Southern States Athletic Conference Explained
Southern States Athletic Conference should not be confused with Southern States Conference.
| Southern States Athletic Conference |
| Founded: | 1999 |
| Association: | NAIA |
| Teams: | 13 (12 in 2025) |
| Sports: | 19 |
| Mens: | 9 |
| Womens: | 10 |
| Region: | Southeastern United States |
| Formerly: | Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004) |
| Headquarters: | Montgomery, Alabama |
| Commissioner: | Mike Hall |
| Map: | SSAC-map.png |
| Map Size: | 250px |
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.
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
- 1999 – On March 16, 1999, the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) was founded as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC). Charter members included Auburn University at Montgomery, Brenau University, Brewton–Parker College, Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University), Faulkner University, Georgia Southwestern State University, North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia), Shorter College (now Shorter University), Southern Polytechnic State University, and Southern Wesleyan University beginning the 1999-2000 academic year.
- 2000 – Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) joined the GACC in the 2000–01 academic year.
- 2004 – On June 27, 2004, the GACC was rebranded as the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) in the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2004 – Berry College and Lee University joined the SSAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2005 – North Georgia left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2005 – Columbia College of South Carolina joined the SSAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
- 2006 – Georgia Southwestern State left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt (PBC) after the 2005–06 academic year.
- 2009 – Reinhardt left the SSAC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) after the 2008–09 academic year.
- 2010 – Berry left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent (which would later join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) beginning the 2012–13 academic year) after the 2009–10 academic year.
- 2010 – Belhaven University, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of Mobile, Spring Hill College, Truett–McConnell College (now Truett–McConnell University), and William Carey University joined the SSAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2011 – Columbia (S.C.) left the SSAC to join the Appalachian (AAC) after the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2012 – Shorter left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference (GSC) after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – The College of Coastal Georgia joined the SSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2016 – Lee left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South (GSC) after the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2013 – Bethel University of Tennessee, Blue Mountain College (now Blue Mountain Christian University), and Martin Methodist College (now the University of Tennessee Southern) joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
- 2014 – Three institutions left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and their respective new home primary conferences: Emmanuel (Ga.) and Southern Wesleyan to the Conference Carolinas (CC) and Spring Hill to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Southern Poly announced that it would drop its athletic program and close once it is consolidated by Kennesaw State University. All changes were effective after the 2013–14 academic year.
- 2014 – Dalton State College and Middle Georgia State University joined the SSAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2015 – Belhaven left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the American Southwest Conference after the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2016 – Auburn–Montgomery left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Gulf South (GSC) beginning the 2017-18 academic year) after the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2017 – Two institutions left the SSAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Brenau to join the Appalachian (AAC) and Coastal Georgia to join the Sun Conference, both effective after the 2016–17 academic year.
- 2018 – Florida College and Stillman College joined the SSAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2020 – Bethel (Tenn.) and Martin Methodist left the SSAC to join the Mid-South Conference (MSC) after the 2019–20 academic year.
- 2021 – Florida College left the SSAC to become an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 academic year.
- 2021 – Talladega College joined the SSAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
- 2022 – Life University joined the SSAC in the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Talladega left the SSAC to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC, now the HBCU Athletic Conference) after the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Point University and Thomas University joined the SSAC (with the University of Tennessee Southern, formerly Martin Methodist, re-joining) in the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2024 – Stillman left the SSAC to join the HBCUAC after the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2024 – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College joined the SSAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
- 2025 – Middle Georgia State will leave the SSAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2024–25 academic year.
