View source for South Atlantic Conference

{{Short description|American college athletic conference}}
{{Infobox sports league
| name         = South Atlantic Conference
| logo         = South Atlantic Conference logo.svg
| logo_size    = 200
| founded      = 1975
| association  = [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]
| division     = [[NCAA Division II|Division II]]
| teams        = 13 (12 in 2025–26)
| sports       = 20
| mens         = 10
| womens       = 10
| region       = [[Southeastern United States]]
| headquarters = [[Rock Hill, South Carolina]]
| commissioner = Patrick Britz
| since        = 2008
| website      = [http://www.thesac.com thesac.com]
| map          = SAC-USA-states.png
| map_size     = 250
| color        = #FAE00F; {{box-shadow border|a|#000000|2px}}
| font_color   = #000000
}}

The '''South Atlantic Conference''' ('''SAC''') is a [[List of NCAA conferences|college athletic conference]] affiliated with the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) at the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level, which operates in the [[southeastern United States]]. 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==
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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 University|Appalachian State Teachers College]] (now Appalachian State University), [[Lenoir–Rhyne University|Lenoir–Rhyne College]] (now Lenoir–Rhyne University), [[Barton College|Atlantic Christian College]] (now Barton College), [[Catawba College]], [[Guilford College]], [[Elon University|Elon College]] (now Elon University), and [[High Point University|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 University|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 [[Conference Carolinas|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 University|Carson–Newman College]] (now Carson–Newman University), Catawba College, Elon College, [[Gardner–Webb University|Gardner–Webb College]] (now Gardner–Webb University), Lenoir–Rhyne College (now Lenoir-Rhyne University), [[Mars Hill University|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 University|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 University|Tusculum College]] (now Tusculum University) 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 (South Carolina)|Anderson University]] became the league's 10th member. Three years later in July 2013, [[Coker University|Coker College]] (now Coker University) and [[Queens University of Charlotte]] joined the conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesac.com/about/history|title=History of the SAC|publisher=South Atlantic Conference|access-date=June 4, 2014}}</ref> On April 13, 2018, [[University of Virginia's College at Wise|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uvawisecavs.com/news/2018/4/12/general-uva-wise-to-join-south-atlantic-conference-in-2019-20.aspx|title=UVa-Wise to Join South Atlantic Conference in 2019-20|work=UVaWiseCavs.com|date=April 13, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2018}}</ref> A more 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 became [[Limestone University]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.thesac.com/general/2018-19/releases/20190404n24t4v |title=Limestone College to Join South Atlantic Conference in 2020-21 |publisher=South Atlantic Conference |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=April 26, 2019}}</ref>

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 men's 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 men's wrestling. Accordingly, all CC field hockey programs became SAC affiliates, and all SAC men's wrestling programs became CC affiliates.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.conferencecarolinas.com/sports/Misc./2017-18/FHWR |title=Conference Carolinas and The South Atlantic Conference Partner to Sponsor Field Hockey and Wrestling |publisher=South Atlantic Conference |date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> The SAC–CC alliance is officially branded as "South Atlantic Conference Carolinas".<ref name=LMU21>{{cite press release|url=https://lmurailsplitters.com/news/2020/9/24/general-lincoln-memorial-university-to-add-field-hockey-and-mens-and-womens-wrestling.aspx |title=Lincoln Memorial University to Add Field Hockey and Men's and Women's Wrestling |publisher=Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters |date=September 24, 2020 |access-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref>

A more recent change in conference membership was announced on November 17, 2020. [[Emory and Henry University|Emory & Henry College]], now a university, then in the Division III [[Old Dominion Athletic Conference]], started a transition to Division II in July 2021 and began SAC competition in 2022.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.thesac.com/general/2020-21/releases/20201117dbl284 |title=Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23 |publisher=South Atlantic Conference |date=November 17, 2020 |access-date=November 26, 2020}}</ref>

In December 2021, the SAC and CC 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 will continue to operate through the 2022–23 season, after which both conferences will establish their own men's wrestling leagues.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2021/12/15/general-conference-carolinas-extends-collaboration-with-south-atlantic-conference-into-womens-triathlon-and-womens-wrestling.aspx |title=Conference Carolinas Extends Collaboration With South Atlantic Conference Into Women’s Triathlon and Women’s Wrestling |publisher=Conference Carolinas |date=December 16, 2021 |access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>

