Appalachian Athletic Conference

Last updated
Appalachian Athletic Conference
Appalachian Athletic Conference logo.gif
Association NAIA
Founded2000;25 years ago (2000)
CommissionerBill Popp [1]
Sports fielded
  • 24
    • men's: 13
    • women's: 11
No. of teams15
Headquarters Asheville, North Carolina
Region Southeastern United States
Official website aacsports.com
Locations
AppAC conference map.png

The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). [2] Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. [2]

Contents

History

Appalachian Athletic Conference
Appalachian Athletic Conference
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120km
75miles
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Spartanburg Methodist
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Bryan
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Pikeville
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Johnson
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Columbia International
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Brenau
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Truett McConnell
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SCAD Atlanta
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Columbia (SC)
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Reinhardt
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Union Commonwealth
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Bluefield
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TWU
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Montreat
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Milligan
Location of AAC members: Green pog.svg current

The conference is the successor to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), which began in the 1940s; [2] and later the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) that operated during the 1980s and 1990s. [2] The Appalachian Athletic Conference was formed in 2000 with the additions of members from Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. [2]

Recent changes

Bluefield College was a member of the AAC from 2000 until 2012 when it left to join the Mid-South Conference. On March 3, 2014, Bluefield announced that it would return to the AAC in fall 2014. [3]

In 2019 the conference added Kentucky Christian University as a full member and Savannah College of Art and Design as an associate member in men's and women's lacrosse. [4]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The AAC currently has 15 full members, all private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Basketball?
Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Baptist 989 Rams 2000;
2014 [b]
both
Brenau University [c] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Nonsectarian 2,420 Golden Tigers 2017women's
Bryan College Dayton, Tennessee 1930 Nondenominational 1,548 Lions 2000both
Columbia College [d] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,572 Koalas 2011both [e]
Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina 1923Christian2,631 Rams 2018both
Johnson University Kimberlin Heights and
Knoxville, Tennessee
1893 Christian 950 Royals 2021both
Milligan University Elizabethton, Tennessee 1866 Restoration
Movement
1,200 Buffaloes 2000both
Montreat College Montreat, North Carolina 1916 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
932 Cavaliers 2000both
University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky 1889Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
2,610 Bears 2023both
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883United Methodist1,170 Eagles 2009both
Savannah College of Art and Design at Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 2005 Non-profit art school 2,000 Bees 2012none
Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1911United Methodist1,220 Pioneers 2025both
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee 1857United Methodist1,074 Bulldogs 2000both
Truett McConnell University Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Baptist 2,714 Bears 2013both
Union Commonwealth University [f] Barbourville, Kentucky 1879United Methodist1,129 Bulldogs 2002both
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Bluefield left the AAC after the 2011–12 school year to join the Mid-South Conference; before rejoining the AAC in the 2014–15 school year.
  3. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  4. This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports (Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21).
  5. The Columbia (S.C.)'s men's basketball teams joined the AAC 13 years after becoming a full member for other sports (2024–25).
  6. Formerly known as Union College until 2024.
Notes

    Affiliate members

    The AAC currently has 15 affiliate members. Thirteen are fully private, one is public, and one operates public and private schools within a single entity.

