| Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) | |
| | |
| Established | 1978 |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Division | Division I non-football |
| Members | 8 |
| Sports fielded | 19 (men's: 8; women's: 11) |
| Region | Southeastern United States |
| Former names | Trans America Athletic Conference (1978–2001) |
| Headquarters | Macon, Georgia |
| Commissioner | Ted Gumbart (since 2007) |
| Website | atlanticsun.org |
| Locations | |
The Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) is a collegiate athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and does not sponsor football. Originally established as the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in 1978,[1] its headquarters are located in Macon, Georgia.
Northern Kentucky University, which is transitioning from NCAA Division II sports to Division I, joined the A-Sun in 2012. The league's newest program replaced Belmont University, which moved to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC),[2] and maintained the membership roster at 10 schools. The 2014 departure of East Tennessee State University and Mercer University to the Southern Conference left the A-Sun with 8 full members.
Membership history[]
Current members[]
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | U.S. News Ranking[3] |
Endowment [3] | Joined | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, Florida | 1991 | Public | 20,000 | 79 (Regional: South) |
N/A | 2007 | Eagles |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, Florida | 1934 | Private | 3,400 | 62 (Regional: South) |
$35,399,399 | 1998 | Dolphins |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia | 1963 | Public | 24,600 | 69 (Regional: South) |
$24,388,385 | 2005 | Owls |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1891 | Private | 4,593 | 20 (Regional: South) |
$55,828,784 | 2003 | Bisons |
| Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, Kentucky | 1968 | Public | 15,405 | 77 (Regional: South) |
$74,270,000 | 2012 | Norse |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville, Florida | 1969 | Public | 16,500 | 51 (Regional: South) |
$75,526,635 | 2005 | Ospreys |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1967 | Public | 6,000 | 29 (Regional College: South) |
$4,010,537 | 2007 | Spartans |
| Stetson University | DeLand, Florida | 1883 | Private | 2,200 | 5 (Regional: South) |
$147,682,533 | 1985 | Hatters |
Associate members[]
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Nickname | Primary Conference | A-Sun Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 1877 | Private | 5,700 | 2012–13 | Titans | Horizon League | women's lacrosse |
| Furman University | Greenville, South Carolina | 1826 | Private | 3,121 | 2013–14 | Paladins | SoCon | women's lacrosse |
| Howard University | Washington, D.C. | 1867 | Private | 10,991 | 2012–13 | Lady Bison | MEAC | women's lacrosse |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk, Virginia | 1930 | Public | 24,125 | 2014–15 | Monarchs | Conference USA | women's lacrosse |
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "Northern Kentucky to Join Atlantic Sun" (Press release). Atlantic Sun Conference. December 8, 2011. http://www.atlanticsun.org/mbasketball/news/2011-12/5920/northern-kentucky-to-join-atlantic-sun/. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rankings
Former members[]
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Left | Nickname | New Conference (Classification) |
Current Conference (Classification) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City University | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1904 | Private | 3,770 | 1978 | 1979 | Chiefs[a 1] | Midwestern City[b 1] (NCAA Division I non-football) |
Sooner (SAC) (NAIA Division I) |
| Pan American University[a 2] | Edinburg, Texas | 1927 | Public | 19,302 | 1978 | 1980 | Broncs | NCAA D-I Independent (NCAA Division I non-football) |
WAC (NCAA Division I non-football) |
| Northeast Louisiana University[a 3] | Monroe, Louisiana | 1931 | Public | 8,405 | 1978 | 1982 | Indians[a 3] | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Houston Baptist University | Houston, Texas | 1960 | Private | 2,567 | 1978 | 1989 | Huskies | NAIA Independent (NAIA non-football) |
Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Hardin–Simmons University | Abilene, Texas | 1891 | Private | 2,435 | 1978 | 1990 | Cowboys | TIAA (NCAA Division III) |
American Southwest (NCAA Division III) |
| Centenary College of Louisiana | Shreveport, Louisiana | 1825 | Private | 787 | 1978 | 1999 | Gentlemen (men's) Ladies (women's) |
NCAA D-I Independent (NCAA Division I non-football) |