The most recent change was officially announced on May 10, 2022, when the Division I [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] (then branded as the ASUN Conference) announced that Queens would leave the SAC to start a transition to D-I on July 1 as a new ASUN member.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://asunsports.org/general/2021-22/releases/20220502gh522q |title=ASUN Conference Welcomes Queens University of Charlotte as Its Newest Member |publisher=ASUN Conference |date=May 10, 2022 |access-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>

Starting in 2023–24, the SACC men's wrestling league was dissolved. Originally the intent was for the SAC and CC to each begin their own wrestling league; however, all the SAC schools that sponsored wrestling instead became CC affiliates in that sport. At the same time, SACC added women's wrestling and beach volleyball.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2023/6/21/general-conference-carolinas-and-south-atlantic-conference-collaborate-to-sponsor-beach-volleyball-as-championship-sport-beginning-in-2024-25-academic-year.aspx|title=Conference Carolinas and South Atlantic Conference Collaborate to Sponsor Beach Volleyball as Championship Sport Beginning in 2024-25 Academic Year|publisher=[[Conference Carolinas]]|date=June 22, 2023|access-date=July 7, 2024}}</ref>

===Chronological timeline===
* 1975 – The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) was founded as a football-only conference. Charter members included [[Carson–Newman University|Carson–Newman College]] (now Carson–Newman University), [[Catawba College]], [[Elon University|Elon College]] (now Elon University), [[Gardner–Webb University|Gardner–Webb College]] (now Gardner–Webb University), [[Lenoir–Rhyne University|Lenoir–Rhyne College]] (now Lenoir–Rhyne University), [[Mars Hill University|Mars Hill College]] (now Mars Hill University), [[Newberry College]] and [[Presbyterian College]], beginning the 1975 fall season (1975–76 academic year).
* 1989:
** Newberry left the SAC-8 after the 1988 fall season (1988–89 academic year).
** The SAC-8 added more sports to be a full-fledged multi-sport athletic conference, beginning the 1989–90 academic year.
** [[Wingate University|Wingate College]] (now Wingate University) joined the SAC (while replacing Newberry) in the 1989–90 academic year.
* 1996 – Newberry returned to the SAC as an all-sports member in the 1996–97 academic year.
* 1997 – Elon left the SAC to join the [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] ranks of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) as an [[NCAA Division I independent schools|NCAA D-I Independent]] (which would later join the [[Big South Conference]] as a provisional member, beginning the 1999–2000 school year) after the 1996–97 academic year.
* 1998 – [[Tusculum University|Tusculum College]] (now Tusculum University) joined the SAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
* 2000 – Gardner–Webb left the SAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an [[NCAA Division I independent schools|NCAA D-I Independent]] (which would later join the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] (ASUN) as a provisional member, beginning the 2002–03 school year) after the 1999–2000 academic year.
* 2006 – [[Lincoln Memorial University]] joined the SAC effective in the 2006–07 academic year.
* 2007:
** Presbyterian left the SAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big South (as a provisional member) after the 2006–07 academic year.
** [[Brevard College]] joined the SAC (as a provisional member) in the 2007–08 academic year.
* 2010 – [[Anderson University (South Carolina)|Anderson University]] joined the SAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
* 2013 – [[Coker University|Coker College]] (now Coker University) and [[Queens University of Charlotte|Queens University]] joined the SAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
* 2017:
** Brevard left the SAC to join the [[NCAA Division III]] ranks and the [[USA South Athletic Conference]] (USA South) after the 2016–17 academic year.
** [[Limestone University|Limestone College]] (now Limestone University) joined the SAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2017 fall season (2017–18 academic year).
* 2018 – Effective with the 2018–19 academic year, the SAC and [[Conference Carolinas]] (CC) established a partnership known as "South Atlantic Conference Carolinas" (SACC) for field hockey and men's wrestling. Under the partnership, the SAC operated the joint field hockey championship, with CC filling the same role for men's wrestling. Accordingly, [[Belmont Abbey College]] and [[Converse University|Converse College]] (now Converse University) joined the SAC as affiliate members for field hockey at that time. Limestone added that sport to its SAC affiliate membership.
* 2019:
** The [[University of Virginia's College at Wise]] (UVA Wise) joined the SAC in the 2019–20 academic year.
** The [[University of Mount Olive]] joined the SAC as an affiliate member for field hockey in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year), while under the SACC partnership.
* 2020 – Limestone upgraded to become a full SAC member for all sports in the 2020–21 academic year.
* 2022:
** Queens left the SAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]] (then known as the ASUN Conference) after the 2021–22 academic year.
** [[Emory and Henry University|Emory and Henry College]] (now Emory and Henry University) joined the SAC as a full member in the 2022–23 academic year.
** [[Barton College]] and [[Erskine College]] joined the SAC as affiliates members for football in the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
** Effective with the 2022–23 academic year, field hockey became no longer part of the SACC partnership, with that sport now being fully governed by the SAC. The existing CC field hockey schools continued to compete as SAC affiliates. At the same time, women's triathlon was placed under the SACC umbrella.
* 2023 – Effective with the 2023–24 academic year, the SACC men's wrestling league was dissolved. Originally the intent was for the SAC and CC to each begin their own wrestling league; however, all the SAC schools that sponsored wrestling instead became CC affiliates in that sport. At the same time, SACC added women's wrestling and beach volleyball.
* 2024 – Erskine left the SAC as an affiliate member for football, but joined as an affiliate member for beach volleyball, along with [[Emmanuel University]], both effective in the 2024–25 academic year.
* 2025:
** Barton will leave the SAC as an affiliate member for football, but will join as an affiliate member for field hockey, all beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.
** Limestone will leave the SAC at the end of the 2024–25 academic year; as the institution announced that it will cease operations.

