Collegiate Conference of the South
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 |
| Commissioner | Beth Vansant |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 9 (8 in 2026) |
| Region | South |
| Official website | collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Member schools are located in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.[1]
While competitive CCS play began immediately during the 2022–23 school year, the CCS will not be eligible for automatic NCAA Division III tournament bids until 2024.[2] The conference sponsors 14 championship sports. Football, women's golf, and men's and women's lacrosse teams sponsored by CCS members continue to compete in the USA South as associate members.[3]
History
[edit]Chronological timeline
[edit]- 2022 – The College Conference of the South was founded and established after a decision to split the 19-member USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) into two smaller, geographically oriented leagues. Charter members included Agnes Scott College, Belhaven University, Berea College, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University and Wesleyan College; beginning the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023:
- Berea left the CCS to accept to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference as a full member, to join the HCAC during the 2024–25 school year.[4]
- Asbury University accepted as a full member, to join the CCS during the 2024–25 school year.[5]
- 2024 – Maryville (Tenn.) will leave the CCS to accept to the Southern Athletic Association as a full member, to join the SAA during the 2026–27 school year.[6]
Member schools
[edit]Founding members
[edit]The CCS began with nine full members, all private and faith-based schools. The only members not tied to one or more specific Christian denominations are current member Asbury and former member Berea, although Asbury is historically associated with the Methodist movement.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Football? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Scott College[b] | Decatur, Georgia | 1889 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
914 | Scotties | 2022 | No |
| Asbury University | Wilmore, Kentucky | 1890 | Christian (unaffiliated) |
1,054 | Eagles | 2024[7] | No |
| Belhaven University | Jackson, Mississippi | 1883 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
3,245 | Blazers | 2022 | Yes |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, Georgia | 1955 | Presbyterian (PCA) |
1,282 | Scots & Lady Scots |
2022 | No |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, Alabama | 1854 | United Methodist |
900 | Hawks | 2022 | Yes |
| LaGrange College | LaGrange, Georgia | 1831 | United Methodist |
1,137 | Panthers | 2022 | Yes |
| Maryville College | Maryville, Tennessee | 1819 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
1,103 | Scots | 2022 | Yes |
| Piedmont University | Demorest, Georgia | 1897 | United Church of Christ & Congregationalist |
2,640 | Lions | 2022 | No |
| Wesleyan College[b] | Macon, Georgia | 1836 | United Methodist |
550 | Wolves | 2022 | No |
- Notes
Former members
[edit]The CCS has one former full member, which was also a private school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berea College | Berea, Kentucky | 1855 | Christian (unaffiliated) |
1,613 | Mountaineers | 2022 | 2024 | Heartland (HCAC) |
- Notes
Membership timeline
[edit]
Sports
[edit]The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  |
|
| Basketball | |
|
| Cross Country | |
|
| Golf | |
|
| Soccer | |
|
| Softball |
| |
| Tennis | |
|
| Track and field (outdoor) | |
|
| Volleyball |
|
Conference facilities
[edit]All CCS members with football teams play that sport in the USA South.
| School | Football | Basketball | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | Capacity | Arena | Capacity | |
| Agnes Scott | Non-football school | — | Woodruff Athletic Complex | — |
| Asbury | Non-football school | — | Luce Center Gym | 1,500 |
| Belhaven | Belhaven Bowl | 1,200 | Charles R. Rugg Arena | 500 |
| Covenant | Non-football school | — | Barnes Physical Education Center | 650 |
| Huntingdon | Charles Lee Field at Samford Stadium | 2,500 | Catherine Dixon Roland Arena | 976 |
| LaGrange | Callaway Stadium | 5,000 | Mariotti Gymnasium | 500 |
| Maryville | Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium | 3,000 | Boydson-Baird Gymnasium | 2,000 |
| Piedmont | Non-football school | — | Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Cave Arena[8] | 1,500 |
| Wesleyan | Non-football school | — | Porter Gymnasium | 586 |
See also
[edit]- USA South Athletic Conference
- Great South Athletic Conference – former Division III conference with similar membership and geographic footprint
References
[edit]- ^ "USA South Announces Conference Restructuring". USA South Athletic Conference. February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- ^ Coleman, Pat; McHugh, Dave (February 16, 2022). "USA South Athletic Conference to split in two". D3Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ "Collegiate Conference of the South approved by the NCAA, following USA South separation". Agnes Scott Scotties. February 18, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ "HCAC Welcomes Berea College as its Newest Member". heartlandconf.org. HCAC. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Asbury Joins Division III Collegiate Conference of the South". asburyeagles.com. Asbury University athletics. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Maryville College Approved for Full SAA Membership". saa-sports.com. SAA. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ TeamAU (October 6, 2023). "Asbury Joins Division III Collegiate Conference of the South". Asbury Eagles. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Johnny Mize Athletic Center with Video". Piedmont Lions. Piedmont College. Retrieved April 9, 2022.