Sunshine State Conference

Last updated
Sunshine State Conference
Sunshine State Conference logo.svg
Association NCAA
Founded1975
CommissionerEd Pasque (since 2014)
Sports fielded
  • 21
    • men's: 9
    • women's: 12
Division Division II
No. of teams11
Headquarters Melbourne, Florida
Region Florida
Official website sunshinestateconference.com
Locations
Sunshineconferencestates.png

The Sunshine State Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. All of its member institutions are located in the state of Florida, which is popularly known as the Sunshine State.

Contents

The conference was originally formed in 1975 as a men's basketball conference. It has since expanded to sponsor championships in 18 sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball.

SSC institutions have won a total of 111 NCAA national team championships, including a conference record seven in the 2014–15 and 2018–19 academic years. [1] The conference has also claimed a total of 90 national runner-up trophies. [2]

History

The conference was preceded by the Florida Intercollegiate Conference,[ citation needed ] which was disbanded in the mid-1960s. The Sunshine State Conference was founded in 1975 by Saint Leo University (then Saint Leo College) basketball coach & athletic director Norm Kaye. Kaye served as Commissioner the first year until Dick Pace was named Commissioner in 1976. Kaye continued as Executive Director of the Conference for an additional 12 years. Pace was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

The six charter Conference members were: Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University), Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida), Eckerd College, Florida Southern College, Rollins College, and Saint Leo College.

The Conference has seen dozens of athletes go on to have successful professional careers. Some examples include: Current PGA Tour players Lee Janzen and Rocco Mediate went to Florida Southern. Janzen won golf's U.S. Open in 1993 & 1998; on the baseball side are Tino Martinez (Tampa), Tim Wakefield (Florida Tech), Ryan Hanigan (Rollins), Bob Tewksbury (Saint Leo), and J. D. Martinez (Nova Southeastern). Wakefield tied a career high of 17 wins pitching for the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and Tewksbury was third in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award while going 16–5 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1992.

Chronological timeline

Sunshine State Conference
Sunshine State Conference
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75km
50miles
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Barry
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Tampa
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Saint Leo
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Rollins
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Palm Beach Atlantic
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Nova Southeastern
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Lynn
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Florida Tech
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Florida
Southern
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Embry–Riddle
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Eckerd
Location of members: Location dot orange.svg
  • March 2, 1975 – Basketball conference exploration meeting is held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Main purpose of meeting is to discuss formation of an NCAA Division II mid-Florida basketball conference. [3]
  • March 16, 1975 – Second exploration meeting is held at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. The name "Sunshine State Conference" is suggested by Dr. Calvin C. Miller and is adopted for league use. Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is named Interim Commissioner. Dr. Thomas B. Southard, president of Saint Leo College, is named as first conference president.
  • June 1975 – Conference constitution adopted.
  • October 8, 1975 – First meeting of the SSC is held in Orlando. Basketball regulations and league bylaws are revised and approved.
  • December 3, 1975 – Florida Southern defeats Eckerd, 96–84, in first SSC basketball game played in Saint Petersburg.
  • April 8, 1976 – Dick Pace is named league commissioner. NCAA approves automatic bid for SSC basketball champion. Golf and Tennis are added to league for 1976–77, baseball and soccer are added for 1977–78.
  • May 18, 1977 – First Sunshine State Conference men's basketball tournament held
  • February 1, 1981 – Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is appointed as executive of SSC. Executive Committee is formed, consisting of league athletic directors.
  • July 1, 1981 – Florida Institute of Technology joins the Sunshine State Conference.
  • September 2, 1981 – The University of Tampa joins the Sunshine State Conference.
  • April 15, 1982 – League adopts women's competition in basketball, cross country, slow-pitch softball, tennis, and volleyball.
  • May 1, 1984 – University of Central Florida (formerly Florida Technological University) withdraws from the conference. Women's fast-pitch softball is adopted for league play in 1985.
  • February 2, 1986 – Bob Vanatta, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, is named as league's first full-time commissioner.
  • June 13, 1988 – Barry University joins the conference.
  • November 1990 – Conference signs a two-year contract with the Sunshine Network for seven events.
  • February 11, 1991 – University of North Florida joins the conference, effective July 1, 1992.
  • July 1, 1994 – Don Landry is named conference commissioner and conference relocates to Orlando.
  • November 22, 1994 – Conference announces three-year deal to have postseason basketball tournament at The Lakeland Center. The SSC will serve as host in 1996 and 1997.
  • December 1, 1994 – Sunshine Network announces nine-event television package for school year.
  • June 9, 1995 – Inaugural SSC Awards Luncheon held in Orlando.
  • February 29, 1996 – Inaugural SSC Hall of Fame/Honors banquet held in Lakeland.
  • September 30, 1996 – University of North Florida withdraws from the Sunshine State Conference, effective June 30, 1997.
  • October 15, 1996 – Women's crew added to Sunshine State Conference sponsored sports.
  • December 18, 1996 – Lynn University joins the Sunshine State Conference, effective July 1, 1997.
  • July 15, 1998 – League adds women's soccer and women's golf as sponsored sports.
  • August 24, 1999 – Saint Leo College becomes Saint Leo University and adopts new nickname ("Lions") and logo.
  • July 1, 2000 – 25th Anniversary of the Sunshine State Conference.
  • August 26, 2002 – Nova Southeastern University joins the Sunshine State Conference as a provisional member.
  • May 26, 2004 – Don Landry announced retirement as SSC Commissioner, effective August 1, 2004. Landry remained acting commissioner through September 6, 2004.
  • July 26, 2004 – Michael J. Marcil named SSC commissioner, effective September 7, 2004.
  • September 14, 2009 – Jay Jones officially begins duties as the SSC commissioner, replacing Mike Marcil, who left the post June 30, 2009.
  • April 7, 2010 – League adds men's and women's swimming as sponsored sport.
  • July 1, 2013 – League adds men's lacrosse as sponsored sport.
  • February 3, 2014 – Ed Pasque officially begins duties as the SSC commissioner, replacing Jay Jones, who left the post December 31, 2013.
  • July 1, 2014 – League adds women's lacrosse as sponsored sport. – Palm Beach Atlantic University and Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University join Sunshine State Conference as provisional members; effective July 1, 2015.
  • December 13, 2023 – The SSC announced the addition of three sports in 2024–25—beach volleyball, plus men's and women's outdoor track & field. The SSC will become the first conference outside NCAA Division I to officially sponsor beach volleyball. [4]