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

{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''SAC-8'''<br>football era<br>(1975–1989)
|-
| Carson–Newman College
|-
| Catawba College
|-
| Elon College
|-
| Gardner–Webb College
|-
| Lenoir–Rhyne College
|-
| Mars Hill College
|-
| Newberry College
|-
| Presbyterian College
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''SAC'''<br>all-sport era<br>(1989–present)
|-
| Carson–Newman College
|-
| Catawba College
|-
| Elon College
|-
| Gardner–Webb College
|-
| Lenoir–Rhyne College
|-
| Mars Hill College
|-
| Presbyterian College
|-
| Wingate College
|}
{{col-end}}

===Current members===
The SAC currently has 13 full members, with all but one being [[Private university|private]] schools. 

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=full|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! class="unsortable" | Colors
|-
| '''[[Anderson University (South Carolina)|Anderson University]]'''
| [[Anderson, South Carolina]]
| 1911
| [[South Carolina Baptist Convention|Baptist]]
| 4,121
| [[Anderson Trojans|Trojans]]
| 2010
| {{color box|#997f3d|border=silver}} {{color box|#1e1e1e|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Carson–Newman University]]'''
| [[Jefferson City, Tennessee]]
| 1851
| [[Tennessee Baptist Convention|Baptist]]
| 2,586
| [[Carson–Newman Eagles|Eagles]]
| 1975{{efn|group=full|name=SAC8|Charter member of the SAC-8 football league since the 1975–76 school year; also charter member of the SAC all-sports league since the 1989–90 school year.}}
| {{color box|#fb7f3f|border=silver}} {{color box|#003b8e|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Catawba College]]'''
| [[Salisbury, North Carolina]]
| 1851
| [[United Church of Christ]]
| 1,172
| [[Catawba (N.C.) Indians|Indians]]
| 1975{{efn|group=full|name=SAC8}}
| {{color box|#081046|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Coker University]]'''
| [[Hartsville, South Carolina]]
| 1908
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 1,280
| [[Coker Cobras|Cobras]]
| 2013
| {{color box|#002e5f|border=silver}} {{color box|#ffc92e|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Emory and Henry University|Emory & Henry University]]'''
| [[Emory, Virginia]]
| 1836
| [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| 1,358
| [[Emory and Henry Wasps|Wasps]]
| 2022
| {{color box|#1b3d75|border=silver}} {{color box|#d5ad28|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Lenoir–Rhyne University]]'''
| [[Hickory, North Carolina]]
| 1891
| [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|Lutheran ELCA]]
| 2,355
| [[Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|Bears]]
| 1975{{efn|group=full|name=SAC8}}
| {{color box|#981e32|border=silver}} {{color box|#1e1e1e|border=silver}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| '''[[Limestone University]]'''
| [[Gaffney, South Carolina]]
| 1845
| [[Nondenominational Christianity|Christian]]
| 1,786
| [[Limestone Saints|Saints]]
| 2020{{efn|group=full|Limestone had been competing in the SAC as an affiliate member for football from the 2017 to 2019 fall seasons and for field hockey from the 2018 to 2019 fall seasons (with the final season of competition as an affiliate in both sports taking place during the 2019–20 school year).}}
| {{color box|#043776|border=silver}} {{color box|#f4ee6c|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Lincoln Memorial University]]'''
| [[Harrogate, Tennessee]]
| 1897
| Nonsectarian
| 5,418
| [[Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters|Railsplitters]]
| 2006
| {{color box|#003698|border=silver}} {{color box|#5e5e76|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Mars Hill University]]'''
| [[Mars Hill, North Carolina]]
| 1856
| [[Baptist State Convention of North Carolina|Baptist]]
| 1,032
| [[Mars Hill Lions|Lions]]
| 1975{{efn|group=full|name=SAC8}}
| {{color box|#0c1c8c|border=silver}} {{color box|#fed100|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Newberry College]]'''
| [[Newberry, South Carolina]]
| 1856
| Lutheran ELCA
| 1,315
| [[Newberry Wolves|Wolves]]
| 1975;<br>1996{{efn|group=full|Newberry competed in the SAC-8 as a football member from the 1975 to 1988 fall seasons (1975–76 to 1988–89 school years); but re-joined back to the SAC as an all-sports member, effective in the 1996–97 school year.}}
