2023 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 BEST moments, but the biggest. Our 23 moments that defined Liberty Athletics for 2023.

23. WOMEN’S LACROSSE BEATS JACKSONVILLE, WINS REGULAR SEASON TITLE

To begin conference play this past spring, Liberty’s women’s lacrosse went on the road and defeated Jacksonville. The Dolphins, ranked #21 at the time, had been a thorn in the side for the Lady Flames in the ASUN, a mountain unable to topple. That changed in 2023, helping the Flames to an unbeaten regular season in conference play at 7-0.

22. SWIMMING & DIVING 5-PEATS

Liberty’s swimming & diving team claimed its fifth straight conference title, winning the 2023 CCSA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship. It was the program’s sixth CCSA title in program history, tying FGCU for the most consecutive CCSA Championships won in league history.

21. CAREY GREEN BECOMES LIBERTY’S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH

With a win over Frostburg State to open the 2023-24 women’s basketball season, Carey Green secured his 548th win of his coaching career, making him the winningest coach in Liberty Athletics history, regardless of sport.

20. FLAMES BEAT WKU ON THE ROAD

In the team’s toughest game of the regular season, at least on paper, Liberty went to Bowling Green, Kentucky and defeated the CUSA preseason favorite. It was at that moment, that the Flames began to set their sights on an undefeated season.

19. SMU UPSETS TULANE, HELPS FLAMES TO NY6

For the first time ever, we put a non-Liberty event on this list. SMU knocking off Tulane on Championship Saturday paved the way for Liberty to receive the Fiesta Bowl invite as the highest ranked Group of Five conference champion. If the Green Wave won that game, the Flames would not be in a New Year’s Six bowl.

18. 4-STAR QB JAYDEN BRADFORD COMMITS TO LU

Coach Chadwell got his first big commitment when IMG quarterback Jayden Bradford committed to the Flames back in the summer. He had offers from a laundry list of schools, including those at the Power Five level, before choosing Liberty.

17. LIBERTY DEFEATS NMSU IN FIRST CUSA GAME

In the first ever Conference USA football game, Liberty picked up a win and even got a little bit of payback against New Mexico State. Of course, the Aggies defeated the Flames in the regular season finale of 2022 amidst the fever pitch rumors of Hugh Freeze going to Auburn.

16. LIBERTY GETS FIRST EVER RANKING IN CFP TOP 25

Despite having been ranked in the Associated Press and Coaches Top 25 polls in three of four seasons, Liberty had never cracked the College Football Playoff Top 25 poll. That changed late in the season this year, when Liberty saw its name at #25. It opened the door that would eventually lead to the Flames reaching the Fiesta Bowl.

15. FIELD HOCKEY BEATS #1 UNC

Liberty field hockey continues to play at an elite level. They defeated No. 1 North Carolina earlier in the season. It was part of a 17-1 start to the year for the Lady Flames prior to losing in the Big East title game and in the Sweet 16 to Syracuse.

14. GOLF WINS ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP

Liberty golf won the ASUN championship in 2023, claiming the 7th conference title in program history.

13. WOMEN’S SOCCER WINS LIBERTY’S FIRST CUSA CHAMPIONSHIP

Liberty’s women’s soccer team had a tremendous 2023 season and it was capped by the first Conference USA championship by any program.

12. SOFTBALL DEFEATS #2 UCLA IN REGIONALS

Liberty softball picked up a program defining win by knocking off No. 2 UCLA in NCAA Regional play.

11. DEMARIO DOUGLAS DRAFTED BY PATRIOTS

Liberty wide receiver Demario Douglas was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 6th round, continuing the recent success the Flames have had in sending players to the NFL. Douglas has also had a very strong rookie campaign for the Patriots at receiver despite fighting through multiple injuries.

10. DARIUS McGHEE BECOMES LIBERTY’S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER

Coming back for his fifth and final season at Liberty, Darius McGhee had a record breaking season, to cap his record breaking career. During the year, he became the program’s all-time leading scorer, passing Karl Hess. During the season, McGhee also won ASUN Player of the Year for a third straight season while also being named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American.

9. BASKETBALL REACHES NIT, DEFEATS VILLANOVA

Despite the disappointment of not reaching the NCAA Tournament, Liberty basketball achieved a program first by receiving an invitation to the NIT. The Flames got an at-large bid to the tournament and went on to defeat Villanova at Liberty Arena in a milestone win for the program.

8. KOBE SINGLETON, DEFENSE PRESERVE LIBERTY’S UNBEATEN RECORD AGAINST SAM HOUSTON

Liberty was able to maintain its perfect record with a win over Sam Houston during Midweek on the Mountain in October. The Bearkats had numerous opportunities inside the Liberty red zone in the final seconds, but the Liberty defense and most notably Kobe Singleton, preserved the win. Singleton had three pass breakups in the final five plays, including the last one on 4th down to clinch the win.

7. LIBERTY FOOTBALL MOURNS TRAGIC DEATHS OF JESSIE LEMONIER, TAJH BOYD

It was a year of mourning as well for the Flames, as Liberty alum Jessie Lemonier passed away as did freshman offensive lineman Tajh Boyd.

6. LIBERTY OFFICIALLY JOINS CONFERENCE USA

On July 1st it became official as the Flames joined Conference USA in all sports, the first time the program had reached an FBS Conference.

5. BASKETBALL LOSES TO KENNESAW STATE IN ASUN FINAL

Behind head coach Ritchie McKay, the Flames had one of their best seasons in school history during 2022-23. Unfortunately, the dreams of getting back to a fourth NCAA Tournament in five years ended as the Flames lost to Kennesaw State by one point with a last second free throw made by the Owls.

4. KAIDON SALTER SEASON

Kaidon Salter not only won the starting quarterback job for the Flames, but he had a standout, record-breaking performance for the team, leading them to a 13-0 season. Salter rewrote the individual season quarterback record book for Liberty, breaking records set by Buckshot Calvert and Malik Willis.

3. LIBERTY WINS CUSA CHAMPIONSHIP, BEATS NMSU

On a Friday night in Lynchburg, Liberty put an exclamation point on its 2023 football season, defeating New Mexico State to claim the program’s first ever conference championship in the FBS level, winning the 2023 CUSA Championship.

2. JAMEY CHADWELL LEADS LIBERTY TO PERFECT SEASON

In his first season as head coach, Jamey Chadwell guided the Flames through 50% roster turnover, Tajh Boyd’s tragic death during the preseason, and helped mold the team into a 13-0 conference champion.

1. FLAMES RECEIVE BID TO FIESTA BOWL

It will go down as one of the all-time moments in Liberty athletics history, when the Flames officially received the invitation to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The Flames are the highest ranked Group of Five team in the country and got the automatic bid into a New Year’s Six Bowl where the team will take on No. 8 Oregon in Glendale, Arizona on January 1st.