Sun Conference

Sun Conference

Formerly	Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1990–1992) Florida Sun Conference (1992–2008)
Association	NAIA
Founded	1990
Commissioner	Dustin Wilke
Sports fielded	17 men's: 9 women's: 8
No. of teams	9 (10 in 2024)
Headquarters	Daytona Beach, Florida
Region	Southern United States
Official website	www.thesunconference.com
Locations

The Sun Conference (TSC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Seven of the ten full member institutions are located in Florida, with three in Georgia. The Sun Conference competes in the NAIA in all sponsored sports.

History

The Sun Conference

150km
100miles

Florida Memorial

Coastal Georgia

Keiser

New College

Southeastern (FL)

Ave Maria

SCAD

Webber International

Warner

St. Thomas (FL)

  

Location of TSC members: current and future

The conference was created in March 1990 as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (FIAC), and renamed to the Florida Sun Conference in 1992. Charter members consisted of Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Flagler College, Florida Memorial University, Nova University of Advanced Technology (now Nova Southeastern University), Palm Beach Atlantic University, Saint Thomas University, Warner Southern College (now Warner University) and Webber International University.

The league later grew to nine members with the addition of Northwood University in 1994 (now Keiser University). Between 2002 and 2006, Nova Southeastern (2002), Palm Beach Atlantic (2003) and Flagler (2006) moved to NCAA Division II. But the league was able to recruit new members as Savannah College of Art and Design joined in 2004, followed by Edward Waters College (now a university) in 2006. It adopted its current name in August 2008 to reflect its expansion to institutions outside of Florida. ^[1] With the addition of the University of South Carolina at Beaufort in 2008, Johnson & Wales University, Southeastern University and Ave Maria University in 2009, and Thomas University of Georgia in 2012, along with Edward Waters' move to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference after the 2009–10 season, the league membership stood at 12 schools as of the 2012–13 season.

In 2014, Point University and former member Edward Waters College joined the conference for football only. Starting with the 2016 season, all six football members moved to the Mid-South Conference for that sport. ^[2] Charter member Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University departed the conference on June 30, 2015 and joined the Sunshine State Conference (D-II). In 2017, the College of Coastal Georgia joined the Sun Conference, ^[3] with the conference again standing at a total of 12 members. In 2018, Sun Conference member Keiser added football ^[4] but Edward Waters left the Mid-South football league. In 2019, Saint Thomas also added football and Florida Memorial re-added the sport after more than 60 years, ^{[5] [6]} bringing the number of members participating in football to 8.

On June 25, 2020, Johnson & Wales announced it would close down its North Miami campus at the end of the 2020-21 school year, ^[7] and on July 28, Johnson & Wales North Miami discontinued all sports. ^[8]

On April 14, 2021, South Carolina–Beaufort reported its invitation to join the Division II Peach Belt Conference in 2022 after applying for membership in, and pending acceptance into, the NCAA. ^[9] The conference published on December 22 its reinstatement of football for the 2022 season, having grown to seven schools, ^[10] with Thomas initiating football to become the eighth football member. ^[11] By July 15, 2022, USCB was already accepted into the Continental Athletic Conference, formerly the Association of Independent Institutions, only for the first of its three-year NCAA provisional membership but with a Peach Belt schedule as part of the Sand Sharks' dual NAIA-NCAA membership. ^[12]

On July 1, 2022, Thomas announced that they would leave the conference and join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), starting in the 2023–24 academic year. ^[13] They remain in the Sun Conference as an affiliate member for football from that day forward.