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] AAC
    sport
    Primary
    conference
    Brewton–Parker College [5] [6] Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Baptist 1,123 Barons 2022Men's wrestling Southern States (SSAC)
    2024Men's volleyball
    Carolina University [6] [7] Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1945 Nondenominational 893 Bruins 2024Men's volleyball Continental
    Georgetown College [b] Georgetown, Kentucky 1829 Baptist 1,463 Tigers 2017
    2022
    Women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
    Keiser University [5] West Palm Beach, Florida 1977 Nonsectarian 19,861 Seahawks 2021Men's lacrosse The Sun
    2022Men's wrestling4
    Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 2025 [c] Football River States (RSC)
    Life University [5] Marietta, Georgia 1974Nonsectarian2,711 Running Eagles 2022Men's volleyball Southern States (SSAC)
    Men's wrestling
    Point University West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 2,827 Skyhawks 2023 [d] Football Southern States (SSAC)
    University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876Hybrid [e] 2,168 RedStorm 2025Football River States (RSC)
    Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, Georgia 1978 Non-profit art school 17,575 Bees 2019Men's lacrosse The Sun
    Women's lacrosse
    St. Thomas University [5] [6] Miami Gardens, Florida 1961 Catholic
    (Archdiocese of Miami)
    6,455 Bobcats 2022Men's wrestling The Sun
    2024Men's volleyball
    Southeastern University [5] [8] Lakeland, Florida 1935 Assemblies of God 10,400 Fire 2022Men's wrestling The Sun
    Talladega College [6] Talladega, Alabama 1867United Church of Christ837 Tornadoes 2024Men's volleyball HBCU (HBCUAC)
    University of the Cumberlands [f] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 20,327 Patriots 2015Men's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
    Warner University [5] Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 891 Royals 2022Men's volleyball The Sun
    Webber International University [5] Babson Park, Florida 1927Nonsectarian930 Warriors 2020Men's lacrosse The Sun
    2022Men's volleyball
    West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia 1895Public1,448 Golden Bears 2016Men's swimming River States (RSC)
    Women's swimming
    2017Men's wrestling
    Notes
    1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
    2. Georgetown (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse during the 2018 spring season (2017–18), then rejoined since the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
    3. Kentucky Christian was a full member of the AAC from 2019–20 to 2024–25.
    4. Point was a full member of the AAC from 2011–12 to 2022–23.
    5. Rio Grande consists of a public community college and a private, nonsectarian four-year university. The community college component is part of the University System of Ohio.
    6. Cumberlands (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse from 2015–16 to 2017–18.

    Former members

    The AAC had eight former full members, all but one were private schools:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Subsequent
    conference(s)
    Current
    conference
    Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, Kentucky 1925 Nondenominational 553 Eagles 20002005 River States (RSC)
    (2005–present)
    Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 A.M.E. Church 677 Yellow Jackets 20162020 Southern (SIAC) [c]
    (2020–present)
    Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina 1853 United Methodist 787 Tornados 20002006 D-II Independent
    (2006–07)
    South Atlantic (SAC) [c]
    (2007–17)
    USA South [d]
    (2017–present)
    Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian
    (PCA)
    928 Scots 20002009various [e] C.C. of the South (CCS) [d]
    (2022–present)
    Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 20192025 River States (RSC)
    King College [f] Bristol, Tennessee 1867Presbyterian
    (Evangelical
    Presbyterian
    /
    PCUSA)
    1,295 Tornados 20002009 NAIA Independent
    (2009–10)
    D-II Independent
    (2010–11)
    Carolinas (CC) [c]
    (2011–present)
    Point University [g] West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 2,827 Skyhawks 20112023 Southern States (SSAC)
    (2023–present)
    St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1958Presbyterian
    (PCUSA)
    N/A Knights 20122025Closed in 2025
    Virginia Intermont College Bristol, Virginia 1884 Baptist N/A Cobras 20002014Closed in 2014
    University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954Public1,911 Highland
    Cavaliers
    [h]
    20002010various [j] South Atlantic (SAC) [c]
    (2019–present)
    Notes
    1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
    2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
    4. 1 2 3 4 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
    5. Covenant had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-III Independent during the 2009–10 and 2012–13 school years; the Great South Athletic Conference [d] (GSAC) from 2010–11 to 2011–12; and the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) [d] from 2013–14 to 2021–22.
    6. Currently known as King University since 2013.
    7. Point remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for football.
    8. UVA Wise dropped "Highland" from its athletic nickname in 2017.
    9. 1 2 UVA Wise left the Mid-South after the 2012–13 school year. Originally it joined the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) as a charter member for most sports as a transitional NCAA Division II member school during the 2012–13 school year, but was fulfilling its commitments to the final year of competition in the Mid-South and in the NAIA. However it never began competition as a full G-MAC member, as it would later announce that it would join the Mountain East Conference (MEC), beginning the 2013–14 school year.
    10. UVA Wise had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Mid-South Conference (MSC) [i] from 2010–11 to 2012–13; the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) [c] [i] during the 2012–13 school year; and the Mountain East Conference [c] (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19.

