Atkins Field

Atkins Field is home to Centenary Football, Men's and Women's Soccer, and Men's Lacrosse.

Atkins Field has a capacity of 2,500 and features a brand-new, state of the art full HD LED video board that is a size of 25 x 15 (375 square feet). The multi-sport facility honors William James “Bill” Atkins (1933-2011), an honorary alumnus and strong supporter of Centenary College throughout his life. He served on the Advisory Board of the Frost School of Business and was instrumental in the formation of the Frost School’s Center for Family-Owned Business and the Centenary College Student Managed Investment Fund. Atkins’s grandfather also helped facilitate the move of Centenary from Jackson, Louisiana, to Shreveport in 1908.

Originally known as the Centenary Soccer Complex, the field was renamed in 2001 in honor of Lewis Mayo, the father of former Gents soccer player and coach Eric Mayo, who lost his life heroically while serving as member of the fire department in the Houston, Texas area. A generous donation from the Mayo family supported the installation of lights for the soccer field, and the first-ever night soccer game at Centenary was played on August 31, 2001.

The Centenary football program completed its historic 2024 season at 4-6 overall and 4-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play as the sport of football returned to campus for the first time in over a half-century.

Centenary's previous football history began with the Gents' first game in the fall of 1894 and ended in November of 1941, with a brief attempted revival in the 1960s. The Gents were impressive in their "Independent College Season" in the Fall of 2023 and finished 9-1 overall and outscored their nine opponents, 375-113, and recorded three shutouts.

The success of the fall of 2023 led into the 2024 regular season in which the Gents provided their fans many memorable and exciting moments. One of the highlights of the home season came on Saturday, Oct. 26 as the Gents earned a memorable 41-21 comeback victory over the Austin College 'Roos in league play in its Homecoming game. Centenary completed a season sweep of the 'Roos after defeating them 36-17 in Sherman, Texas in September.

Centenary scored 108 points in its five home games, an average of 21.6 PPG, and drew nearly 8,000 fans as the excitement and support was evident all season long at Atkins Field. The Gents, picked to finish third in the conference in the preseason poll, finished behind co-champions McMurry University and Texas Lutheran University, who each tied for first place with 7-1 conference records. Centenary led the conference in interceptions (15) and finished third in sacks (22). The Gents' nine fumble recoveries was also second-most in the league.

The 4,700 square foot fieldhouse houses locker rooms for Centenary's football team along with its women's soccer and softball teams. The facility, which also includes coaches' offices, looks out over the 76,500 square foot turf practice field.

Atkins Field Images