Southern States Athletic Conference

Last updated
Southern States Athletic Conference
Southern States Athletic Conference logo.png
FormerlyGeorgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004)
Association NAIA
Founded1999
CommissionerMike Hall
Sports fielded
  • 19
    • men's: 9
    • women's: 10
No. of teams13 (12 in 2025)
Headquarters Montgomery, Alabama
Region Southeastern United States
Official website ssacsports.com
Locations
SSAC-map.png

The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 13 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Basketball teams compete as a single division in the NAIA.

Contents

History

The Southern States Athletic Conference was established as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) on March 16, 1999. On June 27, 2004, the conference changed its name to the Southern States Athletic Conference. [1]

Chronological timeline

Southern States Athletic Conference
Southern States Athletic Conference
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150km
100miles
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Brewton–Parker
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UT Southern
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Thomas
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Point
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Life
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Abraham Baldwin
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Middle Georgia State
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Dalton State
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Blue Mountain
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William Carey
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Mobile
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Loyola New Orleans
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Faulkner
Location of SSAC members: Red pog.svg current, Black pog.svg departing

Member schools

Current members

The SSAC currently has 13 full members, all but four being private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Basketball?
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, Georgia 1908Public [b] 3,284 Golden Stallions 2024both
Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain, Mississippi 1873 Southern Baptist 505 Toppers 2013both
Brewton–Parker College Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Southern Baptist 1,050 Barons 1999both
Dalton State College Dalton, Georgia 1963Public [b] 5,047 Roadrunners 2014men's
Faulkner University Montgomery, Alabama 1942 Churches of Christ 3,703 Eagles 1999both
Life University [2] Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,692 Running Eagles 2022both
Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 1904 Catholic (Jesuit)4,858 Wolf Pack 2010both
Middle Georgia State University [3] Cochran, Georgia [c] [d] 2013Public [b] 8,404 Knights 2014both
University of Mobile Mobile, Alabama 1961 Southern Baptist 1,577 Rams 2010both
Point University [4] [5] West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 1,718 Skyhawks 2023both
Thomas University [6] Thomasville, Georgia 1950 Nonsectarian 1,138 Night Hawks 2023both
University of Tennessee Southern [7] Pulaski, Tennessee 1870Public [e] 757 FireHawks 2013;
2023 [f]
both
William Carey University Hattiesburg, Mississippi 1892 Southern Baptist 3,250 Crusaders 2010both
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. 1 2 3 Part of the University System of Georgia.
  3. Middle Georgia State's main campus is in Macon, where the women's cross-country and volleyball teams and men's and women's tennis teams are housed; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the Cochran campus.
  4. Middle Georgia State, pending approval from the NCAA, will leave the SSAC for Division II's Peach Belt Conference, projected to be in 2025.
  5. Part of the University of Tennessee System.
  6. UT Southern initially joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 school year under its old name Martin Methodist College, before leaving after the 2019–20 school year, and then rejoining under its current name before the 2023–24 school year.

Affiliate members

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] SSAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Florida Memorial University Miami Gardens, Florida 1879 American Baptist [b] 1,784 Lions 2022competitive cheer The Sun (TSC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Also a historically black college and university.

Former members

The SSAC had 20 former full members, all but five were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Alabama 1967Public5,188 Warhawks 19992016 Gulf South (GSC) [c]
Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi 1883 Evangelical
Presbyterian
3,245 Blazers 20102015 C.C. South (CCS) [d]
Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee 1842 Cumberland
Presbyterian
2,975 Wildcats 20132020 Mid-South (MSC) [8] [e]
Berry College Mount Berry, Georgia 1902 Nondenominational 1,937 Vikings 20042010 Southern (SAA) [d]
Brenau University [f] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Nonsectarian 3,500 Golden Tigers 19992017 Appalachian (AAC)
College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, Georgia 1961Public [g] 3,438 Mariners 20122017 The Sun
Columbia College [h] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,200 Fighting Koalas 20052011 Appalachian (AAC)
Emmanuel College [i] Franklin Springs, Georgia 1919 Pentecostal 760 Lions 19992014 Carolinas (CC) [c]
Florida College [j] Temple Terrace, Florida 1946 Churches of Christ 505 Falcons 20182021 Continental
Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, Georgia 1906Public [g] 3,033 Hurricanes 19992006 Peach Belt (PBC) [c]
Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee 1918 Church of God 5,189 Flames 20042013 Gulf South (GSC) [c]
North Georgia College & State University [k] Dahlonega, Georgia 1873Public [g] 18,782 Saints [l] 19992005 Peach Belt (PBC) [c]
Reinhardt College [m] Waleska, Georgia 1883United Methodist1,057 Eagles 20002009 Appalachian (AAC)
Shorter University Rome, Georgia 1873 Baptist 1,520 Hawks 19992012 Gulf South (GSC) [c]
Southern Polytechnic State University Marietta, Georgia 1948Public [g] N/A Runnin' Hornets 19992014N/A [n]
Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina 1906 Wesleyan 1,616 Warriors 19992014 Carolinas (CC) [c]
Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama 1830 Catholic
(Jesuit)
1,439 Badgers 20102014 Southern (SIAC) [c]
Stillman College Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1876 Presbyterian [o]
(PCUSA)
1,000 Tigers 20182024 HBCU (HBCUAC)
Talladega College Talladega, Alabama 1867 United Church of Christ [o] 600 Tornadoes 20212023 HBCU (HBCUAC)
Truett–McConnell College Cleveland, Georgia 1946Baptist1,600 Bears 20102013 Appalachian (AAC)
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 7 8 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  5. Bethel was already a Mid-South Conference affiliate in archery and football. Bethel returned to the MSC in track and field, and transferred all other sports to that conference as a full member.
  6. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Part of the University System of Georgia.
  8. 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].
  9. Currently known as Emmanuel University since 2023.
  10. Florida College had sponsored women's basketball until after the 2020–21 school year.
  11. North Georgia State consolidated with Gainesville State College in 2013 to form the current University of North Georgia.
  12. Since the 2013 merger, North Georgia has competed as the North Georgia Nighthawks.
  13. Currently known as Reinhardt University since 2010.
  14. Southern Poly had consolidated with Kennesaw State University in 2014.
  15. 1 2 Also a historically black college and university.

