Conference Carolinas

Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily at the Division II level. It is also considered as one of the seven Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Conference Carolinas membership currently consists of 15 small colleges or universities, 13 private and two public.

Conference Carolinas

Formerly	North State Conference (1930–1961) Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1961–1995) Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (1995–2007)
Association	NCAA
Founded	1930
Commissioner	Chris Colvin
Sports fielded	25 (26 in 2025) men's: 12 (13 in 2025) women's: 14
Division	Division II
No. of teams	15 (16 in 2025)
Headquarters	Greenville, South Carolina
Region	North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia
Official website	conferencecarolinas.com
Locations

History

Conference Carolinas

150km
100miles

Barton

Ferrum

Shorter

Young Harris

UNC Pembroke

Francis Marion

Chowan

Southern Wesleyan

North Greenville

Mount Olive

Lees–McRae

King

Erskine

Emmanuel

Converse

Belmont Abbey

  

Location of Conference Carolinas members: full, future

Conference Carolinas dates to its inception on December 6, 1930. The conference was formed then as an athletic association "for the greater advantage of the small colleges in North Carolina". The official name given back then was the North State Intercollegiate Conference but known informally as the Old North State Conference. The birthplace was the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, and the seven charter members were Appalachian, Atlantic Christian (now Barton College), Catawba, Guilford, Elon, High Point, and Lenoir–Rhyne.

The conference followed a policy of expansion for a period of time. Western Carolina became a member in 1933, East Carolina in 1947, Pfeiffer in 1960, Newberry in 1961, and Presbyterian in 1964, followed closely by Mars Hill.

With the acceptance of the first member from South Carolina in Newberry College, a name change became necessary. Thus on May 20, 1961 the official name of the conference was changed to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) but commonly known less formally as the Carolinas Conference.

East Carolina resigned in 1962 to join the Southern Conference and Appalachian and Western Carolina followed. Football sponsorship in the Carolinas Conference was dropped in 1973 when Lenoir–Rhyne, Newberry, Presbyterian, and Mars Hill joined the South Atlantic Conference.

Pembroke State University, now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, became a first-time member in 1976 followed by Wingate College in 1979, and Lenoir–Rhyne re-joined in 1984.

While Guilford College withdrew in 1988, St. Andrews and Mount Olive were added that same year.

The 1989–90 academic year started a new era as Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate all withdrew to compete in the first year that the South Atlantic Conference provided championships in all sports, not just football.

The Carolinas Conference then added Belmont Abbey in 1989, Coker College (now Coker University) in 1991, and Lees-McRae in 1993. Pembroke State left in 1992.

The 1993–94 academic year brought a change to the conference national affiliation. The conference began the process of transferring membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after years as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member. During the transition, it was a dual member of the NCAA's Division II and the NAIA's Division I.

The 1995–96 year brought dramatic change to the conference. First, full membership into NCAA Division II was acquired and NAIA affiliation dropped. Thus, this was the first official year of full competition and championship play for the conference in NCAA D-II status. Secondly, this was also the same year that Erskine, Longwood, and Queens were accepted as full members of the conference. With Longwood becoming the first Virginia member, another name change occurred and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (known more universally as the 'CVAC') was born.

Following the 1997 academic year High Point resigned to join the NCAA D-I ranks while in 1998 Limestone soon joined and were quickly followed by Anderson in 1999.

In 2003, Longwood University left the conference to explore possibilities in NCAA Division I. Then in 2005 the CVAC added Converse College (becoming Converse University in July 2021) as an affiliate member before becoming a full member starting in the 2007–08 season.

With the lone Virginia school in Longwood leaving, the league decided to go back to its roots and change its name to Conference Carolinas June 1, 2007.

On June 1, 2011, King College and North Greenville University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Tennessee member in King.

In 2013–14, Emmanuel College (Georgia) and Southern Wesleyan University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Georgia member in Emmanuel. Southern Wesleyan began official full NCAA D-II membership in 2016–17 while Emmanuel started in 2018–19.

After 57 years as a league member Pfeiffer University moved down to the NCAA D-III ranks on June 1, 2017.

Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference 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 CC would coordinate the wrestling championship, while the SAC would fill the same role for field hockey. Accordingly, all CC field hockey programs became de facto affiliates of the SAC, while SAC wrestling programs became de facto CC affiliates.^[1] The CC–SAC alliance is officially branded as "South Atlantic Conference Carolinas".^[2]

After the completion of the 2018–19 athletic year, former Commissioner Alan Patterson retired and was replaced by Chris Colvin. One of the first moves made by Colvin was to move the league headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina to be more centrally located to all member institutions.

The league now has 13 members, with the most recent changes taking place in 2021. Francis Marion University joined for the first time, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke returned after an absence of nearly 30 years.^[3] They were the first public schools to join CC since Longwood's 2003 departure. The most recent departure from CC was that of Limestone College (now Limestone University), which moved to the SAC in 2020.^[4]

Many institutions have been members of the league during its rich history including Anderson, Appalachian, Barton (formerly Atlantic Christian), Belmont Abbey, Catawba, Coker, Converse, East Carolina, Erskine, Emmanuel, Francis Marion, Guilford, Elon, High Point, King, Lees-McRae, Lenoir–Rhyne, Limestone, Longwood, Mars Hill, Mount Olive, Newberry, North Greenville, Pfeiffer, Presbyterian, Queens, St. Andrews, UNC Pembroke (both as Pembroke State and under its current name), Western Carolina and Wingate.

Barton is the only remaining charter member followed in longevity by Mount Olive's joining in 1988.

For the 2020–21 school year, CC added acrobatics and tumbling, newly added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in that same school year, as its newest sport. Initially, five full members and one associate were to start competition,^[5] but two more associates were added before competition began.^[6]

The arrival of Francis Marion and return of UNC Pembroke were not the only changes to the conference membership in 2021. Converse admitted men to its residential undergraduate program for the first time, and also added men's sports. Converse initially planned to field seven teams,^[7] but did not field the initially announced men's volleyball team.^[8] Also in 2021–22, current SAC member Lincoln Memorial University added men's wrestling;^[2] Emory & Henry College, which sponsors that sport, started a transition from Division III to Division II, joining the SAC (although it did not start full SAC competition until 2022–23);^[9] and Mars Hill University became an associate member in acrobatics & tumbling.^[10] Emory & Henry and Lincoln Memorial became de facto CC affiliates as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.

Also for the 2021–22 season, CC announced a partnership with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to conduct joint men's and women's bowling championship events (even though men's bowling is not considered a varsity sport by the NCAA). Each conference organizes its regular season independently, but the postseason is called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships. CC also announced Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum as new affiliate members for bowling.^[11][12]

In December 2021, CC and the SAC jointly announced that they would extend their existing partnership to include two women's sports, triathlon and wrestling, with triathlon competition starting in 2022–23 and wrestling in 2023–24. At the same time, both conferences agreed that after the 2021–22 school year, the SAC would become the only one of the two conferences to sponsor field hockey. The joint men's wrestling league continued to operate through the 2022–23 season. Initial plans were for both conferences to establish their own men's wrestling leagues,^[13] but this changed in 2023, when the two conferences agreed that only CC would sponsor men's wrestling from 2023–24.^[14]

On June 24, 2022, CC added Wingate as an acrobatics and tumbling affiliate starting with that program's first season in 2023–24.^[15]

On January 26, 2023, CC announced the addition of Shorter University as its 15th member for 2024–25 school year. The addition of Shorter gave the Conference Carolinas its sixth football sponsoring institution, and accordingly that same day, it was also announced that the Conference Carolinas would begin sponsoring football in 2025. Sponsoring members would include Shorter and North Greenville, whose programs played in the Gulf South Conference, Barton and Erskine, affiliates of the South Atlantic Conference, UNC Pembroke, affiliate of the Mountain East Conference, and Chowan, up until 2022 was an affiliate of the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association. It was also announced that Chowan will begin affiliation with the Gulf South Conference for the 2023 and 2024 seasons and that Shorter will compete as a D-II football independent for the 2024 season, with Erskine switching affiliations from the SAC to the GSC that season only to take their place, in order to accommodate programs until league play can begin.^[16][17] On April 5th, 2024, Ferrum College was announced as the conference's 16th member, as well as its seventh football program for CC's inaugural football season.^[18]

