 2022 and is in the top 25 in 2023.

They are based in New Albany, Indiana and part of the Riverstate Conference

14. The Masters College-Burbank, CA

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The Masters College is based in Burbank, California, and plays in the Golden State athletic conference. The Masters has made 2 NAIA College World Series appearances and are competitive year in and year out.

15. Oklahoma Wesleyan-Bartlesville, OK

Oklahoma Wesleyan is another great NAIA program based in Oklahoma and has two College World Series appearances under its belt.

They play in the Kansas Collegiate athletic conference and are based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

16. Vanguard of California-Costa Mesa, CA

Vanguard of Sothern California is another solid NAIA program that plays in the Golden State athletic conference and has a couple of World Series appearances under its belt in 2015 and 1985.

List of NAIA Baseball Programs by Conference

American Midwest Conference

Columbia

Hannibal-LaGrange

Harris-Stowe State

Lyon 

Missouri Baptist

William Woods

Appalachian Athletic Conference

Kentucky Christian

Truett-McConnell

Bluefield

Bryan

CIU

Johnson (Tenn)

Milligan

Montreat

Point

Reinhardt

St. Andrews

Tennessee Wesleyan

Union

 

California Pacific Conference

Benedictine Mesa

Embry Riddle

Antelope Valley

La Sierra

Park-Gilbert

Saint Katherine

Providence Christian

Simpson

Westcliff

 

Cascade Collegiate Conference

College of Idaho

British Columbia

Bushnell

Corban

Eastern Oregon

Oregon Tech

 

Chicagoland Collegiate Conference

Calumet

Indiana South Bend

Judson

Roosevelt

Saint Xavier

St. Ambrose

St. Francis

Trinity Christian

Trinity International

Continental Athletic Conference

Iowa Wesleyan

Voorhees

Edward Waters

Georgia Gwinnett

Penn State Schuylkill

Crowley’s Ridge

Fisher

Tougaloo

Florida National

Morris

Lincoln Christian

Bacone

Crossroads League

Taylor

Bethel

Goshen

Grace

Huntington

Indiana Wesleyan

Marian

Mt Vernon Nazarene

St. Francis

Spring Arbor

Golden State Athletic Conference

Arizona Christian

The Masters

Vanguard

Westmont

OUAZ

Jessup

San Diego Christian

Hope International

Menlo

Great Plains Athletic Conference

Jamestown

Briar Cliff

Concordia

Dakota Wesleyan

Doane

Dordt

Hastings

Midland

Morningside

Mount Mary

Northwestern

 

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

Wiley

Rust

Tougaloo

Dillard

Heart of America Conference

MidAmerica Nazarene

Central Methodist

Clarke

Mount Mercy

Baker

Peru State

Park

Grand View

William Penn

Benedictine

Missouri Valley

Culver-Stockton

Evangel

Graceland

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

Tabor

Oklahoma Wesleyan

Avila

Kansas Wesleyan

Bethany

Friends

McPherson

Ottawa

Saint Mary

Southwestern

Sterling

York University

 

Mid South Conference

Freed Hardeman

Bethel

Campbellsville

Cumberland TN

Cumbarlands KY

Georgetown

Lindsey Wilson

Pikeville

Shawnee State

Tennessee Southern

Thomas More

North Star Athletic Association

Mayville State

Dickinson State

Valley City

Bellevue

Dakota State

Presentation

Viterbo

Waldorf

 

Red River Athletic Conference

Louisiana Christian

LSU Alexandria

Houston-Victoria

Our Lady of the Lake

Huston-Tillotson

LSU Shreveport

Texas A&M-Texarkana

Xavier

Jarvis Christian

Southwest

Texas College

River States Conference

Indiana Southeast

Point Park

IU Kokomo

Midway

Oakland City

Rio Grande

Brescia

WVU Tech

Ohio Christian

 

Sooner Athletic Conference

Mid-America Christian

Texas Wesleyan

Southwestern AG

Science & Arts OK

Wayland Baptist

Central Christian

Southwestern Christian

Oklahoma City

Panhandle State

Southern States Athletic Conference

Brewton-Parker

Loyola University

Blue Mountain Christian

Faulkner University

Middle Georgia State

Stillman College

Talladega

University of Mobile

William Carey University

 

Sun Conference

Ave Maria

Weber International

Keiser

Florida Memorial

Southeastern

St. Thomas

Warner

Thomas

 

Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference

Cleary

Aquinas

Concordia

Cornerstone

Indiana Tech

Lawrence Tech

Lourdes

Madonna

Rochester

Siena Heights

UNOH

UM-Dearborn