View source for Sun Conference

{{short description|College athletic conference}}

{{Infobox sports league
| name         = Sun Conference
| logo         = Sun Conference logo.svg
| logo_size    = 200
| founded      = {{start date and age|1990}}
| association   = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]]
| teams        = 10
| sports       = 24
| mens         = 10
| womens       = 13
| coed         = 1
| region       = [[Southern United States]]
| formerly     = Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1990–1992)<br />Florida Sun Conference (1992–2008)
| headquarters = [[Tampa, Florida]]
| commissioner = Dustin Wilke
| website      = {{url|https://thesunconference.com/| thesunconference.com}}
| map          = FSC-USA-states.PNG
| map_size     = 250
| color        = #303C4A; border: 2px solid #FF8300
| font_color   = white
}}

The '''Sun Conference''' ('''TSC''') is a [[List of college athletic conferences in the United States|college athletic conference]] affiliated with the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA). Eight of the ten full member institutions are located in [[Florida]], with two in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. The Sun Conference competes in the NAIA in all sponsored sports.

==History==
{{OSM Location map 
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| title = The Sun Conference 
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| mark-coord8 = {{coord|26.186| -80.1638}} |mark-size8=10 |label8=Keiser |label-pos8= top |mark8= Orange ff8040 pog.svg 
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| caption = Location of TSC members: [[Image:Orange ff8040 pog.svg|10px]] current
}}

The conference was created in March 1990 as the '''Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference''' ('''FIAC'''), and renamed to the '''Florida Sun Conference''' in 1992.  Charter members consisted of [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach|Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]], [[Flagler College]], [[Florida Memorial University]], [[Nova Southeastern University|Nova University of Advanced Technology]] (now Nova Southeastern University), [[Palm Beach Atlantic University]], [[St. Thomas University (Florida)|Saint Thomas University]], [[Warner University|Warner Southern College]] (now Warner University) and [[Webber International University]].

The league later grew to nine members with the addition of [[Northwood University]] in 1994 (now Keiser University).  Between 2002 and 2006, Nova Southeastern (2002), Palm Beach Atlantic (2003) and Flagler (2006) moved to [[NCAA Division II]]. But the league was able to recruit new members as [[Savannah College of Art and Design]] joined in 2004, followed by [[Edward Waters University|Edward Waters College]] (now a university) in 2006. It adopted its current name in August 2008 to reflect its expansion to institutions outside of Florida.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesunconference.com/Sports/gen/2007/aboutthefsc.asp?nl=1|title=About the Sun Conference|access-date=November 19, 2008}}</ref>  With the addition of the [[University of South Carolina at Beaufort]] in 2008, the Florida campus of [[Johnson & Wales University]] at [[North Miami, Florida|North Miami]], [[Southeastern University (Florida)|Southeastern University]] and [[Ave Maria University]] in 2009, and [[Thomas University]] of Georgia in 2012, along with Edward Waters' move to the [[HBCU Athletic Conference|Gulf Coast Athletic Conference]] after the 2009–10 season, the league membership stood at 12 schools as of the 2012–13 season.

In 2014, [[Point University]] and former member Edward Waters College joined the conference for football only.  Starting with the 2016 season, all six football members moved to the [[Mid-South Conference]] for that sport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mid-South Conference Creates Largest College Football Conference |url=http://www.thesunconference.com/news/2016/2/25/FB_0225164727.aspx?path=fb|access-date=February 27, 2016|date=February 25, 2016}}</ref>  Charter member [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach|Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]] departed the conference on June 30, 2015 and joined the [[Sunshine State Conference]] (D-II). In 2017, the [[College of Coastal Georgia]] joined the Sun Conference,<ref name=thesunconference2017>{{cite news|title=COASTAL GEORGIA SET TO OFFICIALLY BECOME SUN CONFERENCE MEMBER|url=http://www.thesunconference.com/news/2017/6/29/Coastal_Georgia_Sun_Conference.aspx|access-date=July 12, 2017|date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> with the conference again standing at a total of 12 members. In 2018, Sun Conference member Keiser added football<ref name="KeiserAddsFootball">{{cite news|last1=Evenson|first1=Johyn|title=Keiser University Athletics adds football starting in 2018|url=http://cbs12.com/sports/content/keiser-university-adds-a-football-team-starting-in-2018|access-date=April 23, 2018|date=October 11, 2016}}</ref> but Edward Waters left the Mid-South football league. In 2019, Saint Thomas also added football and Florida Memorial re-added the sport after more than 60 years,<ref>{{cite news |title=St. Thomas to Launch Football in 2019; Joins MSC Sun Division |url=http://www.mid-southconference.org/article/7018 |access-date=February 24, 2020 |work=mid-southconference.org |date=August 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/state-college-sports/article231128548.html|title=This is why Florida Memorial is bringing back college football after a 61-year hiatus|work=Miami Herald|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> bringing the number of members participating in football to 8. 