Member schools
Current members
The SSAC currently has 13 full members, all but four being private schools.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Basketball? |
|---|
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, Georgia | 1908 | Public | 3,284 | Stallions | 2024 | both |
| Blue Mountain Christian University | Blue Mountain, Mississippi | 1873 | Southern Baptist | 505 | Toppers | 2013 | both |
| Brewton–Parker College | Mount Vernon, Georgia | 1904 | Southern Baptist | 1,050 | Barons | 1999 | both |
| Dalton State College | Dalton, Georgia | 1963 | Public | 5,047 | Roadrunners | 2014 | men's |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, Alabama | 1942 | Churches of Christ | 3,703 | Eagles | 1999 | both |
| Life University[2] | Marietta, Georgia | 1974 | Nonsectarian | 2,692 | Running Eagles | 2022 | both |
| Loyola University New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1904 | | 4,858 | Wolf Pack | 2010 | both |
| Middle Georgia State University[3] | Cochran, Georgia | 2013 | Public | 8,404 | Knights | 2014 | both |
| Mobile, Alabama | 1961 | Southern Baptist | 1,577 | Rams | 2010 | both |
| Point University[4] [5] | West Point, Georgia | 1937 | Christian | 1,718 | Skyhawks | 2023 | both |
| Thomas University[6] | Thomasville, Georgia | 1950 | Nonsectarian | 1,138 | Night Hawks | 2023 | both |
| University of Tennessee Southern[7] | Pulaski, Tennessee | 1870 | Public | 757 | FireHawks | 2013;
2023 | both |
| William Carey University | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | 1892 | Southern Baptist | 3,250 | Crusaders | 2010 | both | |
- Notes:
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:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current
conference |
|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, Alabama | 1967 | Public | 5,188 | Warhawks | 1999 | 2016 | Gulf South (GSC) |
| Belhaven University | Jackson, Mississippi | 1883 | Evangelical
Presbyterian | 3,245 | Blazers | 2010 | 2015 | C.C. of the South (CCS) |
| Bethel University | McKenzie, Tennessee | 1842 | Cumberland
Presbyterian | 2,975 | Wildcats | 2013 | 2020 | Mid-South (MSC)[8] |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, Georgia | 1902 | Nondenominational | 1,937 | Vikings | 2004 | 2010 | Southern (SAA) |
| Brenau University | Gainesville, Georgia | 1878 | Nonsectarian | 3,500 | Golden Tigers | 1999 | 2017 | Appalachian (AAC) |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, Georgia | 1961 | Public | 3,438 | Mariners | 2012 | 2017 | The Sun |
| Columbia College | Columbia, South Carolina | 1854 | United Methodist | 1,200 | Fighting Koalas | 2005 | 2011 | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Emmanuel College | Franklin Springs, Georgia | 1919 | Pentecostal | 760 | Lions | 1999 | 2014 | Carolinas (CC) |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace, Florida | 1946 | Churches of Christ | 505 | Falcons | 2018 | 2021 | Continental |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, Georgia | 1906 | Public | 3,033 | Hurricanes | 1999 | 2006 | Peach Belt (PBC) |
| Lee University | Cleveland, Tennessee | 1918 | Church of God | 5,189 | Flames | 2004 | 2013 | Gulf South (GSC) |
| North Georgia College & State University | Dahlonega, Georgia | 1873 | Public | 18,782 | Saints | 1999 | 2005 | Peach Belt (PBC) |
| Reinhardt College | Waleska, Georgia | 1883 | United Methodist | 1,057 | Eagles | 2000 | 2009 | Appalachian (AAC) |
| Shorter University | Rome, Georgia | 1873 | Baptist | 1,520 | Hawks | 1999 | 2012 | Gulf South (GSC) |
| Southern Polytechnic State University | Marietta, Georgia | 1948 | Public | N/A | nowrap | Runnin' Hornets | 1999 | 2014 | nowrap | N/A |
| Southern Wesleyan University | Central, South Carolina | 1906 | Wesleyan | 1,616 | Warriors | 1999 | 2014 | Carolinas (CC) |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, Alabama | 1830 | Catholic
| 1,439 | Badgers | 2010 | 2014 | Southern (SIAC) |
| Stillman College | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 1876 | | 1,000 | Tigers | 2018 | 2024 | HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Talladega College | Talladega, Alabama | 1867 | United Church of Christ | 600 | Tornadoes | 2021 | 2023 | HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Truett–McConnell College | Cleveland, Georgia | 1946 | Baptist | 1,600 | Bears | 2010 | 2013 | Appalachian (AAC) | |
- Notes:
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1999 till:2029
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7) id:line value:black id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used
PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2016 text:Auburn–Montgomery (1999–2016) bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2016 till:2017 text:D-II Ind. bar:1 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:2017 till:end text:Gulf South
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2017 text:Brenau (1999–2017) bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:3 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Brewton–Parker (1999–present)
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Emmanuel (Ga.) (1999–2014) bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:5 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Faulkner (1999–present)