| {{color box|#c40335|border=silver}} {{color box|#b3b3b3|border=silver}}
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
|-
| '''[[Tusculum University]]'''
| [[Tusculum, Tennessee]]{{efn|group=full|Mailing address is [[Greeneville, Tennessee|Greeneville]].}}
| 1794
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]]
| 1,303
| [[Tusculum Pioneers|Pioneers]]
| 1998
| {{color box|#e37222|border=silver}} {{color box|#1e1e1e|border=silver}}
|-
| {{sort|UVA Wise|'''[[University of Virginia's College at Wise]]'''}}<br>(UVA Wise)
| [[Wise, Virginia]]
| 1954
| [[Public university|Public]]
| 1,737
| [[UVA Wise Cavaliers|Cavaliers]]
| 2019
| {{color box|#b71234|border=silver}} {{color box|#5e6a71|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Wingate University]]'''
| [[Wingate, North Carolina]]
| 1896
| [[Baptist State Convention of North Carolina|Baptist]]
| 3,396
| [[Wingate Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]
| 1989
| {{color box|#003574|border=silver}} {{color box|#ffb300|border=silver}}
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=full}}

===Affiliate members===
The SAC currently has five affiliate members, four [[Private university|private]] schools and one [[Public university|public]] school.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=aff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! class="unsortable" | Colors
! SAC<br>sport
! Primary<br>conference
|-bgcolor=#ffa0a0
| '''[[Barton College]]'''
| [[Wilson, North Carolina]]
| 1902
| [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Christian Church]]
| 1,200
| [[Barton Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]
| 2022
| {{color box|blue|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}
| football
| [[Conference Carolinas|Carolinas (CC)]]
|-
| '''[[Belmont Abbey College]]'''
| [[Belmont, North Carolina]]
| 1876
| [[Benedictines|Catholic]]
| 1,320
| [[Belmont Abbey Crusaders|Crusaders]]
| 2018
| {{color box|#d0103a|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}
| rowspan="2" | field hockey
| rowspan=4 | [[Conference Carolinas|Carolinas (CC)]]
|-
| '''[[Converse University]]'''{{efn|group=aff|Formerly known as Converse College until July 2021.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.converse.edu/converse-announces-inaugural-mens-ncaa-division-ii-athletic-teams-for-2021-2022/ |title=Converse Announces Inaugural Men's NCAA Division II Athletic Teams for 2021-2022 |publisher=Converse College |date=April 8, 2020 |access-date=September 5, 2020}}</ref>}}
| [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]
| 1889
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 750
| [[Converse Valkyries|Valkyries]]
| 2018
| {{color box|#49176d|border=silver}} {{color box|#d4af37|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Emmanuel University]]'''
| [[Franklin Springs, Georgia]]
| 1919
| [[International Pentecostal Holiness Church|Pentecostal]]
| 850
| [[Emmanuel Lions|Lions]]
| 2024
| {{color box|#c41e3a|border=silver}} {{color box|#ffd700|border=silver}}
| rowspan="2" | beach volleyball
|-
| '''[[Erskine College]]'''{{efn|group=aff|Erskine competed in the SAC as an affiliate member for football from the 2022 to 2023 fall seasons (2022–23 to 2023–24 school years).}}
| [[Due West, South Carolina]]
| 1839
| [[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church|Reformed<br />Presbyterian]]
| 956
| [[Erskine Flying Fleet|Flying Fleet]]
| 2024
| {{color box|#6f1931|border=silver}} {{color box|#b8a46a|border=silver}}
|-
| '''[[Lander University]]'''
| [[Greenwood, South Carolina]]
| 1872
| [[Public university|Public]]
| 3,000
| [[Lander Bearcats|Bearcats]]
| 2022
| {{college color boxes|Lander Bearcats}}
| rowspan="2" | field hockey
| [[Peach Belt Conference|Peach Belt (PBC)]]
|-
| '''[[University of Mount Olive]]'''
| [[Mount Olive, North Carolina]]
| 1951
| [[Original Free Will Baptist Convention|Free Will Baptist]]
| 2,500
| [[Mount Olive Trojans|Trojans]]
| 2019
| {{color box|#1c4538|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}
| [[Conference Carolinas|Carolinas (CC)]]
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=aff}}