On June 25, 2020, Johnson & Wales announced it would close down its North Miami campus at the end of the 2020–21 school year,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Johnson & Wales, which trained many local chefs, is closing its North Miami campus|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/north-miami/article243796462.html|access-date=June 30, 2020|date=June 25, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and on July 28, Johnson & Wales North Miami discontinued all sports.<ref>{{cite news |title=Johnson & Wales Discontinues Athletics |url=https://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/johnson-wales-discontinues-athletict.htm |access-date=January 26, 2021 |work=Victory Sports Network |date=July 30, 2020}}</ref>

On April 14, 2021, USCB Beaufort reported its invitation to join the Division II [[Peach Belt Conference]] in 2022 after applying for membership in, and pending acceptance into, the NCAA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://uscbathletics.com/news/2021/4/14/general-peach-belt-accepts-uscb-as-newest-league-member.aspx|title=Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member|work=USCB Sand Sharks|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> The conference published on December 22 its reinstatement of football for the 2022 season, having grown to seven schools,<ref name=SunFootball>{{cite news |title=Football Returns to the Sun Conference in 2022 |url=https://thesunconference.com/news/2021/12/22/football-returns-to-the-sun-conference-in-2022.aspx |access-date=December 24, 2021 |publisher=Sun Conference |date=December 22, 2021}}</ref> with Thomas initiating football to become the eighth football member.<ref name="TU starts football">{{cite web |title=Mitjans Named Head Coach of Thomas University's New Football Team |url=https://tunighthawks.com/news/2022/1/25/mitjans-named-head-coach.aspx |access-date=February 4, 2022 |date=January 25, 2022}}</ref> By July 15, 2022, USCB was already accepted into the [[Continental Athletic Conference]], formerly the Association of Independent Institutions, only for the first of its three-year NCAA provisional membership but with a Peach Belt schedule as part of the Sand Sharks' dual NAIA-NCAA membership.<ref>{{cite press release |title=USC Beaufort Approved for NCAA DII Membership |url=https://uscbathletics.com/news/2022/7/14/general-usc-beaufort-approved-for-ncaa-division-ii-membership.aspx |access-date=July 16, 2022 |work=USCB Athletics |date=July 14, 2022}}</ref>

In 2021, the Sun Conference added the [[University of Mobile]], [[St. Andrews University (North Carolina)|St. Andrews University]], [[Truett McConnell University]], and [[William Carey University]] as affiliate members for beach volleyball.<ref name="BVAffiliate">{{cite news |title=Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Adds Affiliate Members |url=https://thesunconference.com/news/2021/7/29/sun-conference-beach-volleyball-adds-affiliate-members.aspx |access-date=2 March 2023 |date=July 29, 2021}}</ref> [[Loyola University New Orleans|Loyola University of New Orleans]] also participates in beach volleyball.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://loyolawolfpack.com/news/2023/2/25/beach-volleyball-beach-volleyball-gets-first-conference-win-saturday.aspx | title=Beach volleyball gets first conference win Saturday }}</ref>

In 2022, [[Life University]] began participating in men's swimming, women's swimming, and women's lacrosse.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://liferunningeagles.com/news/2022/8/10/lifeu-life-u-athletics-releases-conference-affiliations-for-2022-23.aspx | title=Life U Athletics Releases Conference Affiliations for 2022-23 }}</ref>