Member schools

Current members

The SSC currently has 11 full members, all are private schools:

InstitutionLocation [lower-alpha 1] FoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
Barry University Miami Shores 1940 Catholic 6,958 Buccaneers 1988     
Eckerd College St. Petersburg 1958 Presbyterian 1,993 Tritons 1975   
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach 1926 Nonsectarian 8,370 Eagles 2015 [lower-alpha 2]    
Florida Southern College Lakeland 1883 United Methodist 3,283 Moccasins 1975   
Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne 1958Nonsectarian8,358 Panthers 1981   
Lynn University Boca Raton 1962Nonsectarian3,520 Fighting Knights 1997 [lower-alpha 3]   
Nova Southeastern University Davie 1964Nonsectarian20,948 Sharks 2002 [lower-alpha 4]    
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach 1968 Christian 3,829 Sailfish 2015 [lower-alpha 5]   
Rollins College Winter Park 1885Nonsectarian2,709 Tars 1975     
Saint Leo University St. Leo 1889 Catholic 2,788 Lions 1975   
University of Tampa Tampa 1931Nonsectarian10,566 Spartans 1981     
Notes
  1. All cities are located in the State of Florida.
  2. The Embry–Riddle men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC two years after becoming a full member for other sports (2017–18).
  3. The Lynn men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1998–99).
  4. The Nova Southeastern men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC two years after becoming a full member for other sports (2004–05).
  5. The Palm Beach Atlantic men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2016–17).

