American Football Database
Advertisement
South Atlantic Conference
(SAC)
Established1975
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision II
Members12 (13 in 2020)
Sports fielded20 (men's: 10; women's: 10)
RegionSoutheastern United States
HeadquartersRock Hill, South Carolina
CommissionerPatrick Britz (since 2008)
Websitethesac.com
Locations

The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level. The SAC was founded in 1975 as a football-only conference and became an all-sports conference beginning with the 1989–90 season.

The league currently sponsors 10 sports for men (football, cross country, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, tennis, golf) and 10 sports for women (volleyball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, softball, tennis, and golf).

History[]

Template:OSM Location map

The distant forerunner of the South Atlantic Conference was the North State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIAC). The NSIAC was formed when the "Little Six", as it was called, broke from the North Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1930. The charter members included Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), Lenoir–Rhyne College (now Lenoir–Rhyne University), Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), Catawba College, Guilford College, Elon College (now Elon University), and High Point College (now High Point University).

The North State continued to grow over the next 30 years, adding Western Carolina University (1933), East Carolina University (1947) and Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University) (1960). A name change became necessary when the league accepted Newberry College as its first member from the state of South Carolina in 1961. The league took on the name Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) on May 20 of that year.

The CIAC saw several changes in the following years as East Carolina withdrew from the league in 1962. Appalachian State and Western Carolina followed in 1971 and 1976. All three landed in the Southern Conference (SoCon).

The South Atlantic Conference was founded in 1975 solely as a football conference. The league received its name from a contest in which Kurt Brenneman of Greensboro, North Carolina became the first to submit the SAC-8 moniker.

The SAC-8 consisted of Carson–Newman College (now Carson–Newman University), Catawba College, Elon College, Gardner–Webb College (now Gardner–Webb University), Lenoir–Rhyne College, Mars Hill College (now Mars Hill University), Newberry College, and Presbyterian College. Dr. Fred Bentley, of Mars Hill College, was named league president for its inaugural year, by a vote of the member institutions.

After the first season of play in the SAC-8, the Bears of Lenoir–Rhyne College captured the first football title.

In 1989, the league's 15th year of operation, the South Atlantic Conference became a comprehensive, multi-sport conference. Doug Echols was named the league's first Commissioner. That year the South Atlantic Conference sponsored 10 sports – football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's soccer, volleyball, men's golf, men's and women's tennis. Later the conference grew to 14 championship sports by adding women's soccer (1990), men's and women's cross country (1993) and women's golf (1999). In 2013, the sports of men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's track and field were added, increasing the number of championship sports to 18.

The South Atlantic Conference was composed of the same eight member institutions from 1975–76 until 1988–89, when Wingate College (now Wingate University) replaced Newberry College as the eighth member institution. Newberry College later re-joined the conference in the 1996–97 season.

In July 1998, Tusculum College was admitted as a member of the league, and Lincoln Memorial University began play in the conference in the 2006–07 academic year. Brevard College was admitted to the SAC as a provisional member in 2007 and a full member in 2008.

In 2008, Echols retired after serving as Commissioner for 19 years and Patrick Britz was hired as the new Commissioner.

In July 2010, Anderson University became the league's 10th member. Three years later in July 2013, Coker College (now Coker University) and Queens University of Charlotte joined the conference.[1] On April 13, 2018, UVA-Wise (in full, the University of Virginia's College at Wise) announced that it was joining the South Atlantic Conference for the 2019-20 season.[2] The most recent change to the conference membership was announced on April 5, 2019, when Limestone College, which had joined as a football-only member in 2017 and added field hockey to its SAC membership the next year, was announced as a new full member effective in 2020–21, the same time it is set to attain university status.[3]

The SAC and Conference Carolinas entered into a partnership in the 2018–19 school year by which the two leagues would operate as a single conference in field hockey and wrestling, with championships immediately conducted in both sports. The leagues agreed that the SAC would coordinate the field hockey championship, while CC would fill the same role for wrestling. Accordingly, all CC field hockey programs became SAC affiliates, and all SAC wrestling programs became CC affiliates.[4]

Member schools[]

Charter members[]

Newberry College left the SAC in 1989 (as a football member), and re-joined in 1996 (as an all-sport member). Wingate replaced Newberry College as the final member for the birth of the all-sport SAC in 1989. Former members Elon, Gardner–Webb, and Presbyterian were charter members of both the SAC-8 football era and the SAC all-sport era.

SAC-8
football era
(1975–1989)
Carson–Newman College
Catawba College
Elon College
Gardner–Webb College
Lenoir–Rhyne College
Mars Hill College
Newberry College
Presbyterian College
SAC
all-sport era
(1989–present)
Carson–Newman College
Catawba College
Elon College
Gardner–Webb College
Lenoir–Rhyne College
Mars Hill College
Presbyterian College
Wingate College

Current members[]

Institution Location Founded Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined
Anderson University Anderson, South Carolina 1848 3,431 Trojans           2010
Carson–Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee 1851 2,115 Eagles           1975
Catawba College Salisbury, North Carolina 1851 1,300 Indians           1975
Coker University Hartsville, South Carolina 1908 1,000 Cobras           2013
Lenoir–Rhyne University Hickory, North Carolina 1891 1,800 Bears           1975
Lincoln Memorial University Harrogate, Tennessee 1897 2,579 Railsplitters           2006
Mars Hill University Mars Hill, North Carolina 1856 1,300 Lions           1975
Newberry College Newberry, South Carolina 1856 1,070 Wolves           1975;
1996
Queens University of Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1857 2,100 Royals           2013
Tusculum University Tusculum, Tennessee 1794 2,053 Pioneers           1998
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 2,000 Cavaliers           2019
Wingate University Wingate, North Carolina 1896 2,300 Bulldogs           1989