Former affiliate members

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] SSAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Dillard University New Orleans, Louisiana 1869 United Methodist &
United Church of Christ
900 Bleu Devils &
Lady Bleu Devils
2021m.ten.
2021w.ten.
2024m.ten.
2024w.ten.
men's tennis
women's tennis
HBCU (HBCUAC)
Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee 1866United Church of Christ910 Bulldogs 20212022women's tennis HBCU (HBCUAC)
Florida National University Hialeah, Florida 1988 For-profit 5,541 Conquistadors 2021m.ten.
2021w.ten.
2023m.ten.
2023w.ten.
men's tennis
women's tennis
Continental
Keiser University West Palm Beach, Florida 1977Nonsectarian19,510 Seahawks 20232024competitive cheer The Sun (TSC)
Point University West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 1,718 Skyhawks 20172023competitive cheerSouthern States (SSAC)
Rust College Holly Springs, Mississippi 1866United Methodist900 Bearcats 2021m.ten.
2021w.ten.
2022m.ten.
2022w.ten.
men's tennis
women's tennis
HBCU (HBCUAC)
Tougaloo College Tougaloo, Mississippi 1869United Church of Christ &
Disciples of Christ
900 Bulldogs 2021m.ten.
2021w.ten.
2022m.ten.
2022w.ten.
men's tennis
women's tennis
HBCU (HBCUAC)
Warner University Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 1,037 Royals 20202021competitive cheer The Sun (TSC)
Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana 1925Catholic
(S.B.S.)
3,200 Gold Rush &
Gold Nuggets
2020cheer.
2020m.ten.
2020w.ten.
2021cheer.
2021m.ten.
2021w.ten.
competitive cheer
men's tennis
women's tennis
Red River (RRAC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

Membership timeline

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeKeiser UniversityThomas UniversityFlorida Memorial UniversityLife UniversityTougaloo CollegeRust CollegeFlorida National UniversityFisk UniversityDillard UniversityHBCU Athletic ConferenceTalladega CollegeXavier University of LouisianaWarner UniversityHBCU Athletic ConferenceStillman CollegeNAIA independent schoolsFlorida CollegePoint UniversityPeach Belt ConferenceMiddle Georgia State UniversityDalton State CollegeUniversity of Tennessee SouthernMid-South ConferenceMartin Methodist CollegeBlue Mountain Christian UniversityMid-South ConferenceBethel University (Tennessee)Sun ConferenceCollege of Coastal GeorgiaWilliam Carey UniversityAppalachian Athletic ConferenceTruett McConnell UniversitySouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceSpring Hill CollegeUniversity of MobileLoyola University New OrleansCollegiate Conference of the SouthAmerican Southwest ConferenceBelhaven UniversityAppalachian Athletic ConferenceColumbia College (South Carolina)Gulf South ConferenceLee UniversitySouthern Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsBerry CollegeAppalachian Athletic ConferenceReinhardt UniversityConference CarolinasSouthern Wesleyan UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State UniversityConference CarolinasGulf South ConferenceShorter UniversityPeach Belt ConferenceUniversity of North GeorgiaPeach Belt ConferenceGeorgia Southwestern State UniversityFaulkner UniversityConference CarolinasEmmanuel College (Georgia)Brewton–Parker CollegeAppalachian Athletic ConferenceBrenau UniversityGulf South ConferenceNCAA Division II independent schoolsAuburn University at MontgomerySouthern States Athletic Conference

 Full member (non-football)

Sports

The SSAC holds championships in the following 19 sports:

A divisional format is used for men's and women's basketball.
East
  • Abraham Baldwin
  • Brewton-Parker
  • Dalton State <men's only>
  • Life
  • Middle Georgia State
  • Point
  • Thomas
West
  • Blue Mountain Christian
  • Faulkner
  • Loyola [La.]
  • Mobile
  • Tennessee-Southern
  • William Carey
Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Bowling Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Softball Green check.svg
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & Field Indoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & Field Outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svg

References

  1. "The Governance Structure of the SSAC". Southern States Athletic Conference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  2. "Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23". Life Running Eagles. December 16, 2020.
  3. "Middle Georgia State University's athletics program to shift from NAIA to NCAA Division II" (Press release). 41 WMGT. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. "Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. August 9, 2022.
  5. "Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24". Point University. August 9, 2022.
  6. "Thomas University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. July 1, 2022.
  7. "Tennessee Southern Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. July 1, 2022.
  8. "Bethel, Freed–Hardeman and Martin Methodist Renew Rivalries with Mid-South Conference Move". Mid-South Conference. July 25, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.