Chronological timeline

• 1930 – Conference Carolinas was founded as the North State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIAC). Charter members included Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), Catawba College, Elon College (now Elon University), Guilford College, High Point College (now High Point University) and Lenoir–Rhyne College (now Lenoir–Rhyne University) beginning the 1930–31 academic year.
• 1933 – Western Carolina Teachers College (now Western Carolina University) joined the NSIAC in the 1933–34 academic year.
• 1947 – East Carolina Teachers College (now East Carolina University) joined the NSIAC in the 1947–48 academic year.
• 1961 – The NSIAC has been rebranded as the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) in the 1961–62 academic year.
• 1961 – Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University) and Newberry College joined the CIAC in the 1961–62 academic year.
• 1962 – East Carolina left the CIAC to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1961–62 academic year.
• 1965 – Presbyterian College joined the CIAC in the 1965–66 academic year.
• 1968 – Appalachian State left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1961–62 academic year.
• 1969 – Western Carolina left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1961–62 academic year.
• 1972 – Newberry and Presbyterian left the CIAC to become NAIA Independents after the 1971–72 academic year.
• 1972 – Mars Hill College (now Mars Hill University) joined the CIAC in the 1972–73 academic year.
• 1975 – Lenoir–Rhyne left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1974–75 academic year.
• 1976 – Mars Hill left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1975–76 academic year.
• 1976 – Pembroke State University (now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke) joined the CIAC in the 1976–77 academic year.
• 1979 – Wingate College (now Wingate University) joined the CIAC in the 1979–80 academic year.
• 1984 – Lenoir–Rhyne re-joined the CIAC in the 1984–85 academic year.
• 1988 – Guilford left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) after the 1987–88 academic year.
• 1988 – Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now St. Andrews University) joined the CIAC in the 1988–89 academic year.
• 1989 – Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate left the CIAC to form part of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) after the 1988–89 academic year.
• 1989 – Belmont Abbey College joined the CIAC in the 1989–90 academic year.
• 1991 – Coker College (now Coker University) joined the CIAC in the 1991–92 academic year.
• 1992 – Pembroke State (now UNC Pembroke) left the CIAC to join the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 1991–92 academic year.
• 1993 – The CIAC was granted affiliate membership status within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), while still having membership within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the 1993–94 academic year.
• 1993 – Lees–McRae College joined the CIAC in the 1993–94 academic year.
• 1995 – The CIAC had achieved full membership status within the NCAA Division II ranks in the 1995–96 academic year.
• 1995 – The CIAC has been rebranded as the Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) in the 1995–96 academic year.
• 1995 – Erskine College, Longwood College (now Longwood University) and Queens College of Charlotte (now Queens University of Charlotte) joined the CVAC in the 1995–96 academic year.
• 1997 – High Point left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent (who would later join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big South Conference beginning the 1999–2000 academic year) after the 1996–97 academic year.
• 1998 – Limestone College (now Limestone University) and Anderson College of South Carolina (now Anderson University of South Carolina) joined the CVAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
• 2003 – Longwood left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2002–03 academic year.
• 2005 – Converse College (now Converse University) joined the CVAC as an affiliate member for women’s cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball in the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2007 – The CVAC has been rebranded as the Conference Carolinas (CC) in the 2007–08 academic year.
• 2007 – Converse had upgraded to join the CVAC (now CC) for all sports in the 2007–08 academic year.
• 2010 – Anderson (S.C.) left the CC to join the SAC after the 2009–10 academic year.
• 2011 – King College of Tennessee (now King University) and North Greenville University joined the CC in the 2011–12 academic year.
• 2012 – St. Andrews left the CC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) after the 2011–12 academic year.
• 2013 – Coker and Queens (N.C.) left the CC to join the SAC after the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2014 – Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University) and Southern Wesleyan University joined the CC as provisional members in the 2014–15 academic year.
• 2016 – Southern Wesleyan began full member competition in NCAA Division II and the CC in the 2016–17 academic year.
• 2016 – Chowan University joined CC as an affiliate member for women's golf, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse in the 2016–17 academic year.
• 2017 – Pfeiffer left CC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the USA South Athletic Conference after the 2016–17 academic year.
• 2018 – Emmanuel (Ga.) began full member competition in NCAA Division II and the CC in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2018 – Coker, Newberry and Queens (N.C.) rejoined CC as affiliate members for field hockey and men's wrestling in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2019 – Chowan had upgraded to join CC for all sports in the 2019–20 academic year.
• 2020
  • Limestone left CC to join the SAC after the 2019–20 academic year; while it would remain in the conference as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling and men's wrestling in the 2020–21 academic year.
  • Lander University joined CC as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling in the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2021
  • CC added what it calls "Developmental Championships" for its members in 2021–22. The conference claims to be the first in the NCAA to sponsor sub-varsity championships.^[19] According to CC, developmental teams consist of individuals who competed either sparingly or not at all at the varsity level in the season of the championship.^[20] The first such championships were held in baseball, men's basketball, and men's & women's soccer.^[21]
  • Francis Marion University joined and UNC Pembroke (formerly Pembroke State) rejoined CC in the 2021–22 academic year.
  • Converse added men's sports into its athletic program, also effective with the 2021–22 academic year.
  • Four institutions joined CC as affiliate members (Emory and Henry College for men's wrestling, Lincoln Memorial University for men's wrestling and men's & women's bowling, Mars Hill rejoined for acrobatics and tumbling, and Tusculum University for men's & women's bowling), all effective in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2022
  • Queens started a transition to Division I as a new member of the ASUN Conference, thus departing from its affiliate memberships in field hockey and men's wrestling.
  • Women's basketball was intended to be added to the CC developmental championships roster for 2022–23,^[20] but no competition was held in that season.
• 2023
  • Young Harris College joined CC in the 2023–24 academic year.
  • CC and the SAC dissolved their men's wrestling partnership after the 2022–23 season, agreeing that only CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24. Accordingly, the five full SAC members that sponsor the sport (Coker, Emory & Henry, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, and Newberry) would officially become CC affiliates. Three new associates joined for that sport—Allen, Bluefield State, and Montevallo.^[14]
  • Developmental championships in women's basketball, men's volleyball, and men's wrestling were added for 2023–24. The women's basketball championship was delayed from its originally announced 2022–23 schedule.^[22]
• 2024
  • Shorter University joined CC in the 2024-25 academic year.
  • CC added women's wrestling as a sponsored sport in collaboration with the SAC.
• 2025
  • Ferrum College will join CC in the 2025-26 academic year.
  • CC will begin sponsoring football again after 50 years, with sponsoring members Barton, Chowan, Erskine, Ferrum, North Greenville, Shorter, and UNC Pembroke.