Chronological timeline

• 1990 - In March 1990, the Sun Conference was founded as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (FIAC). Charter members included Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Daytona Beach, Flagler College, Florida Memorial University, Nova University of Advanced Technology (now Nova Southeastern University), Palm Beach Atlantic University, Saint Thomas University, Warner Southern College (now Warner University), and Webber International University beginning the 1990-91 academic year.
• 1992 - The FIAC has been rebranded as the Florida Sun Conference in the 1992-93 academic year.
• 1994 - Northwood University–Florida joined the Florida Sun in the 1994-95 academic year.
• 2002 - Nova Southeastern left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) after the 2001-02 academic year.
• 2003 - Palm Beach Atlantic left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2002-03 academic year.
• 2004 - Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah joined the Florida Sun in the 2004-05 academic year.
• 2006 - Flagler left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2005-06 academic year.
• 2006 - Edward Waters College (now Edward Waters University) joined the Florida Sun in the 2006-07 academic year.
• 2008 - The Florida Sun has been rebranded as The Sun Conference in the 2008-09 academic year.
• 2008 - The University of South Carolina at Beaufort joined the Sun Conference in the 2008-09 academic year.
• 2009 - Ave Maria University, the Florida campus of Johnson & Wales University (Johnson and Wales–Florida) and Southeastern University joined the Sun Conference in the 2009-10 academic year. Ave Maria joined as an associate/provisional member.
• 2010 - Edward Waters left the Sun Conference to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) after the 2009-10 academic year.
• 2012 - Thomas University joined the Sun Conference in the 2012-13 academic year.
• 2014 - Point University joined the Sun Conference as an affiliate member for football (with Edward Waters re-joining) in the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
• 2015 - Embry–Riddle left the Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the SSC after the 2014-15 academic year.
• 2015 - Northwood–Florida left the Sun Conference as the school announced that it would close after the 2014-15 academic year. However, Keiser University purchased the location, therefore it has inherited everything Northwood–Florida had sponsored (including its athletic program) and joined the Sun Conference in the 2015-16 academic year.
• 2017 - Point and Edward Waters left the Sun Conference as affiliate members for football after the 2016 fall season (2016-17 academic year).
• 2017 - The College of Coastal Georgia joined the Sun Conference in the 2017-18 academic year.
• 2020 - Johnson and Wales–Florida left the Sun Conference as the school announced that it would close after the 2019-20 academic year.
• 2022 - South Carolina–Beaufort (USCB) left the Sun Conference to join the Continental Athletic Conference, in addition to the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) in the 2022-23 academic year. USCB left the CAC and the NAIA after that school year to focus on the Peach Belt and the NCAA.
• 2022 - Thomas (Ga.) announced that they would leave the Sun Conference and join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) beginning the 2023-24 academic year. ^[14]
• 2024 – The New College of Florida will join the conference in the 2024–25 academic year. ^[15]

Member schools

Current members

The Sun currently has nine full members, all but two are private schools. ^{[16] [3]} Departing members are highlighted in pink.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Basketball?
Ave Maria University	Ave Maria, Florida	2003	Catholic (Diocese of Venice)	1,200	Gyrenes	2009	both
College of Coastal Georgia	Brunswick, Georgia	1961	Public	3,438	Mariners	2017	both
Florida Memorial University	Miami Gardens, Florida	1879	American Baptist	1,784	Lions	1990	both
Keiser University	West Palm Beach, Florida	1977	Nonsectarian	19,510	Seahawks [lower-alpha 2]	2015	both
St. Thomas University	Miami Gardens, Florida	1961	Catholic (Archdiocese of Miami)	1,750	Bobcats	1990	both
Savannah College of Art and Design	Savannah, Georgia	1978	Non-profit art school	11,897	Bees	2004	none [lower-alpha 3]
Southeastern University	Lakeland, Florida	1935	Assemblies of God	3,850	Fire	2009	both
Warner University	Lake Wales, Florida	1968	Church of God	1,037	Royals	1990	both
Webber International University	Babson Park, Florida	1927	Nonsectarian	616	Warriors	1990	both

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Keiser University's teams were the teams of Northwood University's Florida campus until Keiser University purchased it in 2015 and made the teams its own.
3. Savannah A&D had sponsored men's or women's basketball until after the 2008–09 school year.

Future members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	Basketball?
New College of Florida	Sarasota, Florida	1960	Public	675	Mighty Banyans	2024	both

Current affiliate members

In 2021, the conference added the University of Mobile, St. Andrews University, Truett McConnell University, and William Carey University as affiliate members for beach volleyball. ^[17] Loyola of New Orleans also participates in beach volleyball. ^[18]

In 2022, Life University began participating in men's swimming, women's swimming, and women's lacrosse. ^[19]