Future full members[]

Institution Location Founded Joining Enrollment Current Conference Nickname Colors
Limestone College Gaffney, South Carolina 1845 2020 3,300 Carolinas Saints          

Affiliate members[]

Institution Location Founded Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Sport Primary
Conference
Belmont Abbey College Belmont, North Carolina 1876 1,320 Crusaders           2018 field hockey Carolinas
Converse College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1889 750 Valkyries           2018 field hockey Carolinas
Limestone College Gaffney, South Carolina 1845 3,300 Saints           2017
2018
football
field hockey
Carolinas

Former members[]

Institution Location Founded Nickname Joined Left Current
Conference
Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina 1934 Tornados 2008 2017 USA South
(NCAA D-III)
Elon University Elon, North Carolina 1889 Phoenix 1975 1997 Colonial Athletic
(NCAA D-I)
Gardner–Webb University Boiling Springs, North Carolina 1905 Runnin' Bulldogs 1975 2000 Big South
(NCAA D-I)
Presbyterian College Clinton, South Carolina 1880 Blue Hose 1975 2007 Big South
(NCAA D-I)

Membership timeline[]

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

Sports[]

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball File:Green check.svgY
Basketball File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Cross Country File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Field Hockey File:Green check.svgY
Football File:Green check.svgY
Golf File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Lacrosse File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Soccer File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Softball File:Green check.svgY
Tennis File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Track & Field Indoor File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Track & Field Outdoor File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY
Volleyball File:Green check.svgY

Men's sponsored sports by school[]

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country
Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Tennis Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Total
SAC
Sports
Anderson File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 8
Carson–Newman File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Catawba File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Coker File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Lenoir–Rhyne File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Lincoln Memorial File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Mars Hill File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Newberry File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Queens File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Tusculum File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
UVA–Wise File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 6
Wingate File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Totals 12 12 12 9 12 9 11 12 10 11 110
Affiliate Members
Limestone File:Green check.svgY 1
Future Members
Limestone File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10

Women's sponsored sports by school[]

School Basketball Cross
Country
Field
Hockey
Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Volleyball Total
SAC
Sports
Anderson File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Carson–Newman File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
Catawba File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Coker File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 11
Lenoir–Rhyne File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Lincoln Memorial File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Mars Hill File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Newberry File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 11
Queens File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 11
Tusculum File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 9
UVA–Wise File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 7
Wingate File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 10
Totals 12 12 3 12 10 11 12 12 10 11 12 114
Affiliate Members
Belmont Abbey File:Green check.svgY 1
Converse File:Green check.svgY 1
Limestone File:Green check.svgY 1
Future Members
Limestone File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY File:Green check.svgY 11

Other sponsored sports by school[]

Future member Limestone in gray.

School Men Women
Bowling [lower-alpha 1] Swimming
& Diving
Volleyball [lower-alpha 2] Wrestling Acrobatics &
Tumbling [lower-alpha 3]
Beach
Volleyball [lower-alpha 2]
Bowling [lower-alpha 2] Equestrian[lower-alpha 4] Swimming
& Diving
Triathlon[lower-alpha 5] Wrestling [lower-alpha 6]
Carson–Newman BMC IND BMC
Catawba BMC BMC
Coker IND CC
Lenoir–Rhyne BMC BMC
Limestone CC[lower-alpha 7] CC[lower-alpha 8] IND IND
Lincoln Memorial IND IND ECC
Mars Hill ASC ASC
Newberry CC
Queens BMC IND CC IND BMC IND
Tusculum IND IND IND
Wingate BMC BMC

In addition to the above:

  • Anderson and Tusculum treat their male and female cheerleaders as varsity athletes.
  • Carson–Newman and Limestone treat their female cheerleaders (though not their male cheerleaders) and all-female dance teams as varsity athletes.
  • Catawba treats its male and female cheerleaders and all-female dance team as varsity athletes. The school also sponsors a coeducational varsity eSports team.
  • Coker has a coeducational varsity eSports team.
  • Lenoir–Rhyne treats its male and female cheerleaders and all-female dance team as varsity athletes.
  • Mars Hill sponsors a varsity cycling team, with separate men's and women's squads.
  • Queens treats its male and female cheerleaders and all-female dance team as varsity athletes. The school also sponsors men's triathlon, which has no NCAA recognition of any kind, as a varsity sport.

Conference stadia and arenas[]

Current football member and future full member Limestone in gray for basketball.

School Football Basketball
Stadium Capacity Arena Capacity
Anderson Trojans
non-football school
Abney Athletic Center 1,500
Carson–Newman Eagles Burke–Tarr Stadium 5,500 Holt Fieldhouse 2,000
Catawba Indians Shuford Stadium 4,500 Goodman Gym 3,500
Coker Cobras
non-football school
Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium 700
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears Moretz Stadium 8,500 Shuford Memorial Gymnasium 2,770
Limestone Saints The Reservation 8,250 Timken Center 1,500
Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters
non-football school
Tex Turner Arena 5,000
Mars Hill Lions Meares Stadium 5,000 Stanford Arena 2,800
Newberry Wolves Setzler Field 4,000 Eleazer Arena 1,600
Queens Royals
non-football school
Curry Arena 2,500
Tusculum Pioneers Pioneer Field 1,850 Pioneer Arena 2,500
UVA–Wise Cavaliers Carl Smith Stadium 3,900 David J. Prior Convocation Center 3,000
Wingate Bulldogs Irwin Belk Stadium 3,000 Cuddy Arena 2,300

References[]

External links[]

Template:NCAA Division II conferences


Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "lower-alpha", but no corresponding <references group="lower-alpha"/> tag was found

Advertisement