Former members

The SSC had three former full members, all but one were public schools:

InstitutionLocation [lower-alpha 1] FoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference
University of Central Florida Orlando 1963 Public 68,571 Knights 19751984 Big 12 [lower-alpha 2]
University of North Florida Jacksonville 1969Public16,309 Ospreys 1992 [lower-alpha 3] 1997 ASUN [lower-alpha 2]
St. Thomas University Miami Gardens 1961 Catholic 1,750 Bobcats 19751987 The Sun [lower-alpha 4]
Notes
  1. All cities were located in the State of Florida.
  2. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  3. The North Florida men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1993–94).
  4. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

Membership timeline

Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona BeachNova Southeastern UniversityLynn UniversityUniversity of North FloridaBarry UniversityUniversity of TampaFlorida Institute of TechnologySt. Thomas University (Florida)University of Central FloridaSaint Leo UniversityRollins CollegeFlorida Southern CollegeEckerd CollegeSunshine State Conference

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

Conference facilities

InstitutionArenaCapacity
BarryHealth and Sports Center1,938
Embry–RiddleICI Center1,968
EckerdMcArthur Center1,000
Florida SouthernJenkins Field House2,500
Florida Tech Clemente Center 1,500
Lynnde Hoernle Center1,000
Nova Southeastern Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center 5,500
Palm Beach AtlanticRubin Arena2,000
RollinsWarden Arena2,500
Saint LeoMarion Bowman Activities Center2,000
Tampa Bob Martinez Sports Center 3,432

National Championships

Sunshine State Conference schools have won 118 NCAA Division II National Championships.

Championships by year

YearTitlesTeam
1965-661Rollins tennis (M)
1966-67
1967-68
1968-69
1969-701Rollins golf (M)
1970-711Florida Southern Baseball
1971–721Florida Southern Baseball • Rollins tennis (M)
1972-73
1973-74
1974-751Florida Southern Baseball
1975-76
1976-77
1977–781Florida Southern Baseball
1978-79
1979-80
1980-814Florida Southern Baseball • Florida southern Basketball (M) • Florida Southern golf (M) • Tampa Soccer (M)
1981-821Florida Southern golf (M)
1982–83
1983-84
1984-852Florida Southern Baseball• Florida Southern golf (M)
1985-861Florida Southern golf (M)
1986-871Tampa golf (M)
1987–883Florida Southern Baseball • Tampa golf (M) • Florida Tech soccer (M)
1988–89
1989-902Florida Southern golf (M) • Barry soccer (W)
1990-913Florida Southern golf (M) • Rollins tennis (M) • Florida Tech soccer (M)
1991-921Tampa Baseball
1992-933Tampa Baseball • Barry soccer (W) • Florida Southern softball
1993–941Barry soccer (W) • Tampa soccer (M)
1994-952Florida Southern Baseball • Florida Southern golf (M)
1995-962Florida Southern golf (M) • Barry Volleyball (W)
1996-971Lynn tennis (W)
1997-984Tampa Baseball • Florida Southern golf (M) • Lynn soccer (W) • Lynn tennis (W)
1998–991Florida Southern golf (M)
1999-20002Florida Southern golf (M)• Florida Southern golf (W)
2000–013Florida Southern golf (W) • Rollins tennis (M) • Lynn tennis (W)
2001–023Rollins golf (M)• Florida Southern golf (W) • Barry Volleyball (W)
2002–031Rollins golf (W)
2003–041Rollins golf (W)
2004–053Florida Southern Baseball• Rollins golf (W) • Barry volleyball (W)
2005–062Tampa Baseball, Rollins golf (W)
2006–076Tampa Baseball • Barry golf (M) • Florida Southern golf (W) • Tampa soccer (W) • Lynn tennis (M) • Tampa volleyball (W)
2007–081Rollins golf (W)
2008–092Lynn baseball • Nova Southeastern golf (W)
2009–103Florida Southern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (W) • Barry tennis (M)
2010–112Nova Southeastern golf (W) • Barry tennis (W)
2011–122Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (W)
2012–136Tampa baseball • Barry golf (M) • Lynn golf (W) • Nova Southeastern rowing • Lynn soccer (M) • Barry tennis (M)
2013–143Barry golf (M) • Lynn golf (W) • Barry tennis (W)
2014–157Tampa baseball • Florida Southern basketball (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Barry rowing • Lynn soccer (M) • Barry tennis (M) • Tampa volleyball
2015–165Nova Southeastern baseball • Saint Leo golf (M) • Rollins golf (W) • Florida Southern lacrosse (W) • Barry rowing
2016–173Barry tennis (W) [5] • Barry golf (W) • Florida Southern golf (M)
2017–182Barry tennis (W) [6] • Lynn golf (M) [7]
2018–197Barry soccer (M) [8] • Tampa volleyball [9] • Florida Tech golf (W) [10] • Lynn golf (M) [11] • Barry tennis (M) [12] • Barry tennis (W) [13] • Tampa baseball [14]
2019–20
2020–212Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W)
2021–224Tampa lacrosse (M) • Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W) • Tampa Volleyball (W)
2022–234Nova Southeastern basketball (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern swimming (W) • Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W)
2023–24

