USC Aiken Pacers

The USC Aiken Pacers are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Carolina Aiken, located in Aiken, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Pacers have primarily competed in the Peach Belt Conference since the 1990–91 academic year. The Pacers' primary rival is conference foe Augusta.

USC Aiken Pacers
University	University of South Carolina Aiken
Conference	Peach Belt
NCAA	Division II
Athletic director	Todd Wilkinson[1]
Location	Aiken, South Carolina
First season	1961
Varsity teams	11 (5 men's, 5 women's, 1 co-ed)
Basketball arena	Convocation Center
Baseball stadium	Roberto Hernandez Stadium
Softball stadium	J.H. Satcher Field
Soccer stadium	Pacer Pit
Mascot	Ace the Pacer
Nickname	Pacers
Colors	Pacer Blue, Ace Red, and Triumph Gray[2]
Website	pacersports.com
Team NCAA championships
3
Individual and relay NCAA champions
2[3]

USC Aiken competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Men's and women's tennis were discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 school year. The Pacers also sponsor a co-ed Spirit Squad.

History

USC Aiken's athletic programs were initially known as the Rebels. The mascot name was changed to Pacers in 1971.^[4]

Conference affiliations

NCAA

• Peach Belt Conference (1990–present)^[5]

Varsity teams

Men's sports	Women's sports
Baseball	Basketball
Basketball	Cross country
Cross country	Soccer
Golf	Softball
Soccer	Volleyball

Baseball

Ahead of the 2022 season, Michael Holder took the reins of the Pacer baseball program.^[6] Holder succeeded longtime coach Kenny Thomas, who led the Pacers to nine NCAA Southeast Regional appearances across 22 seasons as head coach.^[7]

Longtime Coastal Carolina head coach Gary Gilmore served as an assistant from 1986–1989 and subsequently as head coach at USCA from 1990–1995.

It was at the end of Gilmore's first season on staff in 1986 that pitcher Roberto Hernández was drafted in the first round of the MLB draft.^[8] Hernández later made substantial donations to his alma mater, which led to a new baseball stadium being constructed and named in his honor on the university's campus.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball program has been led by Mark Vanderslice since the 2015–16 season.^[9]

Women's basketball

The women's basketball program has been led by Mark Miller since the 2016–17 season.^[10]

Cross country

The Pacers' cross country program is led by coach Marshall Leonard.^[11]

Golf

The Pacers' golf program has been led by coach Michael Carlisle since the 1991–92 season. During his tenure, the program has experienced unprecedented success, including a run of three consecutive national championships (2004, 2005, and 2006).^[12]

Men's soccer

The men's soccer program is led by first-year head coach Nick Sakiewicz.^[13] He takes over for longtime coach Ike Ofoje, who was also the Pacers' inaugural women's soccer head coach.^[14]

Women's soccer

The women's soccer program is led by first-year head coach Adam Kleman.^[15] Kleman succeeds Tina Murphy, who in her two year tenure before departing for Gardner-Webb led the Pacers to their first Peach Belt tournament appearance since the 2017–18 season.^[16]

Softball

The Pacers' softball program is led by fourth-year head coach Jaclin Poole. Under Poole's leadership, the Pacers made the 2022 Peach Belt Conference tournament, the program's first since 2016.^[17]

Volleyball

The Pacers' volleyball program is led by head coach Glenn Cox, who has guided the program since 2008.^[18]

Conference championships

As members of the Peach Belt Conference the Pacers have won 55 conference championships (46 team, nine individual) across five programs.

Men's Sports

Baseball

• PBC Regular Season - 3 (1994, 2009, 2013)
• PBC Tournament - 2 (1992, 1993)

Basketball

• PBC Regular Season - 7 (1992-93, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2022-23, 2023-24)
• PBC Tournament - 4 (1993, 2010, 2013, 2014)

Golf

• PBC Championships - 12 (1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018)
• PBC Individual Champions - 9 (Brian Kassel '93, Jamie Stanley '95, '97, Brooks Blackburn '96, Scott Brown '02, '06, Dane Burkhart '05, Brandon Robinson-Thompson '14, Johnson Holliday '18)

Women's Sports

Basketball

• PBC Regular Season - 3 (1990-91, 2001-02, 2007-08)
• PBC Tournament - 1 (2012)

Volleyball

• PBC Regular Season - 10 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
• PBC Tournament - 5 (1991, 1992, 1996, 2006, 2007)

Regional championships

The Pacers have had consistent success in regional competition, claiming 15 (10 team, five individual) NCAA Division II Region Titles across five sports.

