Southern States Athletic Conference

The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. The 10 member universities compete in 13 sports in the NAIA. Basketball teams compete as a single division in the NAIA.

Southern States Athletic Conference
SSAC
Established1999
AssociationNAIA
Members10 (11 in 2022)
Sports fielded
  • 15
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 8
RegionSoutheastern United States
Former namesGeorgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004)
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia
CommissionerMike Hall
Websitessacsports.com
Locations

History

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

Member schools

Current members
Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Joined
Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain, Mississippi 1873 Private (Mississippi Baptist) 505 Toppers 2013
Brewton–Parker College Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Private (Southern Baptist) 1,050 Barons 1999
Dalton State College Dalton, Georgia 1963 Public (University System of Georgia) 5,047 Roadrunners 2014
Faulkner University Montgomery, Alabama 1942 Private (Churches of Christ) 3,703 Eagles 1999
Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 1904 Private (Catholic, Jesuit) 4,858 Wolf Pack 2010
Middle Georgia State University Cochran, Georgia[lower-alpha 1] 2013 Public (University System of Georgia) 8,404 Knights 2014
University of Mobile Mobile, Alabama 1961 Private (Southern Baptist) 1,577 Rams 2010
Stillman College Tuscaloosa, Alabama 1876 Private (Presbyterian) 1,000 Tigers 2018
Talladega College Talladega, Alabama 1867 Private (United Church of Christ) 600 Tornadoes 2021[2]
William Carey University Hattiesburg, Mississippi 1892 Private (Southern Baptist) 3,250 Crusaders 2010
Notes
  1. 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.

Future members
Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Joining Current
conference
Life University[3] Marietta, Georgia 1974 Private 2,692 Running Eagles 2022 Mid-South

Former members

School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership.

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Alabama 1967 Warhawks 1999 2016 Gulf South
(NCAA D-II)
Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi 1883 Blazers 2010 2015 American Southwest
(NCAA D-III)
Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee 1842 Wildcats 2013 2020 Mid-South[4][lower-alpha 1]
Berry College Mount Berry, Georgia 1902 Vikings 2004 2010 Southern Athletic
(NCAA D-III)
Brenau University[lower-alpha 2] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Golden Tigers 1999 2017 Appalachian
College of Coastal Georgia Brunswick, Georgia 1961 Mariners 2012 2017 The Sun
Columbia College[lower-alpha 2] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 Fighting Koalas 2005 2011 Appalachian
Emmanuel College Franklin Springs, Georgia 1919 Lions 1999 2014 Carolinas
(NCAA D-II)
Florida College Temple Terrace, Florida 1946 Falcons 2018 2021 Continental
Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, Georgia 1906 Hurricanes 1999 2006 Peach Belt
(NCAA D-II)
Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee 1918 Flames 2004 2013 Gulf South
(NCAA D-II)
Martin Methodist College[lower-alpha 3] Pulaski, Tennessee 1870 RedHawks[lower-alpha 4] 2013 2020 Mid-South
North Georgia College & State University[lower-alpha 5] Dahlonega, Georgia 1873 Saints[lower-alpha 6] 1999 2004 Peach Belt
(NCAA D-II)
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883 Eagles 1999 2008 Appalachian
Shorter University Rome, Georgia 1873 Hawks 1999 2012 Gulf South
(NCAA D-II)
Southern Polytechnic State University Marietta, Georgia 1948 Runnin' Hornets 1999 2014 Consolidated with
Kennesaw State University
Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina 1906 Warriors 1999 2014 Carolinas
(NCAA D-II)
Spring Hill College Mobile, Alabama 1830 Badgers 2010 2014 Southern Intercollegiate
(NCAA D-II)
Truett-McConnell College Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Bears 2010 2013 Appalachian
  1. 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.
  2. Women's college, therefore not participating in men's sports.
  3. Joined the University of Tennessee system in July 2021 as the University of Tennessee Southern.
  4. Now competing as the UT Southern FireHawks.
  5. Consolidated with Gainesville State College in 2013 to form the current University of North Georgia.
  6. Since the 2013 merger, UNG has competed as the North Georgia Nighthawks.

Membership timeline

 Full member (non-football) 

Sports

The SSAC holds championships in the following 15 sports:

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross CountryYY
GolfYY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
TennisYY
Track & Field OutdoorYY
VolleyballY

References
  1. "The Governance Structure of the SSAC". Southern States Athletic Conference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  2. "Talladega College to join NAIA's Southern States Conference in 2021-22". Talladega College Tornadoes. December 18, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  3. "Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23". Life Running Eagles. December 16, 2020.
  4. "Bethel, Freed-Hardeman and Martin Methodist Renew Rivalries with Mid-South Conference Move". Mid-South Conference. July 25, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
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