The Montana State–Billings (MSUB) athletic teams are called the Yellowjackets. The university is a member of the
NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the
Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) since the 2007–08 academic year. The Yellowjackets previously competed in the D-II
Heartland Conference from 2005–06 to 2006–07; in the D-II
Pacific West Conference (PacWest; formerly known as the Great Northwest Conference until after the 1991–92 school year) from 1982–83 to 2004–05; as an
NCAA D-II Independent from 1980–81 to 1981–82; and in the
Frontier Conference of the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1933–34 to 1979–80. MSUB competes in 16 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and track & field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field, triathlon and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and stunt. The official MSUB song is the Fight Song. Former sports included
football.
History Formerly known as Eastern Montana College, MSUB athletics started back to the 1927–28 school year, the year in which the university was founded. The Yellowjackets have competed in a number of different conferences throughout the years, and prior to the 1980–81 season, the athletic department transitioned from the NAIA to competing at the NCAA Division II level.
Baseball In the 2018–19 school year, the MSUB baseball team captured its fourth GNAC regular-season title in five years, won its first-ever GNAC tournament title, and advanced to the NCAA D2 West Region Championships for the first time in program history. MSUB broke numerous school and conference baseball records, including most wins in a season with 33, and most home runs in a year with 83. The baseball program captured four regular season GNAC championships over a span of five years (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).
Women's basketball The 2017–18 academic year was historic and was highlighted by an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance in women's basketball. The Yellowjackets won the West Region title for the second time in program history, matching the achievement of the 1998–99 regional champion squad. The women's team has been GNAC champions ten times since 1987.
Softball The Yellowjackets won the 2015 GNAC Softball Championships and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Region Championships. The team were also GNAC champions in 2009 and 2012. ==Extensions==