MSU Athletics Hurt By Accreditation - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

MSU Athletics Hurt By Accreditation

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BECKLEY -

Mountain State basketball has enjoyed playoff success. The Cougars made it to the semifinals last year. The year before that, they lost in the title game. In 2004, they won the national championship.

The recent postseason victories have all come under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 

The NAIA acts as a governing body to about 300 schools. Thirteen sports and 23 championships are at stake each year.

But the Association says that schools that lose its accreditation also lose a shot at winning those championships.

"NAIA bylaws provide requirements that schools must be accredited," said Kay Hawes, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the NAIA. Hawes said NAIA schools very rarely lose its accreditation.

The school found out it would be losing its accreditation earlier this month.