On July 1, 2022, Thomas announced that they would leave the conference and join the [[Southern States Athletic Conference]] (SSAC), starting in the 2023–24 academic year.<ref>{{cite press release |title=TU Set to Join SSAC in 2023-24 |url=https://tunighthawks.com/news/2022/7/1/tu-set-to-join-ssac.aspx |access-date=July 26, 2022 |work=TU Night Hawks Athletics |date=July 1, 2022}}</ref> They remain in the Sun Conference as an affiliate member for football, and men's and women's swimming from that day forward.

On October 2, 2023, the [[New College of Florida]] became the newest member to join the conference, starting in the 2024–25 academic year.<ref>{{cite news |title=NAIA Announces Five New Members |url=https://www.naia.org/general/2023-24/releases/NAIA_NewMembersFall_10_2_2023 |access-date=October 30, 2023 |publisher=NAIA |date=October 2, 2023}}</ref>

===Chronological timeline===
* 1990 – In March 1990, the Sun Conference was founded as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (FIAC). Charter members included [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach|Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University–Daytona Beach]], [[Flagler College]], [[Florida Memorial University]], [[Nova Southeastern University|Nova University of Advanced Technology]] (now Nova Southeastern University), [[Palm Beach Atlantic University]], [[St. Thomas University (Florida)|Saint Thomas University]], [[Warner University|Warner Southern College]] (now Warner University) and [[Webber International University]], beginning the 1990–91 academic year.
* 1992 – The FIAC has been rebranded as the Florida Sun Conference in the 1992–93 academic year.
* 1994 – [[Northwood University|Northwood University–Florida]] joined the Florida Sun in the 1994–95 academic year.
* 2002 – Nova Southeastern left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] ranks of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) and the [[Sunshine State Conference]] (SSC) after the 2001–02 academic year.
* 2003 – Palm Beach Atlantic left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an [[NCAA Division II independent schools|NCAA D-II Independent]] after the 2002–03 academic year.
* 2004 – [[Savannah College of Art and Design|Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah]] joined the Florida Sun in the 2004–05 academic year.
* 2006 – Flagler left the Florida Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an [[NCAA Division II independent schools|NCAA D-II Independent]] after the 2005–06 academic year.
* 2006 – [[Edward Waters University|Edward Waters College]] (now Edward Waters University) joined the Florida Sun in the 2006–07 academic year.
* 2008 – The Florida Sun has been rebranded as The Sun Conference in the 2008–09 academic year.
* 2008 – The [[University of South Carolina Beaufort|University of South Carolina at Beaufort]] (South Carolina–Beaufort or USC Beaufort) joined The Sun in the 2008–09 academic year.
* 2009 – [[Ave Maria University]], the Florida campus of [[Johnson & Wales University]] (Johnson and Wales–North Miami) and [[Southeastern University|Southeastern University of Florida]] joined The Sun in the 2009–10 academic year. Ave Maria joined as an associate/provisional member.
* 2010 – Edward Waters left The Sun to join the [[HBCU Athletic Conference|Gulf Coast Athletic Conference]] (GCAC; now the HBCU Athletic Conference or HBCUAC) after the 2009–10 academic year.
* 2012 – [[Thomas University]] joined The Sun in the 2012–13 academic year.
* 2014 – [[Point University]] joined The Sun as an affiliate member for football (with Edward Waters re-joining) in the 2014 fall season (2014–15 academic year).
* 2015 – Embry–Riddle left The Sun and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the SSC after the 2014–15 academic year.
* 2015 – Northwood–Florida left The Sun as the school announced that it would close after the 2014–15 academic year. However, [[Keiser University]] purchased the location, therefore it has inherited everything Northwood–Florida had sponsored (including its athletic program) and joined The Sun, beginning the 2015–16 academic year.
* 2017 – Point and Edward Waters left The Sun as affiliate members for football after the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year).
* 2017 – The [[College of Coastal Georgia]] joined The Sun in the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2020 – Johnson and Wales–Florida left The Sun as the school announced that it would close after the 2019–20 academic year.
* 2021 – The [[University of Mobile]], [[St. Andrews University (North Carolina)|St. Andrews University of North Carolina]], [[Truett McConnell University]] and [[William Carey University]] joined The Sun as affiliate members for beach volleyball in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
* 2022 – South Carolina–Beaufort (USCB or USC Beaufort) left The Sun to join the [[NAIA independent schools|Continental Athletic Conference]], in addition to the NCAA Division II ranks and the [[Peach Belt Conference]] (PBC) in the 2022–23 academic year. USC Beaufort would later leave the CAC and the NAIA after that school year to focus on realigning to the Peach Belt and the NCAA.
* 2022 – Four institutions joined The Sun as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2022–23 academic year:
** [[Life University]] for women's lacrosse and men's & women's swimming
** [[Loyola University New Orleans]] for beach volleyball and men's & women's swimming
** and the [[University of Tennessee Southern]] and William Carey for men's and women's swimming
* 2023 – Thomas (Ga.) left The Sun and join the [[Southern States Athletic Conference]] (SSAC) after the 2022–23 academic year; while its football and men's & women's swimming teams remained as an affiliate member.
* 2023 – Point (Ga.) rejoined The Sun as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming in the 2023–24 academic year.
* 2024 – Point (Ga.) left The Sun as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming after the 2023–24 academic year.
* 2024 – The [[New College of Florida]] joined The Sun in the 2024–25 academic year.
* 2024 – [[Brenau University]] and [[Spartanburg Methodist College]] joined The Sun as affiliate members for beach volleyball in the 2025 spring season (2024–25 academic year).