SCAC (NCAA D-III) (NCAA Division III non-football) |
| Samford University | Homewood, Alabama | 1841 | Private | 4,440 | 1978 | 2003 | Bulldogs | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS) |
SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Northwestern State University | Natchitoches, Louisiana | 1884 | Public | 9,244 | 1979 | 1984 | Demons | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) | |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, Arkansas | 1927 | Public | 13,000 | 1979 | 1991 | Trojans | Sun Belt[b 2] | |
| Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906 | Public | 20,584 | 1979 | 1992 | Eagles | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Nicholls State University[a 4] | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 1948 | Public | 7,093 | 1982 | 1984 | Colonels | Gulf Star (NCAA Division I FCS) |
Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, Georgia | 1913 | Public | 32,087 | 1983 | 2005 | Panthers | CAA (NCAA Division I non-football)[b 3] |
Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1969 | Public | 30,474 | 1986 | 1991 | Roadrunners | Southland (NCAA Division I non-football)[b 4] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | Hammond, Louisiana | 1925 | Public | 17,800 | 1991 | 1997 | Lions | Southland (NCAA Division I FCS) | |
| Florida International University | University Park, Florida | 1965 | Public | 50,394 | 1990 | 1998 | Golden Panthers[a 5] | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I non-football)[1] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| College of Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina | 1770 | Public | 11,320 | 1991 | 1998 | Cougars | SoCon (NCAA Division I non-football) |
CAA[b 5] |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | 1963 | Public | 60,181 | 1992 | 2005 | Golden Knights[a 6] | C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
The American (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, Florida | 1961 | Public | 29,290 | 1993 | 2006 | Owls | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS)[b 6] |
C-USA (NCAA Division I FBS) |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, Alabama | 1883 | Public | 9,490 | 1995 | 2003 | Gamecocks | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS) | |
| Troy University | Troy, Alabama | 1887 | Public | 29,689 | 1997 | 2005 | Trojans | Sun Belt (NCAA Division I FBS)[b 7] | |
| Gardner–Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | 1905 | Private | 4,300 | 2002 | 2008 | Runnin' Bulldogs | Big South (NCAA Division I FCS) | |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek, North Carolina | 1887 | Private | 4,120 | 1994 | 2011 | Fighting Camels | Big South (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 8] | |
| Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1890 | Private | 6,647 | 2001 | 2012 | Bruins | OVC (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 9] | |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Tennessee | 1911 | Public | 15,530 | 2005 | 2014 | Buccaneers | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS)[b 10] | |
| Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833 | Private | 8,300 | 1978 | 2014 | Bears | SoCon (NCAA Division I FCS) | |
- Notes
School names and nicknames listed here reflect those used during the schools' time in the TAAC/A-Sun. One school has changed both its name and nickname, and three others have changed only their nicknames:
- ↑ The Sun Belt did not start its Division I-A (now FBS) football league until 2001, and FIU did not start a football program until 2002. It competed as a Division I-AA (now FCS) independent until joining Sun Belt football in 2005.
- ↑ "Belmont moving to Ohio Valley Conference in 2012-13". USA Today. December 7, 2011. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2011-05-13-belmont-ohio-valley-conference_N.htm. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
Membership timeline[]
- Northeast Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) in 1999.
- Pan American now brands itself for athletic purposes as UTPA, but media generally refer to the school by its more complete name of Texas–Pan American. In July 2015, UTPA will merge with the University of Texas at Brownsville to create the new University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV); the new school will inherit UTPA's athletic program.
Sports sponsored[]
Locations of current Atlantic Sun Conference full member institutions.
The Atlantic Sun Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[1] In the 2014–15 school year, four schools are associate members in women's lacrosse: Detroit, Howard, Furman, and Old Dominion.