Member schools

Current members

The CC currently has 15 full members; all but two are private schools.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment (Fall 2022)[23]	Nickname	Joined	Colors
Barton College	Wilson, North Carolina	1902	Disciples of Christ	1,265	Bulldogs	1930	Royal blue and black[24]
Belmont Abbey College	Belmont, North Carolina	1876	Catholic (O.S.B.)	1,501	Crusaders	1989	Crimson and white[25]
Chowan University	Murfreesboro, North Carolina	1848	Baptist	886	Hawks	2019	Royal blue and white[26]
Converse University	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1889	Nonsectarian	1,284	Valkyries	2007[a]	Purple and gold[27]
Emmanuel University	Franklin Springs, Georgia	1919	Pentecostal	850	Lions	2014[b]	Gold and cardinal[28]
Erskine College	Due West, South Carolina	1839	Reformed Presbyterian	956	Flying Fleet	1995	Garnet and gold[29]
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970	Public	4,045	Patriots	2021	Red, white, and blue[30]
King University	Bristol, Tennessee	1867	Evangelical Presbyterian	1,359	Tornado	2011	Scarlet and navy[31]
Lees–McRae College	Banner Elk, North Carolina	1899	Presbyterian	855	Bobcats	1993	Forest green and gold[32]
University of Mount Olive	Mount Olive, North Carolina	1951	Free Will Baptist	2,288	Trojans	1988	Green and yellow[33]
North Greenville University	Tigerville, South Carolina	1891	Baptist	2,125	Trailblazers	2011	Black and red[34]
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Baptist	1,506	Hawks	2024	Royal blue and white
Southern Wesleyan University	Central, South Carolina	1908	Wesleyan	1,175	Warriors	2014[c]	Blue[35]
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	Public [d]	7,666	Braves	1976; 2021[e]	Black and gold[36]
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	United Methodist	1,407	Mountain Lions	2023	Purple and white