==Member schools==
===Current members===
The Sun currently has ten full members, all but two are [[Private university|private]] schools.<ref name="thesunconference2007">{{cite web|url=http://thesunconference.com/Sports/gen/2007/aboutthefsc.asp?nl=1 |title=The Sun Conference |publisher=The Sun Conference |date=August 18, 2008 |access-date=December 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=thesunconference2017/> Departing members are highlighted in pink.

{| 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.}}
! Basketball?
|-
| '''[[Ave Maria University]]'''
| [[Ave Maria, Florida]]
| 2003
| [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]<br>{{small|([[Roman Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida|Diocese of Venice]])}}
| 1,200
| [[Ave Maria Gyrenes|Gyrenes]]
| 2009
| both
|-
| {{sort|Coastal Georgia|'''[[College of Coastal Georgia]]'''}}
| [[Brunswick, Georgia]]
| 1961
| Public
| 3,438
| [[Coastal Georgia Mariners|Mariners]]
| 2017
| both
|-
| '''[[Florida Memorial University]]'''
| [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
| 1879
| [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]]{{efn|group=full|name=HBCU|Also a [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black college and university]].}}
| 1,784
| [[Florida Memorial Lions|Lions]]
| 1990
| both
|-
| '''[[Keiser University]]'''
| [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]
| 1977
| Nonsectarian
| 19,510
| [[Keiser Seahawks|Seahawks]]{{efn|group=full|Keiser University's teams were the teams of [[Northwood University]]'s Florida campus until Keiser University purchased it in 2015 and made the teams its own.}}
| 2015
| both
|-
| '''[[New College of Florida]]'''<br>(NCF)
| [[Sarasota, Florida]]
| 1960
| Public
| 675
| [[NCF Mighty Banyans|Mighty Banyans]]
| 2024
| both
|-
| {{sort|Saint Thomas|'''[[St. Thomas University (Florida)|St. Thomas University]]'''}}
| [[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
| 1961
| Catholic<br>{{small|([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami|Archdiocese of Miami]])}}
| 1,750
| [[St. Thomas Bobcats|Bobcats]]
| 1990
| both
|-
| '''[[Savannah College of Art and Design]]'''
| [[Savannah, Georgia]]
| 1978
| [[Nonprofit organization|Non-profit]] [[art school]]
| 11,897
| [[Savannah College of Art and Design Bees|Bees]]
| 2004
| none{{efn|group=full|Savannah A&D had sponsored men's or women's basketball until after the 2008–09 school year.}}
|-
| '''[[Southeastern University (Florida)|Southeastern University]]'''
| [[Lakeland, Florida]]
| 1935
| [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]]
| 3,850
| [[Southeastern Fire|Fire]]
| 2009
| both
|-
| '''[[Warner University]]'''
| [[Lake Wales, Florida]]
| 1968
| [[Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)|Church of God]]
| 1,037
| [[Warner Royals|Royals]]
| 1990
| both
|-
| '''[[Webber International University]]'''
| [[Babson Park, Florida]]
| 1927
| Nonsectarian
| 616
| [[Webber International Warriors|Warriors]]
| 1990
| both
|}

