Gardner-Webb's basketball program began in 1942 at the Baptist university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The Runnin' Bulldogs compete in the Big South Conference and have won multiple conference titles. The program transitioned to Division I in 2000.
The Bulldogs nickname was adopted to represent toughness, with the 'Runnin' prefix added to reflect the team's fast-paced, high-energy playing style.
Winning the 2019 Big South Tournament to earn an NCAA Tournament bid, where they drew Virginia in the first round.
Gardner-Webb's campus in Boiling Springs, North Carolina gets its name from natural springs in the area that appear to boil due to the sand and minerals bubbling up from underground.
The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs compete in the Big South and hold an all-time record of 342–412 (.454 winning percentage) across 24 recorded seasons dating back to 2002-03.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 4-29 | 1-15 (Big South) | Jeremy Luther | |
| 2024-25 | 11-20 | 5-11 (Big South) | Jeremy Luther | |
| 2023-24 | 17-16 | 11-5 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2022-23 | 15-16 | 10-8 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2021-22 | 18-13 | 11-5 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2020-21 | 11-15 | 10-10 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2019-20 | 16-16 | 11-7 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2018-19 | 23-12 | 11-6 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2017-18 | 14-18 | 9-9 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2016-17 | 19-14 | 11-7 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2015-16 | 17-16 | 10-8 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2014-15 | 20-15 | 10-8 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2013-14 | 18-15 | 10-6 (Big South) | Tim Craft | |
| 2012-13 | 21-13 | 11-5 (Big South) | Chris Holtmann | |
| 2011-12 | 12-20 | 6-12 (Big South) | Chris Holtmann | |
| 2010-11 | 11-21 | 6-12 (Big South) | Chris Holtmann | |
| 2009-10 | 8-21 | 5-13 (Big South) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2008-09 | 13-17 | 9-9 (Big South) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2007-08 | 16-16 | 9-7 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2006-07 | 9-21 | 7-11 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2005-06 | 17-12 | 13-7 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2004-05 | 18-12 | 13-7 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2003-04 | 9-20 | 6-14 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs | |
| 2002-03 | 5-24 | 2-14 (A-Sun) | Rick Scruggs |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|