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2006 text:Georgia Southwestern State (1999–2006) bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2005 text:North Georgia College & State (1999–2005) bar:7 shift:(40) color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2012 text:Shorter (1999–2012) bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2024 text:Gulf South bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:9 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Polytechnic State (1999–2014)
bar:10 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Wesleyan (1999–2014) bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:11 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2009 text:Reinhardt (2000–2009) bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:12 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2010 text:Berry (2004–2010) bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2010 till:2012 text:D-III Ind. bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:end text:SAA
bar:13 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2013 text:Lee (2004–2013) bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Gulf South
bar:14 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2011 text:Columbia (S.C.) (2005–2011) bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:15 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2015 text:Belhaven (2010–2015) bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2015 till:2022 text:American Southwest bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:CCS
bar:16 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Loyola (La.) (2010–present)
bar:17 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Mobile (2010–present)
bar:18 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2014 text:Spring Hill (2010–2014) bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:SIAC
bar:19 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2013 text:Truett–McConnell (2010–2013) bar:19 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:20 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:William Carey (2010–present)
bar:21 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2017 text:Coastal Georgia (2012–2017) bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:The Sun
bar:22 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Bethel (Tenn.) (2013–2020) bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:Mid-South
bar:23 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:Blue Mountain/Blue Mountain Christian (2013–present)
bar:24 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Martin Methodist (2013–2020) bar:24 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:2023 text:Mid-South bar:24 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:UT Southern (2023–present)
bar:25 color:FullxF from:2014 till:end text:Dalton State (2014–present)
bar:26 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2025 text:Middle Georgia State (2014–2025) bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:27 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2021 text:Florida College (2018–2021) bar:27 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:NAIA Ind.
bar:28 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2024 text:Stillman (2018–2024) bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:GCAC
bar:29 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2023 text:Talladega (2021–2023) bar:29 shift:(55) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:GCAC
bar:30 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Life (2022–present)
bar:31 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:Thomas (2023–present)
bar:32 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:Point (2023–present)
bar:33 color:FullxF from:2024 till:end text:Abraham Baldwin (2024–present)
bar:N color:powderblue from:1999 till:2004 text:Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) bar:N shift:(100) color:blue from:2004 till:end text:Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:2000
TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Southern States Athletic Conference Membership History"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.
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Sports
The SSAC holds championships in the following 19 sports:
Notes and References
- Web site: The Governance Structure of the SSAC . Southern States Athletic Conference . November 4, 2009.
- News: Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23 . Life Running Eagles . December 16, 2020.
- Middle Georgia State University’s athletics program to shift from NAIA to NCAA Division II. 41 WMGT . February 21, 2023 . February 22, 2023.
- News: Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 . SSAC . August 9, 2022.
- News: Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24 . Point University . August 9, 2022.
- News: Thomas University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 . SSAC . July 1, 2022.
- News: Tennessee Southern Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24 . SSAC . July 1, 2022.
- News: Bethel, Freed–Hardeman and Martin Methodist Renew Rivalries with Mid-South Conference Move . March 18, 2020 . Mid-South Conference . July 25, 2019.