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

===Current affiliate members===
The Sun has ten affiliate members, all but one are [[Private university|private]] schools:

{| 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.}}
! The Sun<br>sport(s)
! Current<br>conference
|-
| '''[[Brenau University]]'''{{efn|group=aff|name=women|This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.}}
| [[Gainesville, Georgia]]
| 1878
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 2,551
| [[Brenau Golden Tigers|Golden Tigers]]
| 2024
| beach volleyball 
| [[Appalachian Athletic Conference|Appalachian (AAC)]]
|-
| '''[[Life University]]'''
| [[Marietta, Georgia]]
| 1974
| Nonsectarian
| 2,692
| [[Life Running Eagles|Running Eagles]]
| 2022{{sup|w.lax.}}<br>2022{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2022{{sup|w.sw.}}
| women's lacrosse<br>men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|-
| '''[[Loyola University New Orleans]]'''
| [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| 1904
| [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] {{small|([[Jesuits|Jesuit]])}}
| 4,858
| [[Loyola Wolf Pack|Wolf Pack]]
| 2022{{sup|b.vb.}}<br>2022{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2022{{sup|w.sw.}}
| beach volleyball<br>men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|-
| {{sort|Mobile|'''[[University of Mobile]]'''}}
| [[Mobile, Alabama]]
| 1961
| [[Alabama Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]]
| 1,577
| [[Mobile Rams|Rams]]
| 2021
| beach volleyball
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|-
| {{sort|Saint Andrews|'''[[St. Andrews University (North Carolina)|St. Andrews University]]'''}}
| [[Laurinburg, North Carolina]]
| 1958
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]]<br>{{small|(PCUSA)}}
| 887
| [[St. Andrews Knights|Knights]]
| 2021
| beach volleyball
| [[Appalachian Athletic Conference|Appalachian (AAC)]]
|-
| {{sort|Spartanburg Methodist College|'''[[Spartanburg Methodist College]]'''}}
| [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]
| 1911
| United Methodist
| 1,128
| [[Spartanburg Methodist College|Pioneers]]
| 2024
| beach volleyball 
| [[NAIA independent schools|Continental]]
|-
| '''[[Thomas University]]'''{{efn|group=aff|Thomas was a full member of The Sun from 2012–13 to 2022–23.}}
| [[Thomasville, Georgia]]
| 1950
| Nonsectarian
| 1,100
| [[Thomas Night Hawks|Night Hawks]]
| 2023{{sup|fb.}}<br>2023{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2023{{sup|w.sw.}}
| football<br>men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|-
| {{sort|Tennessee–Southern|'''[[University of Tennessee Southern]]'''}}
| [[Pulaski, Tennessee]]
| 1870
| Public{{efn|group=aff|name=UTenn|Part of the [[University of Tennessee system|University of Tennessee]] System.}}
| 757
| [[UT Southern FireHawks|FireHawks]]
| 2022{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2022{{sup|w.sw.}}
| men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|-
| '''[[Truett McConnell University]]'''
| [[Cleveland, Georgia]]
| 1946
| [[Georgia Baptist Convention|Baptist]]
| 2,710 
| [[Truett McConnell Bears|Bears]]
| 2021
| beach volleyball
| [[Appalachian Athletic Conference|Appalachian (AAC)]]
|-
| '''[[William Carey University]]'''
| [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]]
| 1892
| [[Southern Baptist]]
| 3,250
| [[William Carey Crusaders|Crusaders]]
| 2021{{sup|b.vb.}}<br>2022{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2022{{sup|w.sw.}}
| beach volleyball<br>men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
|}