Championships by school

SchoolNCAA
Titles
Most Recent
Florida Southern302017 — men's golf
Barry282023 — men's and women's tennis
Tampa182021 — volleyball
Lynn14*2019 — men's golf
Nova Southeastern132024 — women's swimming & diving, women's tennis
Rollins122016 — women's golf
Florida Tech32019 — women's golf
Saint Leo12016 — men's golf
North Florida11994 — women's tennis

Controversy

On July 17, 2007, NCAA vacated Lynn's 2005 Women's Division II Softball Championship due to extra benefits given to two players. The NCAA found that former coach Thomas Macera gave two Lynn softball players cash payments totaling more than $3,000. Lynn was also placed on probation for two years. [15] As of 2019-20 Lynn University has won 15 national championships at the Division II level, but now the NCAA recognizes only 14 of them because of the unsanctioned actions.

Mayors' Cup Champions

The Mayors' Cup was originally presented following the 1986–1987 academic year to recognize the annual SSC all-sports champion. The men's division recognizes competition in eight sports: soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, lacrosse and baseball. The Women's Mayors' Cup recognizes competition in nine sports: volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, softball and rowing. [16]

Sports

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Beach volleyball Green check.svg
Cross country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Lacrosse Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Rowing Green check.svg
Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Softball Green check.svg
Swimming & Diving Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track & field outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svg

SSC is adding Beach Volleyball, Men's Outdoor Track, and Women's Outdoor Track championships in 2024–25.

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
country
GolfLacrosseSoccerSwimming
& diving
TennisTrack &
field outdoor
Total
SSC
sports
BarryGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
EckerdGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
Embry–RiddleGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
Florida SouthernGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Florida TechGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
LynnGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Nova SoutheasternGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Palm Beach AtlanticGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
RollinsGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Saint LeoGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
TampaGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
Totals111181081178784

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballBeach
volleyball
Cross
country
GolfLacrosseRowingSoccerSoftballSwimming
& diving
TennisTrack &
field outdoor
VolleyballTotal
SSC
sports
BarryGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
EckerdGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Embry–RiddleGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg10
Florida SouthernGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg11
Florida TechGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
LynnGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg10
Nova SoutheasternGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Palm Beach AtlanticGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg10
RollinsGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Saint LeoGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
TampaGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg12
Totals116810851111710711107

Other sponsored sports by school

SchoolMenWomen
Track
& field
indoor
Volleyball [lower-alpha 1] Track
& field
indoor
Barry [lower-alpha 2]
Embry–Riddle PBC PBC
Florida SouthernINDIND
  1. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA's top-level national championship is open to members of Divisions I and II.
  2. Barry will add men's volleyball in the 2025 season (2024–25 school year).

Discontinued Sports

Florida Tech= Football, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Rowing

Rollins= Football, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

St. Leo= Men's Swimming, Men's Track, Women's Swimming, Women's Track

Tampa= Football, Men's Tennis, Men's Wrestling

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References

  1. "SSC Collects NCAA Division II Best Seven National Titles in 2018-19". July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  2. "Sunshine State Conference National Champions" . Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  3. "About The SSC". July 29, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  4. "Sunshine State Conference Adds Beach Volleyball and Outdoor Track" (Press release). Sunshine State Conference. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  5. "Barry Women's Tennis Defeats Lynn to Win NCAA Championship". Sunshine State Conference. May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  6. "Barry Women's Tennis Claims Fourth National Title in Eight Years". May 12, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  7. "Lynn Wins 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Title". May 25, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  8. "Barry Men's Soccer Rallies For First National Championship". December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  9. "Tampa Defeats Western Washington to Capture Third Volleyball Title". December 1, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  10. "Florida Tech Women's Golf Wins 2019 National Championship". May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
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  12. "Barry Men's Tennis Rallies For Fourth National Championship". May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
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