Former members

The Sun had nine former full members, most are private schools, one is public, and two are defunct:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Left [lower-alpha 2]	Subsequent conference(s)	Current conference
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach Campus)	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	Nonsectarian	6,794	Eagles	1990	2015	Sunshine State (SSC) [lower-alpha 3] (2015–present)
Edward Waters College [lower-alpha 4] [lower-alpha 5]	Jacksonville, Florida	1866	A.M.E. Church	966	Tigers	2006	2010	Gulf Coast (GCAC) (2010–21)	Southern (SIAC) [lower-alpha 3] (2021–present)
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	1968	Nonsectarian	2,046	Saints	1990	2006	D-II Independent (2006–09)	Peach Belt (PBC) [lower-alpha 3] (2009–present)
Northwood University–Florida	West Palm Beach, Florida	1984	Nonsectarian	N/A	Seahawks	1994	2015	N/A [lower-alpha 6]
Johnson & Wales University–Florida	North Miami, Florida	1992	Nonsectarian	N/A	Wildcats	2009	2020	Closed in 2021
Nova Southeastern University	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	1964	Nonsectarian	24,148	Sharks	1990	2002	Sunshine State (SSC) [lower-alpha 3] (2002–present)
Palm Beach Atlantic University	West Palm Beach, Florida	1968	Nondenominational	3,764	Sailfish	1990	2003	D-II Independent (2003–15)	Sunshine State (SSC) [lower-alpha 3] (2015–present)
University of South Carolina Beaufort	Beaufort, South Carolina	1959	Public	1,386	Sand Sharks	2008	2022	Continental (CAC) (2022–23)	Peach Belt (PBC) [lower-alpha 3] (2022–present)
Thomas University [lower-alpha 7]	Thomasville, Georgia	1950	Nonsectarian	1,100	Night Hawks	2012	2023	Southern States (SSAC) (2023–present)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
4. Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
5. Edward Waters later joined The Sun as an affiliate member for football from the 2015 to 2016 fall seasons (2015–16 to 2016–17 school years).
6. Northwood–Florida was sold to Keiser University in 2015.
7. Thomas remains an affiliate member of the Sun Conference in football.

Former affiliate members

The Sun had two former affiliate members, both were private schools:

For the 2014 and 2015 football seasons, Edward Waters and Point joined the conference. All six members moved to the Mid-South Conference for the 2016 season. With the exception of Point, which participates in the Appalachian Division, these teams plus Faulkner University now form the Sun Division of the Mid-South Conference. ^[20]

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Left [lower-alpha 2]	Sun sport	Primary conference	Conference in former Sun sport
Edward Waters College [lower-alpha 3] [lower-alpha 4]	Jacksonville, Florida	1866	A.M.E. Church	966	Tigers	2014	2016	football	Southern (SIAC) [lower-alpha 5]
Point University	West Point, Georgia	1937	Christian	1,000	Skyhawks				Appalachian (AAC)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.
4. Edward Waters was a full member of The Sun from 2006–07 to 2009–10.
5. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)  Full member (non-football)  Associate member (football-only) 

Sports

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Beach Volleyball		Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Flag football		Y
Football	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

References

1. "About the Sun Conference" . Retrieved November 19, 2008.
2. "Mid-South Conference Creates Largest College Football Conference". February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
3. "COASTAL GEORGIA SET TO OFFICIALLY BECOME SUN CONFERENCE MEMBER". June 29, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
4. Evenson, Johyn (October 11, 2016). "Keiser University Athletics adds football starting in 2018" . Retrieved April 23, 2018.
5. "St. Thomas to Launch Football in 2019; Joins MSC Sun Division". mid-southconference.org. August 29, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
6. "This is why Florida Memorial is bringing back college football after a 61-year hiatus". Miami Herald. June 4, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
7. "Johnson & Wales, which trained many local chefs, is closing its North Miami campus" . June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
8. "Johnson & Wales Discontinues Athletics". Victory Sports Network. July 30, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
9. "Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member". USCB Sand Sharks. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
10. "Football Returns to the Sun Conference in 2022". Sun Conference. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
11. "Mitjans Named Head Coach of Thomas University's New Football Team". January 25, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
12. "USC Beaufort Approved for NCAA DII Membership". USCB Athletics (Press release). July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
13. "TU Set to Join SSAC in 2023-24". TU Night Hawks Athletics (Press release). July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
14. "TU Set to Join SSAC in 2023-24". TU Night Hawks Athletics (Press release). July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
15. "NAIA Announces Five New Members". NAIA. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
16. "The Sun Conference". The Sun Conference. August 18, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
17. "Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Adds Affiliate Members". July 29, 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
18. "Beach volleyball gets first conference win Saturday".
19. "Life U Athletics Releases Conference Affiliations for 2022-23".
20. Wilson, Michael (February 25, 2016). "Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved February 27, 2016.

External links

• Official website