Southern States Athletic Conference
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The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 13 member universities that compete in 19 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Basketball teams compete as a single division in the NAIA.
History
The Southern States Athletic Conference was established as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) on March 16, 1999. On June 27, 2004, the conference changed its name to the Southern States Athletic Conference.[1]
Chronological timeline
- 1999 – On March 16, 1999, the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) was founded as the Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC). Charter members included Auburn University at Montgomery, Brenau University, Brewton–Parker College, Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University), Faulkner University, Georgia Southwestern State University, North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia), Shorter College (now Shorter University), Southern Polytechnic State University and Southern Wesleyan University, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
- 2000 – Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) joined the GACC in the 2000–01 academic year.
- 2004 – On June 27, 2004, the GACC was rebranded as the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) in the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2004 – Berry College and Lee University joined the SSAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2005 – North Georgia left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2005 – Columbia College of South Carolina joined the SSAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
- 2006 – Georgia Southwestern State left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt (PBC) after the 2005–06 academic year.
- 2009 – Reinhardt left the SSAC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) after the 2008–09 academic year.
- 2010 – Berry left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent (which would later join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) beginning the 2012–13 academic year) after the 2009–10 academic year.
- 2010 – Belhaven University, Loyola University New Orleans, the University of Mobile, Spring Hill College, Truett–McConnell College (now Truett–McConnell University), and William Carey University joined the SSAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2011 – Columbia (S.C.) left the SSAC to join the Appalachian (AAC) after the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2012 – Shorter left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference (GSC) after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – The College of Coastal Georgia joined the SSAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2013 – Lee left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South (GSC) after the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2013 – Bethel University of Tennessee, Blue Mountain College (now Blue Mountain Christian University), and Martin Methodist College (now the University of Tennessee Southern) joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
- 2014 – Three institutions left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and their respective new home primary conferences, all effective after the 2013–14 academic year:
- Emmanuel (Ga.) and Southern Wesleyan to the Conference Carolinas (CC)
- and Spring Hill to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
- 2014 – Southern Poly announced that it would drop its athletic program and close once it is consolidated by Kennesaw State University at the end of the 2013–14 academic year.
- 2014 – Dalton State College and Middle Georgia State University joined the SSAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2015 – Belhaven left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the American Southwest Conference after the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2016 – Auburn–Montgomery left the SSAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Gulf South (GSC), beginning the 2017–18 school year) after the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2017 – Two institutions left the SSAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2016–17 academic year:
- Brenau to join the Appalachian (AAC)
- and Coastal Georgia to join the Sun Conference
- 2017 – Point University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2017–18 academic year.
- 2018 – Florida College and Stillman College joined the SSAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2020 – Bethel (Tenn.) and Martin Methodist left the SSAC to join the Mid-South Conference (MSC) after the 2019–20 academic year.
- 2020 – Two institutions joined the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
- Warner University for competitive cheer
- and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
- 2021 – Florida College left the SSAC to become an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference after the 2020–21 academic year.
- 2021 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2020–21 academic year:
- Warner University for competitive cheer
- and Xavier University of Louisiana for competitive cheer and men's and women's tennis
- 2021 – Talladega College joined the SSAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
- 2021 – Five institutions joined SSAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
- Dillard University, Florida National University, Rust College and Tougaloo College for men's and women's tennis
- and Fisk University for women's tennis
- 2022 – Three institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
- Fisk for women's tennis
- and Rust and Tougaloo for men's and women's tennis
- 2022 – Life University joined the SSAC in the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2022 – Florida Memorial University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Talladega left the SSAC to join the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC, now the HBCU Athletic Conference) after the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Florida National left the SSAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's tennis after the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
- 2023 – Thomas University joined the SSAC (with the University of Tennessee Southern, formerly Martin Methodist, rejoining; plus Point upgrading for all sports) in the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2023 – Keiser University joined the SSAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer in the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2024 – Stillman left the SSAC to join the HBCUAC after the 2023–24 academic year.
- 2024 – Two institutions left the SSAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
- Dillard for men's and women's tennis
- and Keiser for competitive cheer
- 2024 – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College joined the SSAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
- 2025 – Middle Georgia State will leave the SSAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2024–25 academic year.
- 2026 – Xavier University of Louisiana will join the SSAC in the 2026–27 academic year.
Member schools
Current members
The SSAC currently has 13 full members, all but four being private schools.