Team

Association	Division	Sport	Year	Opponent/Runner-Up	Score
NCAA	Division II	Baseball	1993	Francis Marion	13–2
		Men's Golf	2002	–	835–
			2003	Francis Marion	865–878
			2004	Kennesaw State	578–586
			2005	Armstrong State	887–891
			2006	Columbus State	875–912
		Men's Basketball	2013	Barton	82–75
			2014	Montevallo	84–73
		Men's Tennis	2019	Wingate	4–2
		Volleyball	2016	Queens	3–2

Individual

Association	Division	Sport	Year	Individual(s)	Event	Score
NCAA	Division II	Men's Golf	1997	Jamie Stanley	Individual Title	220 (+4)
			2003	Scott Usher		212 (–4)
			2005	Scott Brown		216 (0)
			2006	Scott Brown		211 (–5)
			2012	Matt Atkins		210 (–6)

National championships

Team

Association	Division	Sport	Year	Opponent/Runner-Up	Score
NCAA	Division II	Men's Golf[19]	2004	Chico State	1,191–1,200
			2005	Armstrong State	1,158–1,163
			2006	Columbus State	1,148–1,160

Individual

Association	Division	Sport	Year	Individual(s)	Event	Score
NCAA	Division II	Men's Golf	2005	Dane Burkhart	Individual Title	279 (–5)
			2008	Jeff Goff		278 (–2)

Notable alumni

Baseball

• Rich Batchelor, (1986–89)^[20]
• Scott Cassidy, (1994–95)^[21]
• Paul Fletcher, (1986–87)^[22]
• Roberto Hernández, (1986)^[23]
• Adam Riggs, (1993–94)^[24]
• Bryan Ward, (1993)^[25]
• Reggie Williams, (1987–88)^[26]

Men's basketball

• Chris Commons, (2007–09)^[27]
• Josh Dollard, (2008–09)^[28]

Men's golf

• Matt Atkins, (2010–13)^[29]
• Scott Brown, (2001–05)^[30]
• Roberto Díaz, (2005–08)^[31]

Men's soccer

• Ranaldo Bailey, (2018–19)^[32]
• John Lesko, (2006–08)^[33]

Women's soccer

• Akeyla Furbert, (2012–15)^[34]

References

1. "USC Aiken Announces Todd Wilkinson As Director Of Athletics". Retrieved January 5, 2023.
2. "Colors". Retrieved July 3, 2023.
3. "2022-23 PBC CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE". Retrieved January 16, 2023.
4. Pacer Times, Vol. 50 no. 1, p.1 (August 8, 2013).
5. "Conference History". Retrieved January 2, 2023.
6. "Pacers ready to begin new era under Holder". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
7. "Kenny Thomas To Retire After 2021 Season". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
8. "Roberto Hernández". Retrieved March 20, 2024.
9. "College Basketball: Division II head basketball job for Vanderslice". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
10. "USC Aiken announces Mark Miller will be new women's basketball head coach". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
11. "MARSHALL LEONARD NAMED USCA HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
12. "Michael Carlisle - Head Men's Golf Coach". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
13. "USC Aiken Hires Nick Sakiewicz To Lead Men's Soccer Program". University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics. 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
14. "Ike Ofoje - Men's Soccer Coach". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
15. "USC Aiken Hires Adam Kleman As Head Women's Soccer Coach". University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
16. "Tina Murphy - Women's Soccer Coach". University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
17. "USC Aiken Is Sixth Seed For PBC Championship". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
18. "Glenn Cox - Volleyball Coach". Retrieved February 5, 2023.
19. "NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship Results" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
20. "Richard Batchelor - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
21. "Scott Cassidy - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
22. "Paul Fletcher - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
23. "Roberto Hernandez - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
24. "Adam Riggs - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
25. "Bryan Ward - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
26. "Reggie Williams - Baseball". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
27. "Chris Commons - Men's Basketball". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
28. "Josh Dollard - Men's Basketball". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
29. "Matt Atkins - Men's Golf". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
30. "Scott Brown - Men's Golf". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
31. "Roberto Diaz - Men's Golf". Retrieved January 15, 2023.
32. "Ranaldo Bailey - Men's Soccer". Retrieved January 21, 2023.
33. "John Lesko - Men's Soccer". Retrieved January 29, 2023.
34. "Akeyla Furbert - Women's Soccer". Retrieved January 29, 2023.

External links

• Official website