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

===Former members===
The Sun had nine former full members, most are [[Private university|private]] schools, one is [[Public university|public]], and two are defunct:

{| 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.}}
! Subsequent<br>conference(s)
! Current<br>conference
|-
| '''[[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach|Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]]'''<br>(Daytona Beach Campus)
| [[Daytona Beach, Florida]]
| 1926
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 6,794
| [[Embry–Riddle–Daytona Beach Eagles|Eagles]]
| 1990
| 2015
| colspan="2" | [[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State (SSC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}}<br>(2015–present)
|-
| '''[[Edward Waters University|Edward Waters College]]'''{{efn|group=faff|Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.}}{{efn|group=faff|Edward Waters later joined The Sun as an affiliate member for football from the 2014 to 2016 fall seasons (2014–15 to 2016–17 school years).}}
| [[Jacksonville, Florida]]
| 1866
| [[African Methodist Episcopal Church|A.M.E. Church]]
| 966
| [[Edward Waters Tigers|Tigers]]
| 2006
| 2010
| [[HBCU Athletic Conference|Gulf Coast (GCAC)]]{{efn|group=former|Currently known as the [[HBCU Athletic Conference]] since fall 2024.}}<br>(2010–21)
| [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|Southern (SIAC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}<br>(2021–present)
|-
| '''[[Flagler College]]'''
| [[St. Augustine, Florida]]
| 1968
| Nonsectarian
| 2,046
| [[Flagler Saints|Saints]]
| 1990
| 2006
| [[NCAA Division II independent schools|D-II Independent]]<br>(2006–09)
| [[Peach Belt Conference|Peach Belt (PBC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}<br>(2009–present)
|-
| '''[[Northwood University|Northwood University–Florida]]'''
| [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]
| 1984
| Nonsectarian
| N/A
| [[Northwood Seahawks|Seahawks]]
| 1994
| 2015
| colspan="2" | N/A{{efn|group=former|Northwood–Florida was sold to [[Keiser University]] in 2015.}}
|-
| '''[[Johnson & Wales University|Johnson & Wales University–Florida]]'''
| [[North Miami, Florida]]
| 1992
| Nonsectarian
| N/A
| [[Johnson & Wales–Florida Wildcats|Wildcats]]
| 2009
| 2020
| colspan="2" | Closed in 2021
|-
| '''[[Nova Southeastern University]]'''
| [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
| 1964
| Nonsectarian
| 24,148
| [[Nova Southeastern Sharks|Sharks]]
| 1990
| 2002
| colspan="2" | [[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State (SSC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}<br>(2002–present)
|-
| '''[[Palm Beach Atlantic University]]'''
| [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]
| 1968
| [[Nondenominational Christianity|Nondenominational]]
| 3,764
| [[Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish|Sailfish]]
| 1990
| 2003
| [[NCAA Division II independent schools|D-II Independent]]<br>(2003–15)
| [[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State (SSC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}<br>(2015–present)
|-
| {{sort|South Carolina–Beaufort|'''[[University of South Carolina Beaufort]]'''}}
| [[Beaufort, South Carolina]]
| 1959
| Public
| 1,386
| [[South Carolina–Beaufort Sand Sharks|Sand Sharks]]
| 2008
| 2022
| [[NAIA independent schools|Continental]]<br>(2022–23)
| [[Peach Belt Conference|Peach Belt (PBC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}}<br>(2022–present){{efn|group=former|name=USCB|USC Beaufort had dual membership with the NCAA (in its provisional transition phase) as the Sand Sharks remained in the NAIA as an Independent within the [[NAIA independent schools|Continental Athletic Conference]] until spring 2023.}}
|-
| '''[[Thomas University]]'''{{efn|group=former|name=Thomas|Thomas remains an affiliate member of The Sun in football and men's & women's swimming.}}
| [[Thomasville, Georgia]]
| 1950
| Nonsectarian
| 1,100
| [[Thomas Night Hawks|Night Hawks]]
| 2012
| 2023
| colspan="2" | [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]<br>(2023–present)
|}