===Future affiliate members===
The SAC will have a future affiliate member, which will also be a [[Private university|private]] school.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joining{{efn|group=futaff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! class="unsortable" | Colors
! SAC<br>sport
! Primary<br>conference
|-
| '''[[Barton College]]'''
| [[Wilson, North Carolina]]
| 1902
| [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Christian Church]]
| 1,200
| [[Barton Bulldogs|Bulldogs]]
| 2025
| {{color box|blue|border=silver}} {{color box|white|border=silver}}
| field hockey
| [[Conference Carolinas|Carolinas (CC)]]
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=futaff}}

===Former members===
The SAC has five former full members, all [[Private university|private]] schools.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=former|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! Left{{efn|group=former|Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.}}
! Current<br>conference
|-
| '''[[Brevard College]]'''
| [[Brevard, North Carolina]]
| 1934
| [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| 708
| [[Brevard Tornados|Tornados]]
| 2007{{efn|group=former|The Brevard men's and women's basketball teams joined the SAC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2008–09).}}
| 2017
| [[USA South Athletic Conference|USA South]]{{efn|group=former|name=D3|Currently an [[NCAA Division III]] athletic conference.}}
|-
| '''[[Elon University]]'''
| [[Elon, North Carolina]]
| 1889
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 6,991
| [[Elon Phoenix|Phoenix]]
| 1975{{efn|group=former|name=SAC8|Charter member of the SAC-8 football league since the 1975–76 school year; also charter member of the SAC all-sports league since the 1989–90 school year.}}
| 1997
| [[Coastal Athletic Association|Coastal (CAA)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D1|Currently an [[NCAA Division I]] athletic conference.}}{{efn|group=former|Elon plays [[NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision|Division I FCS]] football in [[Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference|CAA Football]], a separate entity administered by the all-sports CAA.}}
|-
| '''[[Gardner–Webb University]]'''
| [[Boiling Springs, North Carolina]]
| 1905
| [[Baptist State Convention of North Carolina|Baptist]]
| 3,594
| [[Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs|Runnin' Bulldogs]]
| 1975{{efn|group=former|name=SAC8}}
| 2000
| [[Big South Conference|Big South (BSC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}{{efn|group=former|Gardner–Webb plays FCS football in the [[Big South–OVC Football Association]], an alliance between the Big South and the [[Ohio Valley Conference]].}}
|-
| '''[[Presbyterian College]]'''
| [[Clinton, South Carolina]]
| 1880
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]]
| 1,330
| [[Presbyterian Blue Hose|Blue Hose]]
| 1975{{efn|group=former|name=SAC8}}
| 2007
| [[Big South Conference|Big South (BSC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}{{efn|group=former|name=BSCOVC|Presbyterian plays FCS football in the [[Pioneer Football League]].}}
|-
| '''[[Queens University of Charlotte]]'''
| [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
| 1857
| Presbyterian
| 2,100
| [[Queens Royals|Royals]]
| 2013
| 2022
| [[Atlantic Sun Conference|Atlantic Sun (ASUN)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D1}}
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=former}}