Notes

1. Converse, traditionally a women's college, did not field men's sports until 2021–22, when it opened its residential undergraduate program to men for the first time. Converse is initially fielding six men's teams.
2. Emmanuel (Ga.) joined the CC as a provisional member in the 2014–15 school year; before the school later began full NCAA D-II and CC competition for all sponsored sports in 2018–19.
3. Southern Wesleyan joined the CC as a provisional member in the 2014–15 school year; before the school later began full NCAA D-II and CC competition for all sponsored sports in 2016–17.
4. Part of the University of North Carolina System.
5. UNC Pembroke had been a conference member of the CC (then known as the CIAC) from 1976–77 to 1991–92 under its previous name of Pembroke State University.

Future members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	Colors	Current conference
Ferrum College	Ferrum, Virginia	1913	United Methodist Church	760	Panthers	2025	Black and gold[37]	ODAC (DIII)

Affiliate members

The CC currently has thirteen affiliate members, with all but three being private schools, and two being historically African-American institutions.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Colors	CC sport(s)	Primary conference
Allen University	Columbia, South Carolina	1870	Nonsectarian (HBCU)	621	Yellow Jackets	2023–24		Men's wrestling	SIAC
						2024–25		Women's wrestling
Bluefield State University	Bluefield, West Virginia	1895	Public (HBCU)	1,358	Big Blue	2023–24		Men's wrestling	CIAA
						2024–25		Women's wrestling
Coker University[a]	Hartsville, South Carolina	1908	Nonsectarian	1,087	Cobras	2018–19		Men's wrestling	South Atlantic (SAC)
						2020–21		Acrobatics and tumbling
Emory & Henry University	Emory, Virginia	1836	Methodist	1,372	Wasps	2022–23[b]		Men's wrestling	South Atlantic (SAC)
						2024–25		Women's wrestling
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	Public	3,825	Bearcats	2020–21		Acrobatics and tumbling	Peach Belt (PBC)
Limestone University[c]	Gaffney, South Carolina	1845	Christian	1,840	Saints	2020–21		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)
								Men's wrestling
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, Tennessee	1897	Nonsectarian	5,118	Railsplitters	2021–22		Bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)
								Men's wrestling
						2024–25		Women's wrestling
Mars Hill University[d]	Mars Hill, North Carolina	1856	Baptist	1,072	Lions	2021–22		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)
University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	2,625	Falcons	2023–24		Men's wrestling	Gulf South
Newberry College[e]	Newberry, South Carolina	1856	Lutheran ELCA	1,242	Wolves	2018–19		Men's wrestling	South Atlantic (SAC)
						2024–25		Women's wrestling
Tusculum University	Tusculum, Tennessee	1794	Presbyterian	1,494	Pioneers	2021–22		Bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Wingate University[f]	Wingate, North Carolina	1896	Baptist	3,440	Bulldogs	2023–24		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)

Future affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	Colors	CC sport	Primary conference
University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	2,625	Falcons	2025–26		Acrobatics and tumbling	Gulf South
								Men's and women's swimming & diving

Notes

1. Coker was a full member of CC from 1991–92 to 2012–13.
2. Emory & Henry started Division II transition in 2021, but started South Atlantic Conference (SAC) competition in 2022.^[9]
3. Limestone was a full member of CC from 1998–99 to 2019–20.
4. Mars Hill was a full member of CC from 1972–73 to 1975–76.
5. Newberry was a full member of CC from 1961–62 to 1971–72.
6. Wingate was a full member of CC from 1979–80 to 1988–89.