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

===Former affiliate members===
The Sun had two former affiliate members, both were [[Private university|private]] schools:

For the 2014 and 2015 football seasons, Edward Waters and Point joined the conference.  All six members moved to the [[Mid-South Conference]] for the 2016 season.  With the exception of Point, which participates in the Appalachian Division, these teams plus [[Faulkner University]] now form the Sun Division of the Mid-South Conference.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Michael|title=Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20160225/SPORTS19/160229601|access-date=February 27, 2016|publisher=The Lakeland Ledger|date=February 25, 2016}}</ref>

{| 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.}}
! The Sun<br>sport(s)
! Primary<br>conference
! Conference<br>in former<br>Sun sport
|-
| '''[[Edward Waters University|Edward Waters College]]'''{{efn|group=faff|Currently known as Edward Waters University since 2021.}}{{efn|group=faff|Edward Waters was a full member of The Sun from 2006–07 to 2009–10.}}
| [[Jacksonville, Florida]]
| 1866
| [[African Methodist Episcopal Church|A.M.E. Church]]
| 966
| [[Edward Waters Tigers|Tigers]]
| 2014
| 2017
| football
| colspan="2" | [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|Southern (SIAC)]]{{efn|group=faff|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}}
|-
| '''[[Point University]]'''
| [[West Point, Georgia]]
| 1937
| [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian]]
| 1,000
| [[Point Skyhawks|Skyhawks]]
| 2014{{sup|fb.}}<br>2023{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2023{{sup|w.sw.}}
| 2017{{sup|fb.}}<br>2024{{sup|m.sw.}}<br>2024{{sup|w.sw.}}
| football<br>men's swimming<br>women's swimming
| [[Southern States Athletic Conference|Southern States (SSAC)]]
| [[Appalachian Athletic Conference|Appalachian (AAC)]]
|}

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

===Membership timeline===
<timeline>

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize  = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20

Period     = from:1990 till:2026

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
          id:MSCF value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved its football to another conference

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

 bar:1 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2015 text:[[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach|Embry–Riddle – Daytona Beach]] (1990–2015)
 bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2015 till:end text:[[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State]]

 bar:2 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2006 text:[[Flagler College|Flagler]] (1990–2006)
 bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:2009 text:[[NCAA Division II independent schools|D-II Ind.]]
 bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:2009 till:end text:[[Peach Belt Conference|Peach Belt]]

 bar:3 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2020 text:[[Florida Memorial University|Florida Memorial]] (1990–present)
 bar:3 color:MSCF from:2020 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:3 color:Full from:2022 till:end

 bar:4 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2002 text:[[Nova Southeastern University|Nova Southeastern]] (1990–2002)
 bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2002 till:end text:[[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State]]

 bar:5 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2003 text:[[Palm Beach Atlantic University|Palm Beach Atlantic]] (1990–2003)
 bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2015 text:[[NCAA Division II independent schools|D-II Ind.]]
 bar:5 color:OtherC2 from:2015 till:end text:[[Sunshine State Conference|Sunshine State]]

 bar:6 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2019 text:[[St. Thomas University (Florida)|St. Thomas (Fla.)]] (1990–present)
 bar:6 color:MSCF from:2019 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:6 color:Full from:2022 till:end

 bar:7 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2014 text:[[Warner University|Warner]] (1990–present)
 bar:7 color:Full from:2014 till:2017
 bar:7 color:MSCF from:2017 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:7 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

 bar:8 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2014 text:[[Webber International University|Webber International]] (1990–present)
 bar:8 color:Full from:2014 till:2017
 bar:8 color:MSCF from:2017 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:8 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

 bar:9 color:FullxF from:1994 till:2015 text:[[Northwood University%23Florida Seahawks|Northwood (Fla.)]] (1994–2015)

 bar:10 color:FullxF from:2004 till:end text:[[Savannah College of Art and Design|Savannah A&D]] (2004–present)