===Former affiliate members===
The SAC had had one former affiliate member, a [[Private university|private]] school.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=faff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! Left{{efn|group=faff|Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.}}
! SAC<br>sport
! Primary<br>conference
|-
| '''[[Erskine College]]'''{{efn|group=faff|Erskine remains in the SAC as an affiliate member for field hockey.}}
| [[Due West, South Carolina]]
| 1839
| [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]]
| 800
| [[Erskine Flying Fleet football|Flying Fleet]]
| 2022
| 2024
| football
| [[Conference Carolinas|Carolinas (CC)]]
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=faff}}

===Membership timeline===
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1975 till:2030
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5

Colors =
          id:line value:black
          id:bg value:white
          id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
          id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
          id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
          id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only
          id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference
          id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

PlotData =
 width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

 bar:1 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Carson–Newman University|Carson–Newman]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:1 color:Full from:1989 till:end text:(1989–present, full)

 bar:2 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Catawba College|Catawba]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:2 color:Full from:1989 till:end text:(1989–present, full)

 bar:3 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Elon University|Elon]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:3 color:Full from:1989 till:1997 text:(1989–1997, full)
 bar:3 shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:1999 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|D-I Ind.]]
 bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:1999 till:2003 text:[[Big South Conference|Big South]]
 bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2014 text:[[Southern Conference|SoCon]]
 bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:[[Coastal Athletic Association|CAA]]

 bar:4 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Gardner–Webb University|Gardner–Webb]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:4 color:Full from:1989 till:2000 text:(1989–2000, full)
 bar:4 shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2002 text:[[NCAA Division I independent schools|D-I Ind.]]
 bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2002 till:2008 text:[[Atlantic Sun Conference|ASUN]]
 bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2008 till:end text:[[Big South Conference|Big South]]

 bar:5 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Lenoir–Rhyne University|Lenoir–Rhyne]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:5 color:Full from:1989 till:end text:(1989–present, full)

 bar:6 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Mars Hill University|Mars Hill]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:6 color:Full from:1989 till:end text:(1989–present, full)

 bar:7 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Newberry College|Newberry]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:7 color:Full from:1996 till:end text:(1996–present, full)

 bar:8 color:AssocF from:1975 till:1989 text:[[Presbyterian College|Presbyterian]] (1975–1989, football)
 bar:8 color:Full from:1989 till:2007 text:(1989–2007, full)
 bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:end text:[[Big South Conference|Big South]]

 bar:9 color:Full from:1989 till:end text:[[Wingate University|Wingate]] (1989–present, full)

 bar:10 color:Full from:1998 till:end text:[[Tusculum University|Tusculum]] (1998–present)

 bar:11 color:FullxF from:2006 till:end text:[[Lincoln Memorial University|Lincoln Memorial]] (2006–present)

 bar:12 color:FullxF from:2007 till:2008 text:[[Brevard College|Brevard]] (2007–2017)
 bar:12 color:Full from:2008 till:2017 
 bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:[[USA South Athletic Conference|USA South]]

 bar:13 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2024 text:[[Anderson University (South Carolina)|Anderson]] (2010–present)
 bar:13 color:Full from:2024 till:end

 bar:14 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:[[Coker University|Coker]] (2013–present)

 bar:15 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2022 text:[[Queens University of Charlotte|Queens (N.C.)]] (2013–2022)
 bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:[[Atlantic Sun Conference|ASUN]]

 bar:16 shift:(-30) color:AssocF from:2017 till:2020 text:[[Limestone University|Limestone]] (2017–2020, football; 2020–2025, full)
 bar:16 color:Full from:2020 till:2025

 bar:17 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text:[[Belmont Abbey College|Belmont Abbey]] (2018–present)

 bar:18 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end text:[[Converse University|Converse]] (2018–present)

 bar:19 color:Full from:2019 till:end text:[[University of Virginia's College at Wise|UVA Wise]] (2019–present)

 bar:20 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:end text:[[University of Mount Olive|Mount Olive]] (2019–present)

 bar:21 shift:(-30) color:Full from:2022 till:end text:[[Emory and Henry University|Emory & Henry]] (2022–present)

 bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:[[Lander University|Lander]] (2022–present)

 bar:23 color:AssocF from:2022 till:2025 text:[[Barton College|Barton]] (2022–present)
 bar:23 color:AssocOS from:2025 till:end 

 bar:24 color:AssocF from:2022 till:2024 text:[[Erskine College|Erskine]] (2022–present)
 bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end 

 bar:25 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end  text:[[Emmanuel University|Emmanuel]] (2024–present)

 bar:N color:yelloworange from:1975 till:1989 text:SAC-8 (football)
 bar:N color:orange from:1989 till:end text:SAC (all sports)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:1975

