Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

Not to be confused with the Gulf Coast Conference, a former NCAA athletic conference from the South Central United States; or the former Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (1958–1965), an athletic conference based in the Southeastern United States.

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

Association	NAIA
Founded	1981
Commissioner	Kiki Baker-Barnes
Sports fielded	8 men's: 4 women's: 4
No. of teams	10 (13 in 2024)
Region	Southeastern United States, Texas, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Official website	gcaconf.com
Locations

The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) is a college athletic conference made up entirely of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that's affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas as well as the U.S. territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

History

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (Continental U.S.)

300km
200miles

Wilberforce

Voorhees

Stillman

Talladega

Wiley

Tougaloo

SUNO

Rust

Philander Smith

Oakwood

Fisk

Dillard

  

Location of GCAC members: full member, future member

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (U.S. Virgin Islands)

20km
12miles

Virgin Islands

  

Location of GCAC members: full member

The GCAC was established in 1981, with the following charter institutions: Belhaven University, Dillard University, Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University), Spring Hill College, Tougaloo College, William Carey University, and Xavier University of Louisiana. The first sports were men and women's basketball and men's tennis, with other sports soon following. ^[1]

The University of Mobile was admitted in October 1985, Southern University at New Orleans was granted admission in May 1986, Loyola University was admitted in April 1995, and Louisiana State University in Shreveport became a member in April 2000. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina forced Dillard and Xavier (Louisiana) to cancel all athletic competition for the 2005–06 season and Loyola and Southern–New Orleans were able only to compete partially. All schools returned to competition in 2006–07, although in most cases with a reduced number of sports.

Louisiana College left the GCAC to join the American Southwest Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III in 2000. Belhaven also left in 2000, only to re-join in 2002; while Talladega College, which joined in 1999, left in 2002. In 2010, Belhaven, Loyola–New Orleans, Spring Hill, Mobile, and William Carey left the GCAC to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). ^[2] In 2010 LSU–Shreveport left the conference to join the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). Edward Waters College (now a university) and Fisk University joined to replace the departed schools in 2010. Philander Smith College also joined the GCAC in 2011. Talladega College re-joined the conference starting in the 2011–12 academic year. Talladega had been a member of the GCAC from 1999–2000 to 2001–02. ^[3]

On April 17, 2018, it was announced that Rust College had joined the GCAC in the 2018–19 season. ^[4]

In 2019, Steve Martin resigned from the conference after 5 years to become commissioner of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges ^[5]

In 2019, Southern University at New Orleans suspended its sports program. ^[6]

On September 14, 2020, it was also announced that Xavier (La.) would leave the GCAC for the RRAC ^[7] and on December 18, Talladega was accepted by the SSAC as a new member. ^[8] Both departures became effective after the 2020–21 season concluded, coinciding with Fisk's return to the GCAC as published on March 16, 2021. ^[9] On July 19, it was reported that Edward Waters would leave the GCAC to join NCAA Division II for the first time in its history and re-join the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference the 2021–22 season. ^[10]

In October 2021, Southern at New Orleans began to offer sports again after adding a student fee to fund them. ^[11] On January 20, 2022, the GCAC extended its membership to Oakwood University and Wiley College, the conference's first Texas member, in addition to the returning Southern at New Orleans. Oakwood and Wiley joined the conference later in July. ^[12] On November 3, the GCAC invited the University of the Virgin Islands to become its member in 2023–24, becoming the first four-year institution in a U.S. territory to join an athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA or NCAA in more than a century. ^[13]

On February 29, 2024, the conference announced that it would rebrand as the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), effective on July 1. ^[14]