Former members

A total of 19 schools are former CC members, with 15 of them being private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those in use during the final year each institution was a member.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
Anderson University	Anderson, South Carolina	1911	Baptist	4,008	Trojans	1998	2010	South Atlantic (SAC)
Appalachian State University	Boone, North Carolina	1899	Public (UNC)[a]	20,641	Mountaineers	1930	1968	Sun Belt[b]
Catawba College	Salisbury, North Carolina	1851	United Church of Christ	1,207	Indians	1930	1989	South Atlantic (SAC)
Coker College[c]	Hartsville, South Carolina	1908	Nonsectarian	1,087	Cobras	1991	2013	South Atlantic (SAC)
East Carolina College[d]	Greenville, North Carolina	1907	Public (UNC)[a]	28,021	Pirates	1947	1962	The American[b]
Elon College[e]	Elon, North Carolina	1889	Nonsectarian	7,127	Phoenix	1930	1989	Coastal (CAA)[b]
Guilford College	Greensboro, North Carolina	1837	Quakers	1,198	Quakers	1930	1988	Old Dominion (ODAC)[f]
High Point University	High Point, North Carolina	1924	United Methodist	5,860	Panthers	1930	1997	Big South[b]
Lenoir–Rhyne College[g][h]	Hickory, North Carolina	1891	Lutheran ELCA	2,312	Bears	1930; 1984	1975; 1989	South Atlantic (SAC)
Limestone College[i]	Gaffney, South Carolina	1845	Christian	1,840	Saints	1998	2020	South Atlantic (SAC)
Longwood University	Farmville, Virginia	1839	Public	4,612	Lancers	1995	2003	Big South[b]
Mars Hill College[j]	Mars Hill, North Carolina	1856	Baptist	1,072	Lions	1972	1976	South Atlantic (SAC)
Newberry College	Newberry, South Carolina	1856	Lutheran ELCA	1,242	Wolves	1961	1972	South Atlantic (SAC)
Pfeiffer University	Misenheimer, North Carolina	1885	United Methodist	1,185	Falcons	1960[k]	2017	USA South[f]
Presbyterian College	Clinton, South Carolina	1880	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,231	Blue Hose	1964[l]	1972	Big South[b]
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	2,063	Royals	1995	2013	ASUN[b]
St. Andrews University	Laurinburg, North Carolina	1958	Presbyterian	887	Knights	1988	2012	Appalachian (AAC)[m]
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee, North Carolina	1889	Public (UNC)[a]	11,877	Catamounts	1933	1969	Southern (SoCon)[b]
Wingate College[n]	Wingate, North Carolina	1896	Baptist	3,440	Bulldogs	1979	1989	South Atlantic (SAC)

Notes

1. Appalachian State, East Carolina, and Western Carolina did not become part of the University of North Carolina system until 1972, after all had left the conference.
2. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
3. Currently known as Coker University since 2019.
4. Currently known as East Carolina University since 1967.
5. Currently known as Elon University since 2001. The "Elon College" name is now applied to the university's college of arts and sciences.
6. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
7. Currently known as Lenoir–Rhyne University since 2008.
8. Lenoir–Rhyne previously withdrew from the CC from 1975–76 to 1983–84.
9. Currently known as Limestone University since 2020.
10. Currently known as Mars Hill University since 2013.
11. Pfeiffer began athletic competition in the CIAC, effective the 1961–62 academic year.
12. Presbyterian began athletic competition in the CIAC, effective the 1965–66 academic year.
13. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
14. Currently known as Wingate University since 1995.

Former affiliate members

The CC had one former affiliate member.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	CC sport(s)	Primary conference
Queens University of Charlotte[a]	Charlotte, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	2,063	Royals	2018–19	2021–22	Field hockey	ASUN[b]
								Wrestling
Salem University	Salem, West Virginia	1888	Private for-profit	870	Tigers	2019-20	2023-24	Men's and women's swimming & diving	Independent

Notes

1. Queens (N.C.) was a full member of the CC from 1995–96 to 2012–13.
2. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

Membership timeline

 Full member   Associate member 

Sports

When Barton became the sixth member to sponsor men's volleyball in 2011–12, Conference Carolinas became the fourth official scholarship-granting conference in NCAA men's volleyball. It also became the first all-sports conference (i.e., one that sponsors men's and women's basketball) ever to sponsor men's volleyball as a scholarship sport,^[38] and is also the first men's volleyball conference to consist solely of Division II members. No D-I all-sports conference sponsored the sport until the Big West Conference launched a men's volleyball league in the 2018 season (2017–18 school year).