    Former affiliate members

    The AAC had two former affiliate members, both were private schools.

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] AAC
    sport(s)
    Primary
    conference
    Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,942 Eagles 20152019Men's lacrosse C.C. of the South (CCS)
    2021Women's lacrosse
    2016Men's swimming & diving
    Women's swimming & diving
    University of the Cumberlands [c] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 20,327 Patriots 20152018Women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
    Notes
    1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
    2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
    3. Cumberlands (KY) remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

    Membership timeline

    University of Rio GrandeSpartanburg Methodist CollegeUniversity of PikevilleWarner UniversitySoutheastern UniversitySt. Thomas University (Florida)Life UniversityBrewton–Parker CollegeKeiser UniversityJohnson UniversityWebber International UniversitySavannah College of Art and DesignRiver States ConferenceKentucky Christian UniversityColumbia International UniversityGeorgetown CollegeBrenau UniversityWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologySouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceAllen UniversityUniversity of the CumberlandsAsbury UniversityTruett McConnell CollegeSavannah College of Art and DesignSt. Andrews University (North Carolina)Southern States Athletic ConferencePoint UniversityColumbia College (South Carolina)Reinhardt UniversityUnion Commonwealth UniversitySouth Atlantic ConferenceMountain East ConferenceGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceMid-South ConferenceUniversity of Virginia's College at WiseVirginia Intermont CollegeTennessee Wesleyan UniversityMontreat CollegeMilligan UniversityConference CarolinasNCAA Division II independent schoolsNAIA independent schoolsKing UniversityCollegiate Conference of the SouthUSA South Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsGreat South Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsCovenant CollegeUSA South Athletic ConferenceSouth Atlantic ConferenceNCAA Division II independent schoolsBrevard CollegeBryan CollegeMid-South ConferenceBluefield UniversityRiver States ConferenceAlice Lloyd CollegeAppalachian Athletic Conference

     Full member (non-football)  Associate member (sport) 

    Conference sports

    The Appalachian Athletic Conference currently fields 24 sports (13 men's and 11 women's):

    Conference sports
    SportMen'sWomen's
    Baseball Green check.svg
    Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Cross country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Football Green check.svg
    Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Lacrosse Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Softball Green check.svg
    Swimming Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Track & field outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Track & field indoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Volleyball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Wrestling Green check.svg

    Notes

      References

      1. "Bill Popp". aacsports.com. Appalachian Athletic Conference. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
      2. 1 2 3 4 5 "NAIA Conference Profile: Appalachian Athletic Conference" (PDF). NAIA . Retrieved July 3, 2011.
      3. "Bluefield College returns to Appalachian Athletic Conference". Bluefield Daily Telegraph . Retrieved March 5, 2014.
      4. "AAC OFFICIALLY WELCOMES KCU TO LEAGUE, BECOMES LARGEST CONFERENCE IN NAIA". Appalachian Athletic Conference. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
      5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 AAC Welcome 5 New Affiliates, Adds Men's Volleyball as Championship Sport for 2022-23 - Appalachian Athletic Conference Athletics
      6. 1 2 3 4 AAC Adds 4 Affiliates for Men's Volleyball - Appalachian Athletic Conference
      7. Men's Volleyball Joins Appalachian Athletic Conference - Carolina University Athletics
      8. Fire Wrestling to Move to Appalachian Athletic Conference - Southeastern University Athletics