Chronological timeline

• 1981 - The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) was founded. Charter members included Belhaven College (now Belhaven University), Dillard University, Louisiana College (now Louisiana Christian University), Spring Hill College, Tougaloo College, William Carey College (now William Carey University), and Xavier University of Louisiana beginning the 1981-82 academic year.
• 1985 - Mobile College (now the University of Mobile) joined the GCAC in the 1985-86 academic year.
• 1986 - Southern University at New Orleans joined the GCAC in the 1986-87 academic year.
• 1995 - Loyola University (now Loyola University New Orleans) joined the GCAC in the 1995-96 academic year.
• 1999 - Talladega College joined the GCAC in the 1999-2000 academic year.
• 2000 - Two institutions left the GCAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Belhaven to become an NAIA Independent, and Louisiana College to join the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the American Southwest Conference, both effective after the 1999-2000 academic year.
• 2000 - Louisiana State University at Shreveport (a.k.a. Louisiana State–Shreveport or LSU–Shreveport) joined the GCAC in the 2000-01 academic year.
• 2002 - Talladega left the GCAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 2001-02 academic year.
• 2002 - Belhaven re-joined the GCAC in the 2002-03 academic year.
• 2005 - Dillard and Xavier (La.) cancelled all athletic competition while Loyola (La.) and Southern–New Orleans competed in partial competition due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina during the 2005-06 academic year.
• 2010 - Six institutions left the GCAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Loyola (La.), Mobile, Spring Hill and William Carey (with Belhaven for a second time) to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), and Louisiana State–Shreveport (or LSU–Shreveport) to join the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC), all effective after the 2009-10 academic year.
• 2010 - Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University) and Fisk University joined the GCAC in the 2010-11 academic year.
• 2011 - Philander Smith College (now Philander Smith University) joined the GCAC (with Talladega re-joining) in the 2011-12 academic year.
• 2013 - Voorhees College (now Voorhees University) joined the GCAC in the 2013-14 academic year.
• 2014 - Fisk left the GCAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 2013-14 academic year.
• 2015 - Voorhees left the GCAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 2014-15 academic year.
• 2018 - Rust College joined the GCAC in the 2018-19 academic year.
• 2019 - Southern–New Orleans left the GCAC due to suspending its athletic program until further notice after the 2018-19 academic year.
• 2021 - Three institutions left the GCAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Talladega for a second time to join the SSAC, Xavier (La.) to join the RRAC, and Edward Waters to join the NCAA Division II ranks and re-joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), all effective after the 2020-21 academic year; although Edward Waters would remain in the GCAC to compete in conference tournaments for all sponsored sports during the provisional transition until the end of the 2021-22 academic year.
• 2021 - Fisk re-joined the GCAC in the 2021-22 academic year.
• 2022 - Southern–New Orleans announced that it would reinstate its athletics program and rejoin the GCAC, along with new members Oakwood University and Wiley College (now a university) beginning the 2022-23 academic year.
• 2023 – The University of the Virgin Islands joined the GCAC in the 2023-24 academic year; thus making the first from a U.S. territory to join an NAIA or NCAA conference in the 21st century. Talladega also re-joined the GCAC.
• 2024 – Stillman College and Wilberforce University will join the GCAC (with Voorhees re-joining) beginning the 2024-25 academic year.
• 2024 – The GCAC will rebrand itself as the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) beginning the 2024-25 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The GCAC currently has ten full members; all but two are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]
Dillard University	New Orleans, Louisiana	1869	United Methodist & United Church of Christ	900	Bleu Devils & Lady Bleu Devils	1981
Fisk University	Nashville, Tennessee	1866	United Church of Christ	910	Bulldogs	2010; 2021 [lower-alpha 2]
Oakwood University	Huntsville, Alabama	1896	Seventh-day Adventist	1,400	Ambassadors	2022
Philander Smith University [lower-alpha 3]	Little Rock, Arkansas	1864	United Methodist	700	Panthers	2011
Rust College	Holly Springs, Mississippi	1866	United Methodist	900	Bearcats	2018
Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO)	New Orleans, Louisiana	1956	Public	2,715	Knights & Lady Knights	1986; 2022 [lower-alpha 4]
Talladega College	Talladega, Alabama	1867	United Church of Christ	1337	Tornadoes	1999; 2011; 2023 [lower-alpha 5]
Tougaloo College	Tougaloo, Mississippi	1869	United Church of Christ & Disciples of Christ	900	Bulldogs	1981
University of the Virgin Islands	Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands	1962	Public	2,392	Buccaneers	2023
Wiley University [lower-alpha 6]	Marshall, Texas	1873	United Methodist	1,250	Wildcats	2022

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Fisk left the GCAC after the 2013–14 school year; before rejoining in the 2021–22 school year.
3. Formerly known as Philander Smith College until 2023.
4. Southern–New Orleans (SUNO) suspended its athletic program after the 2018–19 school year; and rejoined the GCAC in the 2022–23 school year.
5. Tallaedga left the GCAC after the 2001–02 school year; then rejoined from 2011–12 to 2020–21; before rejoining in the 2023–24 school year.
6. Formerly known as Wiley College until 2023.

Future members

The GCAC will have three future full members, all will be private schools: ^{[15] [16] [17]}

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining [lower-alpha 1]	Primary conference
Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	1876	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,000	Tigers	2024	Southern States (SSAC)
Voorhees University	Denmark, South Carolina	1897	Episcopal	600	Tigers	2024 [lower-alpha 2]	Continental
Wilberforce University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1856	A.M.E. Church	900	Bulldogs	2024	Continental

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Voorhees was a full member of the GCAC from 2013–14 to 2014–15.