 bar:11 color:FullxF from:2006 till:2010 text:[[Edward Waters University|Edward Waters]] (2006–2010)
 bar:11 shift:(45) color:OtherC1 from:2010 till:2014 text:[[HBCU Athletic Conference|HBCUAC]]
 bar:11 color:AssocF from:2014 till:2017 text:(2014–2016)
 bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:2021 text:[[HBCU Athletic Conference|HBCUAC]]
 bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2021 till:end text:[[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference|SIAC]]

 bar:12 color:FullxF from:2008 till:2022 text:[[University of South Carolina Beaufort|South Carolina–Beaufort]] (2008–2022)
 bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:[[Peach Belt Conference|Peach Belt]]

 bar:13 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2014 text:[[Ave Maria University|Ave Maria]] (2009–present)
 bar:13 color:Full from:2014 till:2017
 bar:13 color:MSCF from:2017 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:13 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

 bar:14 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2020 text:[[Johnson %26 Wales University%23North Miami campus|Johnson & Wales]] (2009–2020)

 bar:15 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2014 text:[[Southeastern University (Florida)|Southeastern (Fla.)]] (2009–present)
 bar:15 color:Full from:2014 till:2017
 bar:15 color:MSCF from:2017 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:15 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

 bar:16 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2022 text:[[Thomas University|Thomas]] (2012–2023)
 bar:16 color:Full from:2022 till:2023
 bar:16 shift:(-100) color:AssocF from:2023 till:end text:[[Southern States Athletic Conference|SSAC]] (2023–present; SUN football)

 bar:17 color:AssocF from:2014 till:2017 text:[[Point University|Point]] (2014–2016; football)
 bar:17 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text:(2023–2024; swimming)

 bar:18 color:FullxF from:2015 till:2018 text:[[Keiser University|Keiser]] (2015–present)
 bar:18 shift:(40) color:MSCF from:2018 till:2022 text: Mid-South (fb.)
 bar:18 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

 bar:19 color:FullxF from:2017 till:end text:[[College of Coastal Georgia|Coastal Georgia]] (2017–present)

 bar:20 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:[[University of Mobile|Mobile]] (2021–present)

 bar:21 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:[[St. Andrews University (North Carolina)|St. Andrews (N.C.)]] (2021–present)

 bar:22 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:[[Truett McConnell University|Truett McConnell]] (2021–present)

 bar:23 shift:(-20) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:[[William Carey University|William Carey]] (2021–present)

 bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:[[Life University|Life]] (2022–present)

 bar:25 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:[[Loyola University New Orleans|Loyola (La.)]] (2022–present)

 bar:26 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:[[University of Tennessee Southern|UT Southern]] (2022–present)

 bar:27 shift:(-120) color:FullxF from:2024 till:end text:[[New College of Florida|New College (Fla.)]] (2024–present)

 bar:28 shift:(-60) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Brenau University|Brenau]] (2024–present)

 bar:29 shift:(-130) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Spartanburg Methodist College|Spartanburg Methodist]] (2024–present)

 bar:N color:orange from:1990 till:1992 text:FIAC
 bar:N color:red from:1992 till:2008 text:Florida Sun
 bar:N color:orange from:2008 till:end text:The Sun

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1990

TextData   =
 fontsize:M
 textcolor:black
 pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center)
 text:^"The Sun 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-only)&nbsp;}}

==Sports==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Conference sports
!Sport||Men's||Women's
|-
|{{left}}[[College baseball|Baseball]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
|{{left}}[[College basketball|Basketball]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Beach Volleyball ]] ||  || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Cross country running|Cross Country]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Flag football]] ||  || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[American football|Football]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
|{{left}}[[Golf]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College soccer in the United States|Soccer]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[College softball|Softball]] || || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Tennis]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Track and field|Track & Field Outdoor]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
|{{left}}[[Volleyball]] || || {{Y}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

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

{{Sun Conference navbox}}
{{NAIA conference navbox}}
{{National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sun Conference}}
[[Category:Sun Conference| ]]