The 2023-24 athletic season for the Liberty Flames has come to an end. It was an up and down season for the Flames, with some remarkable moments and some let downs. With the athletic season coming to end this week, we have put together a ranking of the team’s with the best season on campus.
There’s no perfect way to determine who had the best season, but the primary factors used were winning a conference championship, national ranking or finish, and notable wins. This is not a ranking of the best program over a period of years, but instead of ranking of who had the best individual season during 2023-24.
1. Football
It’s hard to top what the Flames did on the gridiron under first year head coach Jamey Chadwell back in the fall. In the program’s first year in CUSA, the Flames cruised to a perfect 8-0 mark in Conference USA, beating New Mexico State for the CUSA Championship to finish the regular season at 13-0. Liberty would advance to the Fiesta Bowl as the top ranked Group of Five conference champion, falling to Oregon, but finishing the season ranked in the top 25 for the second time in program history.
2. Softball
Under Dot Richardson, the Liberty softball team got as close as they ever have in making it to a Super Regional before falling on a walk off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to #11 Georgia in the regional final. The Lady Flames finished the year at 38-25 overall, 18-6 in CUSA play, winning both a regular season and tournament conference championship.
3. Field Hockey
Liberty’s field hockey program has become one of the best on the Mountain. The Flames finished the year at 17-3 overall and 7-0 in Big East place, winning the regular season title. LU would be upset by Old Dominion in the Big East Tournament championship game. The Lady Flames received an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time for the program but were upset by #11 Syracuse in the first round. During the season, Liberty registered a win over #1 North Carolina.
4. Women’s Soccer
The Lady Flames impressed in their first season in Conference USA, winning the CUSA Tournament after knocking off New Mexico State, 2-1, in the final. Liberty finished the year at 16-3-1 overall, 5-2-1 in conference play, and lost to #4 Georgia, 2-1, in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament first round.
5. Golf
Another one of the best programs on the Mountain, Liberty’s golf team had another championship season, winning the CUSA title and advancing to another NCAA Tournament. The Flames finished 11th in the Stanford Regional.
6. Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
You can’t mention the best programs on the Mountain without talking about the track & field teams. Liberty did what they do, winning CUSA conference championships in both indoor and outdoor for the men.
7. Women’s Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
The same can be said for the women, as Liberty won both the indoor and outdoor track and field titles in CUSA this past school year.
8. Swimming & Diving
Liberty’s swimming & diving program won another conference championship, picking up the win in the first year of the ASUN.
9. Women’s Tennis
The women’s tennis team came eerily close to the CUSA title this year. The Lady Flames lost to #1 seed FIU in the title game. Liberty then went to the NIT, defeating #5 Appalachian State before falling to #1 Colorado. The team finished the year at 18-7 overall.
10. Men’s Tennis
The men’s tennis team had a similar season, finishing in second place in CUSA while following to #1 seed Middle Tennessee in the championship match. The Flames finished the year at 18-9 overall and also advanced to the NIT, beating #6 North Alabama before dropping to #3 Pacific.
11. Women’s Cross Country
Competing for the first time in CUSA, the women’s cross country team finished 2nd at the CUSA Championships and then 16th at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships.
12. Men’s Cross Country
Just like the women, the men’s cross country team finished second at the CUSA Championships.
13. Women’s Basketball
Under long time head coach Carey Green, Liberty women’s basketball adjusted well to Conference USA. The Lady Flames finished 11-5 in conference play and advanced to the CUSA title game before falling to #1 seed Middle Tennessee. Liberty finished the year at 18-16 overall.
14. Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team had a very strong non-conference campaign before struggling to compete at the top of CUSA. Liberty finished at 18-14 overall, 7-9 in conference play and lost to #5 UTEP in the CUSA quarterfinals.
15. Men’s Soccer
Liberty’s men’s soccer finished the year at 9-6-3 overall, 4-4-2 in the OVC and lost on penalty kicks to #6 Eastern Illinois in the first round of the OVC Championship.
16. Baseball
Liberty baseball finished the year at 24-34 overall and 11-13 in CUSA play. The Flames had a disappointing year but had a nice showing the CUSA Tournament, advancing to the semifinals after winning the first two games in the tournament.
17. Volleyball
Liberty volleyball finished the year at 15-14 overall and 8-8 in CUSA play. The Lady Flames lost to #4 UTEP, 3-1, in the CUSA quarterfinals.
18. Lacrosse
Liberty lacrosse had a disappointing year, finishing at 6-12 overall and 3-3 in the ASUN. The Lady Flames lost to #1 seed Jacksonville in the first round of the ASUN Tournament.