Conference Carolinas sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:

A divisional format is used for women's volleyball.
East Barton Belmont Abbey Chowan Francis Marion Mount Olive UNC–Pembroke	West Converse Emmanuel (Ga.) Erskine King (Tenn.) Lees–McRae North Greenville Southern Wesleyan

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Acrobatics & tumbling		Y
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Bowling		Y
Cross country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming & Diving	Y	Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & field indoor	Y	Y
Track & field outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball	Y	Y
Wrestling	Y	Y

In men's wrestling and women's triathlon, Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference have operated as a single league known as South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC), holding joint conference tournaments in each sport. SACC will start sponsoring women's wrestling in 2023–24. SACC also operated in field hockey until the two conferences agreed that only the SAC would sponsor that sport starting in 2022–23. As noted previously, the men's wrestling championship was operated by CC through 2022–23; initially, the SAC was to establish its own men's wrestling league, but the two conferences later agreed that only CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24.

In bowling, Conferences Carolinas and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference made a partnership to make a men's and women's bowling championship (even though men's bowling is not considered a varsity sport by the NCAA). Each conference will organize its regular season independently but the postseason will be called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships.

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball [a]	Wrestling	Total CC Sports
Barton	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		11
Belmont Abbey	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Chowan	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y					8
Converse		Y	Y			Y		Y	Y	Y			6
Emmanuel	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Erskine	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y	Y		8
Francis Marion	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	Y				7
King	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Lees–McRae		Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		9
Mount Olive	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
North Greenville	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		10
Shorter	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			9
Southern Wesleyan	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y			7
UNC Pembroke	Y	Y	Y						Y	Y		Y	6
Young Harris	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y					7
Totals	12	14	14	10	8	13	5	11	12	11	8	5+8	124
Future member
Ferrum	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		Y	10
Affiliate members
Allen												Y	1
Bluefield State												Y	1
Coker												Y	1
Emory & Henry												Y	1
Limestone												Y	1
Lincoln Memorial												Y	1
Montevallo												Y	1
Newberry												Y	1

1. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates a combined Division I/II championship in men's volleyball, and scholarship limits in that sport are the same for members of both divisions.

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Acrobatics & Tumbling	Basketball	Bowling[a]	Cross Country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball	Wrestling	Total CC Sports
Barton		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		11
Belmont Abbey	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		12
Chowan	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y		11
Converse	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		12
Emmanuel		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	13
Erskine	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		11
Francis Marion		Y		Y			Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		8
King	Y	Y		Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Lees–McRae		Y		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		10
Mount Olive		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
North Greenville		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		10
Shorter		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y		10
Southern Wesleyan		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y		9
UNC Pembroke		Y		Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		9
Young Harris		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y		8
Totals	5+5	14	3+2	14	12	11	14	14	7	12	12	12	14	3+5	147
Future member
Ferrum		Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Affiliate members
Allen														Y	1
Bluefield State														Y	1
Coker	Y														1
Emory & Henry														Y	1
Lander	Y														1
Limestone	Y														1
Lincoln Memorial			Y											Y	2
Mars Hill	Y														1
Newberry														Y	1
Tusculum			Y												1
Wingate	Y														1

1. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates single championship event in bowling that is open to members of all three divisions. Schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same scholarship limits in that sport.

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Men			Women
		Football[a]	Golf		Beach volleyball[b]	Equestrian[c]	Field Hockey	Triathlon[c]
Barton		SAC
Belmont Abbey							SAC	IND
Chowan		GSC
Converse						IND	SAC
Emmanuel					SAC[d]
Erskine		GSC			SAC[d]
Francis Marion			Southland[e]
Ferrum		CC				TBA[f]	TBA[f]
King								IND
Mount Olive
North Greenville		GSC
Shorter		IND
UNC Pembroke		MEC

1. Will be part of Conference Carolinas in 2025–26.
2. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates a single championship event in beach volleyball that is open to members of all three divisions. Schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same scholarship limits in both sports. Will be a part of Conference Carolinas as a joint conference with SAC in 2024.
3. Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
4. De facto South Atlantic Conference affiliate as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.
5. Francis Marion men's golf currently plays in Division I.
6. Ferrum has not announced a future affiliation for their equestrian or field hockey programs.