- Notes
Future member
The SSAC will have one future member, a private school.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | JoiningTemplate:Efn | Basketball? | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1925 | Catholic (S.B.S.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Efn |
3,200 | Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets |
2026Template:Efn | both | Red River (RRAC) |
- Notes
Affiliate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | JoinedTemplate:Efn | SSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, Florida | 1879 | American BaptistTemplate:Efn | 1,784 | Lions | 2022 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
- Notes
Former members
The SSAC had 20 former full members, all but five were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:
- Notes
Former affiliate members
The SSAC had 20 former full members, all but five were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | JoinedTemplate:Efn | LeftTemplate:Efn | SSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillard University | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1869 | United Methodist & United Church of ChristTemplate:Efn |
900 | Bleu Devils & Lady Bleu Devils |
2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2024m.ten. 2024w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Fisk University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1866 | United Church of ChristTemplate:Efn | 910 | Bulldogs | 2021 | 2022 | women's tennis | HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Florida National University | Hialeah, Florida | 1988 | For-profit | 5,541 | Conquistadors | 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2023m.ten. 2023w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
Continental |
| Keiser University | West Palm Beach, Florida | 1977 | Nonsectarian | 19,510 | Seahawks | 2023 | 2024 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
| Point University | West Point, Georgia | 1937 | Christian | 1,718 | Skyhawks | 2017 | 2023 | competitive cheer | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Rust College | Holly Springs, Mississippi | 1866 | United MethodistTemplate:Efn | 900 | Bearcats | 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2022m.ten. 2022w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo, Mississippi | 1869 | United Church of Christ & Disciples of ChristTemplate:Efn |
900 | Bulldogs | 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2022m.ten. 2022w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, Florida | 1968 | Church of God | 1,037 | Royals | 2020 | 2021 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1925 | Catholic (S.B.S.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Efn |
3,200 | Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets |
2020cheer. 2020m.ten. 2020w.ten. |
2021cheer. 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
competitive cheer men's tennis women's tennis |
Red River (RRAC) |
- Notes
Membership timeline
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1999 till:2030 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)
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:FullxF from:1999 till:2016 text:Auburn–Montgomery (1999–2016) bar:1 shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:2016 till:2017 text:D-II Ind. bar:1 color:OtherC2 from:2017 till:end text:Gulf South
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2017 text:Brenau (1999–2017) bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:3 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Brewton–Parker (1999–present)
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Emmanuel (Ga.) (1999–2014) bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:5 color:FullxF from:1999 till:end text:Faulkner (1999–present)
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2006 text:Georgia Southwestern State (1999–2006) bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2005 text:North Georgia College & State (1999–2005) bar:7 shift:(40) color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2012 text:Shorter (1999–2012) bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2024 text:Gulf South bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:2024 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:9 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Polytechnic State (1999–2014)
bar:10 color:FullxF from:1999 till:2014 text:Southern Wesleyan (1999–2014) bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:Carolinas
bar:11 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2009 text:Reinhardt (2000–2009) bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:12 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2010 text:Berry (2004–2010) bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2010 till:2012 text:D-III Ind. bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:end text:SAA
bar:13 color:FullxF from:2004 till:2013 text:Lee (2004–2013) bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Gulf South
bar:14 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2011 text:Columbia (S.C.) (2005–2011) bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:15 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2015 text:Belhaven (2010–2015) bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2015 till:2022 text:AmSW bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:CCS
bar:16 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Loyola (La.) (2010–present)
bar:17 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:Mobile (2010–present)
bar:18 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2014 text:Spring Hill (2010–2014) bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:SIAC
bar:19 color:FullxF from:2010 till:2013 text:Truett–McConnell (2010–2013) bar:19 shift:(70) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:Appalachian
bar:20 color:FullxF from:2010 till:end text:William Carey (2010–present)
bar:21 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2017 text:Coastal Georgia (2012–2017) bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:The Sun
bar:22 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Bethel (Tenn.) (2013–2020) bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:Mid-South
bar:23 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:Blue Mountain (2013–present) bar:23 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Blue Mountain Christian
bar:24 color:FullxF from:2013 till:2020 text:Martin Methodist (2013–2020) bar:24 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:2023 text:Mid-South bar:24 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:UT Southern (2023–present)
bar:25 color:FullxF from:2014 till:end text:Dalton State (2014–present)
bar:26 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2025 text:Middle Georgia State (2014–2025) bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:2025 till:end text:Peach Belt
bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:2023 text:Point (2017–2023) bar:27 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:(2023–present)
bar:28 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2021 text:Florida College (2018–2021) bar:28 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:NAIA Ind.
bar:29 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2024 text:Stillman (2018–2024) bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:HBCUAC
bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2021 text:Warner (2020–2021)
bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2021 text:Xavier (La.) (2020–2021) bar:31 color:FullxF from:2026 till:end text: (2026–future)
bar:32 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2023 text:Talladega (2021–2023) bar:32 shift:(60) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:HBCUAC
bar:33 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2024 text:Dillard (2021–2024)
bar:34 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Fisk (2021–2022)
bar:35 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2023 text:Florida National (2021–2023)
bar:36 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Rust (2021–2022)
bar:37 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2022 text:Tougaloo (2021–2022)
bar:38 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Life (2022–present)
bar:39 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Florida Memorial (2022–present)
bar:40 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:Thomas (2023–present)
bar:41 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:2024 text:Keiser (2023–2024)
bar:42 color:FullxF from:2024 till:end text:Abraham Baldwin (2024–present)
bar:N color:powderblue from:1999 till:2004 text:Georgia–Alabama–Carolina Conference (GACC) bar:N shift:(100) color:blue from:2004 till:end text:Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:2000
TextData =
fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Southern States Athletic 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.
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football-only) <# </timeline>
Full member (non-football)
Sports
The SSAC holds championships in the following 19 sports:
| A divisional format is used for men's and women's basketball. | |
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References
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External links
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