The most recent change to the roster of A-Sun sports took place after the 2013–14 school year. Under a cooperative agreement between the A-Sun and Southern Conference (SoCon), the two leagues agreed to split lacrosse sponsorship. The SoCon took over the A-Sun men's lacrosse league, while women's lacrosse sponsorship remained with the A-Sun.[2]
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Cross Country | ||
| Golf | ||
| Lacrosse‡ | ||
| Sand Volleyball* | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track and Field (Indoor) | ||
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | ||
| Volleyball |
- ‡ = Under a cooperative agreement, starting in 2014-15, men's lacrosse is sponsored by the Southern Conference and women's by the A-Sun.[2]
- * = Sand volleyball is an NCAA "emerging sport" which is fully sanctioned, but does not yet have a national championship.[3]
Facilities[]
| School | Basketball arena | Capacity | Baseball stadium | Capacity | Soccer stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast | Alico Arena | 4,633 | Swanson Stadium | 1,500 | FGCU Soccer Complex | 1,500 |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (men) Swisher Gymnasium (women) |
14,091 1,500 |
John Sessions Stadium | 1,500 | Ashley Sports Complex | 500 |
| Kennessaw State | KSU Convocation Center | 4,792 | Fred Stillwell Stadium | 1,200 | Fifth Third Bank Stadium | 8,300 |
| Lipscomb | Allen Arena | 5,028 | Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium | 1,500 | Lipscomb Soccer Complex | 600 |
| North Florida | UNF Arena | 5,800 | Harmon Stadium | 1,000 | Hodges Stadium | 9,300 |
| Northern Kentucky | The Bank of Kentucky Center | 9,400 | Bill Aker Baseball Complex | 500 | NKU Soccer Stadium | 1,000 |
| Stetson | Edmunds Center | 5,000 | Melching Field at Conrad Park | 2,500 | Stetson Soccer Complex | 500 |
| USC Upstate | G. B. Hodge Center | 1,535 | Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park | 500 | County U. Soccer Stadium | 300 |
All sports championships[]
The Jesse C. Fletcher and Sherman Day Trophies are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference. The Bill Bibb Trophy, combining the men's and women's results for the best overall program, was first awarded in 2006-07. East Tennessee State has won this overall trphy seven of the eight years it has been awarded; Florida Gulf Coast won in 2012-13.[4]
Men's All Sports: Jesse C. Fletcher Trophy[]
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1978-79 | Oklahoma City |
| 1979-80 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1980-81 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1981-82 | Northeast Louisiana |
| 1982-83 | Georgia Southern |
| 1983-84 | Centenary |
| 1984-85 | Georgia Southern |
| 1985-86 | Houston Baptist |
| 1986-87 | Georgia Southern |
| 1987-88 | Georgia Southern |
| 1988-89 | Georgia Southern |
| 1989-90 | Georgia Southern |
| 1990-91 | Georgia Southern |
| 1991-92 | Florida International |
| 1992-93 | Florida International |
| 1993-94 | Florida International |
| 1994-95 | Central Florida |
| 1995-96 | Central Florida |
| 1996-97 | Florida International |
| 1997-98 | Georgia State |
| 1998-99 | Central Florida |
| 1999-00 | Georgia State |
| 2000-01 | Georgia State |
| 2001-02 | Georgia State |
| 2002-03 | Central Florida |
| 2003-04 | Central Florida |
| 2004-05 | Central Florida |
| 2005-06 | East Tennessee State |
| 2006-07 | East Tennessee State |
| 2007-08 | East Tennessee State |
| 2008-09 | East Tennessee State |
| 2009-10 | East Tennessee State |
| 2010-11 | East Tennessee State |
| 2011-12 | East Tennessee State |
| 2012-13 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2013-14 | East Tennessee State |
Women's All Sports: Sherman Day Trophy[]
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1978-79 | None |
| 1979-80 | None |
| 1980-81 | None |
| 1981-82 | None |
| 1982-83 | None |
| 1983-84 | None |
| 1984-85 | None |
| 1985-86 | Stetson, Georgia State |
| 1986-87 | Stetson |
| 1987-88 | Georgia State |
| 1988-89 | Georgia State |
| 1989-90 | Georgia State |
| 1990-91 | Florida International |
| 1991-92 | Florida International |
| 1992-93 | Georgia State |
| 1993-94 | Florida International |
| 1994-95 | Campbell |
| 1995-96 | Central Florida |
| 1996-97 | Central Florida |
| 1997-98 | Georgia State |
| 1998-99 | Central Florida |
| 1999-00 | Georgia State |
| 2000-01 | Georgia State |
| 2001-02 | Central Florida |
| 2002-03 | Central Florida |
| 2003-04 | Central Florida |
| 2004-05 | Central Florida |
| 2005-06 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2006-07 | East Tennessee State |
| 2007-08 | Jacksonville |
| 2008-09 | Jacksonville |
| 2009-10 | Kennesaw State |
| 2010-11 | Jacksonville |
| 2011-12 | Kennesaw State |
| 2012-13 | Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2013-14 | Jacksonville |
Championships[]
- Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Tournament
- Atlantic Sun Conference Baseball Tournament
- Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
Notes and references[]
- ↑ http://www.atlanticsun.org/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "SoCon, A-Sun Partner to Enhance Lacrosse" (Press release). Southern Conference. January 9, 2014. http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4000&ATCLID=209368200&SPID=1790&SPSID=21983. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- ↑ http://web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir/exec2/sponsorship
- ↑ Atlantic Sun: All Sports Race
External links[]
Template:Atlantic Sun Conference navbox
| |||||
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "a", but no corresponding <references group="a"/> tag was found
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "b", but no corresponding <references group="b"/> tag was found