The LSUS Pilots compete for conference championships every year, but how much do you know about the conference the Pilots actually call home?
The Red River Athletic Conference, also known as the RRAC, is a collegiate athletic conference within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), featuring colleges and private universities from Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico. The RRAC is made up of 11 member institutions as of 2026: LSUS, LSUA, Louisiana Christian University, Southwest University, Texas College, Texas A&M Victoria, Texas A&M San-Antonio, Texas A&M Texarkana, Our Lady Of The Lake, University of North Texas-Dallas, and North American University.
The RRAC was founded in 1998 by a small group of college administrators and athletic directors who wanted to promote student-athlete education, fair play, and character-driven competition throughout the southern region. Most notably, Tony Stigliano served as the conference’s first ever commissioner, holding the position from 1998 until his retirement in April 2026. The conference began with 15 member institutions stretching across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with Texas College and Southwest University being the only two continuous members since 1998.
In the summer of 2010, LSUS officially cut ties with the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, to join the RRAC ahead of the 2010-2011 athletic season. Since joining the RRAC in 2010, the Pilots have completely rewritten the record books. As of 2026, LSUS has captured 28 conference regular season titles, 36 conference tournament titles, and 1 national championship across all athletic departments. This national championship came during the baseball season in 2025, where the Pilots, led by Head Coach Brad Neffendorf, went a perfect 59-0 culminating in LSUS raising their first and only Red Banner so far.
While LSUS has built a history of success already, the newest women’s volleyball program is looking to add to it. The LSUS Pilots currently stand with a perfect 4-0 in the conference and a 9-6 overall record. The Pilots are currently the only undefeated team in conference play, sitting just ahead of Our Lady of The Lake and Texas A&M Texarkana, who are both 5-1. Southwest currently sits at 2-4, while Texas College and Louisiana Christian are still searching for their first conference victories at 0-6 and 0-4 respectively.
As the 2026-2027 athletic season continues, the RRAC will remain at the center of what LSUS athletics competes for every year: conference championships and an opportunity to represent Shreveport on the national level.
For more information about the Red River Athletic Conference and NAIA updates, visit https://www.redriverconference.com/landing/index
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