TextData =
 fontsize:M
 textcolor:black
 pos:(0,20) tabs:(400-center)
 text:^"South Atlantic Conference membership history"

#> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.
{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}|&nbsp;Full member (all sports)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}|&nbsp;Full member (non-football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|178|204}}|&nbsp;Associate member (football-only)&nbsp;}}
<#
</timeline>

{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}|&nbsp;Full member (all sports)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}|&nbsp;Full member (non-football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|178|204}}|&nbsp;Associate member (football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|204|229|178}}|&nbsp;Associate member (sport)&nbsp;}}

==Sports==
{{seealso|South Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament|South Atlantic Conference women's basketball tournament}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center"
|+ '''Conference sports'''
! Sport !! Men's !! Women's
|-
|{{left}}[[College baseball|Baseball]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
|{{left}}[[College basketball|Basketball]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Cross country running|Cross Country]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Field hockey|Field Hockey]] || || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College football|Football]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
|{{left}}[[Golf]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College lacrosse|Lacrosse]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College soccer in the United States|Soccer]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College softball|Softball]] || || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] & [[Diving (sport)|Diving]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Tennis]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Track and field|Track & Field Indoor]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Track and field|Track & Field Outdoor]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Volleyball]] || || {{Y}}
|}

===Men's sponsored sports by school===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!School
!Baseball
!Basketball
!Cross<br>Country
!Football
!Golf
!Lacrosse
!Soccer
!Swimming<br>&<br>Diving
!Tennis
!Track<br>& Field<br>Indoor
!Track<br>& Field<br>Outdoor
!Total<br>SAC<br>Sports
|-
|{{left}}Anderson
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
! 10
|-
|{{left}}Carson–Newman
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}Catawba
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Coker
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!9
|-
|{{left}}Emory & Henry
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}Lenoir–Rhyne
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Limestone
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}Lincoln Memorial
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!9
|-
|{{left}}Mars Hill
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Newberry
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}Tusculum
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
!9
|-
|{{left}}UVA Wise<!--Athletic program now branded without a dash.-->
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|
|
|{{Y}}
|
|
!6
|-
|{{left}}Wingate
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
!Totals
! 13
! 13
! 13
! 11+1
! 13
! 10
! 12
! 6
! 13
! 11
! 12
! 128+1
|-
!colspan=13|Affiliate Members
|-
|Barton
|
|
|
|{{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
!1
|}


{{notelist|group=m}}

===Women's sponsored sports by school===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!School
!Basketball
!Beach Volleyball
!Cross<br>Country
!Field<br>Hockey
!Golf
!Lacrosse
!Soccer
!Softball
!Swimming<br>&<br>Diving
!Tennis
!Track<br>& Field<br>Indoor
!Track<br>&<br>Field<br>Outdoor
!Volleyball
!Total<br>SAC<br>Sports
|-
|{{left}}Anderson
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}Carson–Newman
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Catawba
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!12
|-
|{{left}}Coker
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Emory & Henry
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Lenoir–Rhyne
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Limestone
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Lincoln Memorial
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Mars Hill
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Newberry
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!11
|-
|{{left}}Tusculum
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!10
|-
|{{left}}UVA Wise<!--Athletic program now branded without a dash.-->
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|
|
|{{Y}}
!7
|-
|{{left}}Wingate
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
!12
|-
!Totals
! 13
! 4+2
! 13
! 4+4
! 13
! 12
! 12
! 13
! 6
! 13
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 137
|-
!colspan=15|Affiliate Members
|-
|{{left}}Belmont Abbey
|
|
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
|-
|{{left}}Converse
|
|
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
|-
|{{left}}Emmanuel
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
|-
|{{left}}Erskine
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
|-
|{{left}}Lander
|
|
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
|-
|{{left}}Mount Olive
|
|
|
| {{Y}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 1
<!--|-
!colspan=13|Future Members-->
|}