In addition to the above:

• Belmont Abbey fields varsity teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling (coeducational with men's and women's squads), men's bowling, and men's triathlon. It also considers its band, cheerleaders (male and female), and dance team (all-female) to be varsity athletes.
• Chowan fields a coeducational esports team, and also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes.
• Converse fields a coeducational esports team, and its equestrian program is also coeducational, although only women compete in NCAA-recognized events.
• Emmanuel fields teams in four non-NCAA sports. Three teams are coeducational: archery (with men's and women's squads), bass fishing, and clay target shooting. The fourth is in men's bowling. It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes.
• Erskine fields a men's beach volleyball team, as well as coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of bass fishing and rodeo.
• King fields a coeducational esports team, plus coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling (men's and women's squads) and bass fishing. It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) and dance team (all-female, though listed on its athletics website as coeducational) to be varsity athletes.
• Lees–McRae fields a varsity team in the non-NCAA sport of cycling (coeducational with men's and women's squads). It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes. Unlike other CC members that field esports teams, Lees–McRae treats its esports program as a club sport.

See also

• NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship, in which the CC champion receives an automatic berth

References

1. "Conference Carolinas and The South Atlantic Conference Partner to Sponsor Field Hockey and Wrestling". South Atlantic Conference. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
2. "Lincoln Memorial University to Add Field Hockey and Men's and Women's Wrestling" (Press release). Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
3. "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
4. "Limestone College to Join South Atlantic Conference in 2020-21" (Press release). South Atlantic Conference. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
5. "Conference Carolinas to Sponsor Acrobatics and Tumbling in 2020-21 Athletic Year; Coker Joins as Affiliate Member in NCAA Emerging Sport" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 25, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
6. "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Lander and Limestone as Associate Members in Acrobatics and Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 25, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
7. "Converse Announces Inaugural Men's NCAA Division II Athletic Teams for 2021-2022" (Press release). Converse College. April 8, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
8. "Mount Olive Picked to Defend Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Title" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
9. "Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23" (Press release). South Atlantic Conference. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
10. "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Mars Hill as Associate Member in Acrobatics & Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
11. "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Tusculum as Associate Member in Men's and Women's Bowling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
12. "Great Midwest Collaborates With Conference Carolinas For 2021-22 Bowling Championships" (Press release). Great Midwest Athletic Conference. March 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
13. "Conference Carolinas Extends Collaboration With South Atlantic Conference Into Women's Triathlon and Women's Wrestling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. December 16, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
14. "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Eight Associate Members as Part of Sponsorship of Men's Wrestling in 2023-24" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
15. "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Wingate As Associate Member in Acrobatics & Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
16. "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Shorter University and Return of Football in 2025" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
17. "Gulf South Conference Adds Two Football Affiliate Members" (Press release). Gulf South Conference. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
18. "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of 16th Member in Ferrum College" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
19. "Conference Carolinas Narrative". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
20. "Conference Carolinas Announces 2022-23 Developmental Championship Slate" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
21. "2021–22 Conference Carolinas Championships". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
22. "Conference Carolinas Announces 2023-24 Developmental Championship Slate" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. September 14, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
23. "College Navigator".
24. "Barton College Quick Facts". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
25. "BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE". Retrieved October 31, 2021.
26. "CHOWAN UNIVERSITY". Retrieved November 12, 2021.
27. "CONVERSE UNIVERSITY". Retrieved November 12, 2021.
28. "EMMANUEL COLLEGE". Retrieved December 14, 2021.
29. "Erskine Flying Fleet Brand Guidelines" (PDF). July 1, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
30. "Marion University - News: Colors". Retrieved February 13, 2017.
31. "Quick Facts". Retrieved December 31, 2022.
32. "Sports Info - Logos". Retrieved April 3, 2023.
33. "GRAPHIC STANDARDS GUIDE" (PDF). Retrieved May 12, 2023.
34. "North Greenville University Brand & Style Guide". Retrieved February 24, 2017.
35. "COLOR PALETTE". Retrieved December 1, 2023.
36. UNC Pembroke Style Guide (PDF). February 18, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
37. "FERRUM COLLEGE". Retrieved February 25, 2022.
38. Lopes, Vinnie (April 4, 2014). "The Little Conference That Could". Volleyball Magazine. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.

External links

• Official website