Southern States Athletic Conference

Not to be confused with Southern States Conference.

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.

Southern States Athletic Conference

Formerly	Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004)
Association	NAIA
Founded	1999
Commissioner	Mike Hall
Sports fielded	19 men's: 9 women's: 10
No. of teams	13 (12 in 2025)
Headquarters	Montgomery, Alabama
Region	Southeastern United States
Official website	ssacsports.com
Locations

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

Southern States Athletic Conference

150km
100miles

Brewton–Parker

UT Southern

Thomas

Point

Life

Abraham Baldwin

Middle Georgia State

Dalton State

Blue Mountain

William Carey

Mobile

Loyola New Orleans

Faulkner

  

Location of SSAC members: current, departing

• 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[a]	Basketball?
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	Tifton, Georgia	1908	Public[b]	3,284	Golden 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[b]	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	Catholic (Jesuit)	4,858	Wolf Pack	2010	both
Middle Georgia State University[3]	Cochran, Georgia[c][d]	2013	Public[b]	8,404	Knights	2014	both
University of Mobile	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[e]	757	FireHawks	2013; 2023[f]	both
William Carey University	Hattiesburg, Mississippi	1892	Southern Baptist	3,250	Crusaders	2010	both

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Part of the University System of Georgia.
3. Middle Georgia State's main campus is in Macon, where the women's cross-country and volleyball teams and men's and women's tennis teams are housed; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the Cochran campus.
4. Middle Georgia State, pending approval from the NCAA, will leave the SSAC for Division II's Peach Belt Conference, projected to be in 2025.
5. Part of the University of Tennessee System.
6. UT Southern initially joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 school year under its old name Martin Methodist College, before leaving after the 2019–20 school year, and then rejoining under its current name before the 2023–24 school year.

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[a]	Left[b]	Current conference
Auburn University at Montgomery	Montgomery, Alabama	1967	Public	5,188	Warhawks	1999	2016	Gulf South (GSC)[c]
Belhaven University	Jackson, Mississippi	1883	Evangelical Presbyterian	3,245	Blazers	2010	2015	C.C. of the South (CCS)[d]
Bethel University	McKenzie, Tennessee	1842	Cumberland Presbyterian	2,975	Wildcats	2013	2020	Mid-South (MSC)[8][e]
Berry College	Mount Berry, Georgia	1902	Nondenominational	1,937	Vikings	2004	2010	Southern (SAA)[d]
Brenau University[f]	Gainesville, Georgia	1878	Nonsectarian	3,500	Golden Tigers	1999	2017	Appalachian (AAC)
College of Coastal Georgia	Brunswick, Georgia	1961	Public[g]	3,438	Mariners	2012	2017	The Sun
Columbia College[h]	Columbia, South Carolina	1854	United Methodist	1,200	Fighting Koalas	2005	2011	Appalachian (AAC)
Emmanuel College[i]	Franklin Springs, Georgia	1919	Pentecostal	760	Lions	1999	2014	Carolinas (CC)[c]
Florida College[j]	Temple Terrace, Florida	1946	Churches of Christ	505	Falcons	2018	2021	Continental
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	1906	Public[g]	3,033	Hurricanes	1999	2006	Peach Belt (PBC)[c]
Lee University	Cleveland, Tennessee	1918	Church of God	5,189	Flames	2004	2013	Gulf South (GSC)[c]
North Georgia College & State University[k]	Dahlonega, Georgia	1873	Public[g]	18,782	Saints[l]	1999	2005	Peach Belt (PBC)[c]
Reinhardt College[m]	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)[c]
Southern Polytechnic State University	Marietta, Georgia	1948	Public[g]	N/A	Runnin' Hornets	1999	2014	N/A[n]
Southern Wesleyan University	Central, South Carolina	1906	Wesleyan	1,616	Warriors	1999	2014	Carolinas (CC)[c]
Spring Hill College	Mobile, Alabama	1830	Catholic (Jesuit)	1,439	Badgers	2010	2014	Southern (SIAC)[c]
Stillman College	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	1876	Presbyterian[o] (PCUSA)	1,000	Tigers	2018	2024	HBCU (HBCUAC)
Talladega College	Talladega, Alabama	1867	United Church of Christ[o]	600	Tornadoes	2021	2023	HBCU (HBCUAC)
Truett–McConnell College	Cleveland, Georgia	1946	Baptist	1,600	Bears	2010	2013	Appalachian (AAC)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
4. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
5. Bethel was already a Mid-South Conference affiliate in archery and football. Bethel returned to the MSC in track and field, and transferred all other sports to that conference as a full member.
6. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
7. Part of the University System of Georgia.
8. This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports [Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21].
9. Currently known as Emmanuel University since 2023.
10. Florida College had sponsored women's basketball until after the 2020–21 school year.
11. North Georgia State consolidated with Gainesville State College in 2013 to form the current University of North Georgia.
12. Since the 2013 merger, North Georgia has competed as the North Georgia Nighthawks.
13. Currently known as Reinhardt University since 2010.
14. Southern Poly had consolidated with Kennesaw State University in 2014.
15. Also a historically black college and university.

Membership timeline

 Full member (non-football)

Sports

The SSAC holds championships in the following 19 sports:

A divisional format is used for men's and women's basketball.
East Abraham Baldwin Brewton-Parker Dalton State <men's only> Life Middle Georgia State Point Thomas	West Blue Mountain Christian Faulkner Loyola [La.] Mobile Tennessee-Southern William Carey

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Bowling	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field Indoor	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

References

1. "The Governance Structure of the SSAC". Southern States Athletic Conference. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
2. "Life U Athletics Headed to Southern States Athletic Conference in 2022-23". Life Running Eagles. December 16, 2020.
3. "Middle Georgia State University's athletics program to shift from NAIA to NCAA Division II" (Press release). 41 WMGT. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
4. "Point University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. August 9, 2022.
5. "Point to join Southern States Athletic Conference in 2023-24". Point University. August 9, 2022.
6. "Thomas University Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. July 1, 2022.
7. "Tennessee Southern Approved For SSAC Membership In 2023-24". SSAC. July 1, 2022.
8. "Bethel, Freed–Hardeman and Martin Methodist Renew Rivalries with Mid-South Conference Move". Mid-South Conference. July 25, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.

External links

• Official website