{{notelist|group=w}}

===Other sponsored sports by school===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan=2|School
!rowspan=13 width=1 style="padding:0"|
!colspan=3|Men
!rowspan=13 width=1 style="padding:0"|
!colspan=6|Women
|-
!Bowling{{efn|group=os|Bowling is sponsored by the NCAA for women only. Men's college competition is sanctioned solely by the sport's US governing body, the [[United States Bowling Congress]], which sanctions women's competition alongside the NCAA.}}
!Volleyball{{efn|group=os|name=DI|De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates a combined Division I/II national championship in men's volleyball, and single national championship events in beach volleyball and bowling that are open to members of all three divisions.}}
!Wrestling
!Acrobatics &<br>Tumbling{{efn|group=os|Acrobatics & tumbling, considered by the NCAA to be a single sport separate from the NCAA-sanctioned sport of gymnastics, is currently part of the [[NCAA Emerging Sports for Women]] program. It does not yet have an NCAA championship event; college competition is governed by the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association.}}
!Bowling{{efn|group=os|name=DI}}
!Equestrian{{efn|group=os|Equestrianism is currently part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. It does not yet have an NCAA championship event; college competition is sponsored by the [[National Collegiate Equestrian Association]], Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA), and [[Intercollegiate Horse Show Association|Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association]] (IHSA).}}
!Triathlon{{efn|group=os|Triathlon is currently part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. It does not yet have an NCAA championship event; college competition is sponsored by the sport's national governing body of [[USA Triathlon]].}}
!Wrestling{{efn|group=os|Wrestling is currently part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, and becomes an official NCAA championship sport in 2025–26. Before official NCAA sponsorship, college competition is being governed by the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association.}}
|-
|{{left}}Coker
|
|[[NCAA Division II independent schools#Sports not sponsored by D-II|IND]]
|[[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC|De facto Conference Carolinas affiliate as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.}}
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|{{left}}Emory & Henry
|
| 
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
| 
|
| IDA/IHSA
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
|-
|{{left}}Limestone
| 
| 
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
|-
|{{left}}Lincoln Memorial
|
|[[NCAA Division II independent schools#Sports not sponsored by D-II|IND]]
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
|
|[[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
|-
|{{left}}Mars Hill
| 
|
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
|
|
|-
|{{left}}Newberry
|
|
|[[Conference Carolinas|CC]]{{efn|group=os|name=SACC}}
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|{{left}}Tusculum
| IND
| IND
|
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
|
|-
|{{left}}Wingate
|
|
|
| [[Conference Carolinas|CC]]
|
|
|
|
|}

{{notelist|group=os}}

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.
* Emory & Henry treats its cheerleaders and dancers as varsity athletes without regard to gender. The school's equestrian program is coeducational, and has chosen to not affiliate with the NCAA emerging sport status. Instead, E&H riders compete in the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) and [[Intercollegiate Horse Show Association|Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA)]].
* 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.

==Conference facilities==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan=2|School
!colspan=2|Football
!colspan=2|Basketball
|-
!Stadium
!Capacity
!Arena
!Capacity
|-
|Anderson Trojans
|Spero Financial Field
|5,000
|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
|colspan=2|{{center|''non-football school''}}
|Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center
|1,908
|-
| Emory & Henry Wasps
| Fred Selfe Stadium
| 5,500
| John Rutledge King Center<!--Full name: John Rutledge King Health and Physical Education Center-->
| 1,240
|-
|Lenoir-Rhyne Bears
|[[Moretz Stadium]]
|8,500
|Shuford Memorial Gymnasium
|2,770
|-
|Limestone Saints
|[[Gaffney High School|The Reservation]]
|8,250
| Timken Center
| 1,500
|-
|Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters
|colspan=2|{{center|''non-football school''}}
|[[Turner Arena (Harrogate)|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
|-
|Tusculum Pioneers
|[[Pioneer Field (Tusculum)|Pioneer Field]]
|1,850
|Pioneer Arena
|2,500
|-
| UVA Wise Cavaliers<!--The school no longer uses a dash of any kind in its branding.-->
| [[Carl Smith Stadium]]
| 3,900
| David J. Prior Convocation Center
| 3,000
|-
|Wingate Bulldogs
|[[Irwin Belk Stadium (Wingate)|Irwin Belk Stadium]]
|3,000
|Cuddy Arena
|2,300
|-
|Barton Bulldogs
|Truist Stadium
|3,200
|colspan=2|{{center|''football-only school''}}
|-
|}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}

{{South Atlantic Conference navbox}}
{{NCAA Division II conferences}}
{{NCAA Division II football conference navbox}}

[[Category:South Atlantic Conference| ]]