Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears
| Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Central Arkansas |
| Conference | Atlantic Sun (primary) UAC (football; primary in 2026) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Matt Whiting |
| Location | Conway, Arkansas |
| Varsity teams | 18 (8 men's, 10 women's) |
| Football stadium | Estes Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Farris Center |
| Baseball stadium | Bear Stadium |
| Softball stadium | Farris Field |
| Soccer stadium | Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex |
| Other venues | Prince Center (volleyball) |
| Mascot | Bruce D. Bear and Sugar Bear |
| Nickname | Bears and Sugar Bears |
| Colors | Purple and gray |
| Website | ucasports |
The Central Arkansas Bears and Sugar Bears represent the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA football) as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The athletic program is supported by the efforts of a diverse group of over 400 male and female student-athletes. Its men's teams are called the Bears and the women's are the Sugar Bears.
UCA joined the ASUN in July 2021 after having been a member of the Southland Conference. At the time, the ASUN did not sponsor football, but had committed to launching an FCS football league in the near future. UCA played the 2021 season as a de facto associate member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), competing in a football partnership between the two leagues officially branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge". The ASUN started its football league in the 2022 season, but maintained its football partnership with the WAC. After that season, the two conferences merged their football leagues to create the UAC.
In June 2025, the ASUN and WAC announced a strategic alliance under which the Western Athletic Conference would rebrand as the United Athletic Conference beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. As part of this transition, Central Arkansas will become a full member of the rebranded all-sports UAC while continuing to compete in football within the conference’s established UAC football structure. The reorganization preserves NCAA Division I continuity and automatic qualification status for the participating institutions.