2024 was a year for the record books for many reasons, and for Liberty Athletics, the Flames had another banner year.
We put together a list because everyone loves lists at New Year’s. This is our annual list of the top moments in Liberty Athletics, not necessarily the BESTÂ moments, but the biggest. Our 24 moments that defined Liberty Athletics for 2024.
24. FLAMES DEFEAT WKU
Keeping its CUSA title hopes alive, Liberty played its most complete game of the 2024 season with a win over Western Kentucky at Williams Stadium in the home finale in November.
23. FLAMES GOING BOWLING FOR A 6TH STRAIGHT YEAR
Liberty has opened its tenure at the FBS level with incredible success. By posting an 8-3 mark in 2024, the Flames have secured the program’s 6th straight bowl appearance as Liberty will take on Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl on Jan. 4.
22. SWIMMING & DIVING 6-PEATS
Quietly becoming one of the best and most consistent programs on the Mountain, Liberty swimming & diving won its sixth straight conference title, claiming the ASUN championship this past year.
21. BASKETBALL OPENS SEASON 12-1
Liberty basketball is off to the program’s second-best start ever, going 12-1 in the non-conference portion of the season entering the new year and conference play. The Flames have posted four top 150 wins in defeating Seattle, Charleston, Kansas State and McNeese. The team’s only loss came by three points in overtime against FAU.
20. WOMEN’S SOCCER BEATS VIRGINIA TECH, OPENS SEASON UNBEATEN THROUGH 11 MATCHES
Liberty recorded its first ever victory over a ranked team, knocking off No. 21 Virginia Tech. It was part of a stellar opening to the season, posting a 9-0-2 mark in the first half of the season.
19. BASKETBALL WINS PARADISE JAM
The Flames jump-started its 2024-25 season with three wins in the Virgin Islands to win the Paradise Jam. Liberty defeated Louisiana, Kansas State, and McNeese to claim the championship.
18. SWIMMING TO JOIN AAC
The Liberty swimming & diving team will join the American Athletic Conference as an affiliate member beginning on July 1, 2025. The Lady Flames will join James Madison and Marshall who will all join the league that also features FIU, East Carolina, FAU, North Texas, Rice, and Tulane.
17. LIBERTY DEFEATS ECU FOLLOWING LENGTHY DELAY
It took into the early hours of Sunday morning, but Liberty was able to get a win over East Carolina at Williams Stadium, 35-24. There was a nearly five hour weather delay to lightning that remained in the area throughout the evening. After the delay, the Pirates jumped out to a 17-0 lead before the Flames came from behind to earn the victory.
16. TRACK & FIELD SWEEPS OUTDOOR TITLES
Liberty completed a full men’s and women’s sweep of the 2024 CUSA Track & Field Championships in its first year of membership, winning the titles at UTEP’s Kidd Field. UTEP finished second in both the men’s and women’s team track title chase.
15. CROSS COUNTRY SWEEPS CUSA TITLES
Liberty’s men’s and women’s cross country teams swept the CUSA championships this fall.
14. GOLF WINS CUSA CHAMPIONSHIP
Liberty won the 2024 CUSA Championship, defeating UTEP 3-2 in match play. The Flames then went on to the NCAAs, finishing in 11th place in the Stanford Regional.
13. VOLLEYBALL COACHING CHANGES
It was a tumultuous calendar year for Liberty volleyball. Trevor Johnson resigned in the spring. Nolan Albrecht, who joined the coaching staff in March as an assistant coach, was elevated to acting head coach for the 2024 season. Following the year, Liberty has named Jeremy White its new head coach. White comes to Liberty after spending the past six seasons leading Southeastern Louisiana to consecutive Southland Conference titles and NCAA Volleyball Championship appearances.
12. LIBERTY MAKES DEBUT IN EA SPORTS NCAA 25
The return of college football to the video game world had the nation abuzz this past summer. It also meant the debut of Liberty in the ever-popular video game.
11. BASKETBALL RETOOLS ROSTER THROUGH PORTAL
After a disappointing first season in CUSA, Coach McKay and the Flames retooled its roster for the 2024-25 season. Liberty brought in five transfers who have made a big impact on the new team already this season – Owen Aquino, Taelon Peter, Jayvon Maughmer, Isaiah Ihnen, and Josh Smith (injured and missing this season).
10. FOOTBALL DEBUTS LIGHT BLUE UNIFORMS
Just ahead of the start of the 2024 season, Liberty football revealed its brand new uniforms, light blue. The Flames would debut the threads in Week 2 at New Mexico State, one of three games in which the team wore them.
9. CUSA CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS END WITH LOSS AT SAM HOUSTON
Liberty entered the regular season finale at Sam Houston with a straightforward task – win the game and go back to the CUSA Title game for a second straight year. However, the Flames, with a hobbled Kaidon Salter at QB, were defeated by the Bearkats, 20-18, on Black Friday.
8. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL REACHES CUSA TITLE GAME
In the team’s first year in CUSA, Liberty women’s basketball squad reached the conference championship game in Huntsville, Alabama. The Lady Flames would fall to Middle Tennessee and finished the year at 18-16 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
7. SOFTBALL WINS CUSA, REACHES REGIONAL FINAL
The Lady Flames won the CUSA Championship to advance to the Women’s College World Series once again, defeating Western Kentucky, 4-3, in the championship game. Liberty would head to the Athens Regional where the Flames would open play with wins over Charlotte and the host Georgia to regional the Regional Final. The Lady Flames would be defeated by Georgia in consecutive games to end the season.
6. KAIDON SALTER ENTERS PORTAL, EXITS PORTAL, ENTERS PORTAL
Shortly after the Fiesta Bowl, Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter went into the transfer portal. Just a couple days later, he exited the transfer portal to return to the Flames in 2024. Following the 2024 regular season, Salter went back into the portal, and he has now committed to play for Deion Sanders and Colorado.
5. SCOTT JACKSON RESIGNS
Liberty head baseball coach Scott Jackson abruptly resigned following the 2024 season, a year that the Flames struggled to a 24-34 overall record. Jackson went back to North Carolina as assistant coach of the Tar Heels.
4. APP STATE GAME CANCELED
The premier non-conference game for the Flames this past season was set to be taking on perennial Sun Belt contender Appalachian State. It was the game Liberty needed to win to stake its claim at having a good enough resume to contend for a spot in the CFP should the team go unbeaten. The game was ultimately canceled due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene in Boone, North Carolina and throughout the region.
3. BASKETBALL LOSES TO UTEP IN CUSA QUARTERS
For the first time in eight years, Liberty basketball lost its first game in its postseason conference tournament when the Flames loss to UTEP as the 4-seed in the CUSA Quarterfinals. It ended a rather disappointing first season in CUSA where Liberty finished 7-9 in conference play.
2. FOOTBALL IS UPSET BY KENNESAW
Liberty suffered its first regular season loss under Coach Chadwell in a massive upset, falling on the road to previously winless Kennesaw State in their first ever win at the FBS level. The loss would ultimately cost the Flames’ a shot at a CUSA title.
1. FLAMES FALL IN FIESTA BOWL
It happened almost a full year ago, but Liberty opened the year with its biggest athletic accomplishment by playing in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Flames led at the end of the first quarter, but after that it was all Oregon.