Former members

The GCAC had 10 former full members, all but two were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Afiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Left [lower-alpha 2]	Subsequent conference(s)	Current conference
Belhaven University [lower-alpha 3]	Jackson, Mississippi	1883	Evangelical Presbyterian	3,245	Blazers	1981; 2002	2000; 2010	various [lower-alpha 5]	C.C. of the South (CCS) [lower-alpha 4] (2022–present)
Edward Waters College [lower-alpha 6]	Jacksonville, Florida	1866	A.M.E. Church	966	Tigers	2010	2021 [lower-alpha 7]	Southern (SIAC) [lower-alpha 8] (2021–present)
Louisiana College [lower-alpha 9]	Pineville, Louisiana	1906	Baptist	1,200	Wildcats	1981	2000	American Southwest [lower-alpha 4] (2000–21)	Red River (RRAC) (2021–present)
Louisiana State University at Shreveport	Shreveport, Louisiana	1967	Public	4,200	Pilots	2000 [lower-alpha 10]	2010	Red River (RRAC) (2010–present)
Loyola University New Orleans	New Orleans, Louisiana	1904	Catholic (Jesuit)	4,858	Wolf Pack	1995	2010	Southern States (SSAC) (2010–present)
University of Mobile	Mobile, Alabama	1961	Baptist	1,577	Rams	1985	2010	Southern States (SSAC) (2010–present)
Spring Hill College	Mobile, Alabama	1830	Catholic (Jesuit)	1,439	Badgers	1981	2010	Southern States (SSAC) (2010–14)	Southern (SIAC) [lower-alpha 8] (2014–present)
Voorhees College [lower-alpha 11]	Denmark, South Carolina	1897	Episcopal	600	Tigers	2013	2015	Continental (2015–present)
William Carey University	Hattiesburg, Mississippi	1906	Baptist	3,250	Crusaders	1981	2010	Southern States (SSAC) (2010–present)
Xavier University of Louisiana	New Orleans, Louisiana	1925	Catholic (S.B.S.)	3,200	Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets	1981	2021	Red River (RRAC) (2021–present)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Formerly known as Belhaven College until 2010.
4. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
5. Belhaven had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NAIA Independent from 2000–01 to 2001–02; the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 2010–11 to 2014–15; and the American Southwest Conference ^{[lower-alpha 4]} from 2015–16 to 2021–22.
6. Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
7. Edward Waters remained in the GCAC to compete in conference tournaments for all sponsored sports during the provisional transition until after the 2021–22 school year.
8. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
9. Currently known as Louisiana Christian University since November 2021.
10. The LSU–Shreveport men's and women's basketball teams joined the GCAC three years after becoming a full member for other sports (2003–04).
11. Currently known as Voorhees University since 2022.

Membership timeline

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

Conference sports

Old logo

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

Conference champions

Baseball

Year	Regular season champion	Tournament champion
2015	Edward Waters College	Talladega College
2014	Talladega College	Talladega College
2013	N/A	N/A
2012	N/A	N/A
2011	N/A	N/A
2010	Belhaven College	Louisiana State University Shreveport
2009	William Carey University	Belhaven College
2008	University of Mobile	cancelled
2007	Belhaven College	Louisiana State University Shreveport
2006	Belhaven College	Louisiana State University Shreveport
2005	Louisiana State University Shreveport	William Carey University
2004	William Carey University	Belhaven College
2003	William Carey University	none
2002	Loyola University New Orleans	none
2001	Spring Hill College	none
2000	Spring Hill College	none
1999	University of Mobile	none
1998	University of Mobile	none
1997	Spring Hill College	none
1996	William Carey University	none
1995	William Carey University	none
1994	Belhaven College	none
1993	William Carey University	none
1992	William Carey University	none
1991	William Carey University	none
1990	William Carey University	none
1989	William Carey University	none
1988	William Carey University	none
1987	Louisiana College	none
1986	William Carey University	none
1985	Spring Hill College	none
1984	William Carey University	none
1983	William Carey University Spring Hill College	none
1982	William Carey University	none

References

1. "Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Directory 1981–1982" (PDF). p. 2.
2. "SSAC To Expand And Restructure Conference In 2010-11". TheChattanoogan.com. September 29, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
3. "Talladega College join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference". Talladega College Tornadoes. January 9, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
4. "Great 8: GCAC Welcomes Rust College As Newest Member". Victory Sports Network. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
5. "GCAC's Steve Martin named commissioner of Mississippi Junior College system". Crescent City Sports. March 11, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
6. "SUNO to suspend athletic programs months after it was placed on probation over financial problems". nola.com. December 19, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
7. "Xavier University of Louisiana to become RRAC's 13th member institution in 2021-22". Red River Athletic Conference. September 14, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
8. "Talladega College to join NAIA's Southern States Conference in 2021-22". Talladega College Tornadoes. December 18, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
9. "GCAC To Welcome Fisk University Back To Conference In Fall 2021". Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
10. "Edward Waters University Returns as SIAC Member Institution". Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. July 19, 2021.
11. Canicosa, JC (October 22, 2021). "At a cost to their students, SUNO's athletics program will return next year". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
12. "GCAC Extends Membership To Oakwood University, Wiley College, Southern University at New Orleans". January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
13. "UVI Joins NAIA's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference". University of the Virgin Islands. November 3, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
14. Mosley, Kyle (February 29, 2024). "The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Rebrands To The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) And Signs Partnership With HOPE Credit Union". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
15. Wilberforce University Slated to Join Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 2024 - Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC)
16. Voorhees University Making Move to Gulf Coast Athletic Conference in 2024 - Voorhees University
17. Stillman College to become 13th member of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference - Stillman College

External links

• Official website