Southern Conference
Encyclopedia
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA). Southern Conference football
teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA). Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama
, Georgia
, North Carolina
, South Carolina
and Tennessee
. The Southern Conference ranks as the fourth oldest major college athletic conference in the United States. Only the Big Ten
(1896), Missouri Valley
(1907) and Southwestern Athletic
(1920) conferences are older.
The Southern Conference is considered one of the stronger football conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision, and is considered a mid-major
conference in basketball. It has also garnered considerable national attention from its recent success in these sports: in particular, three-time Division I NCAA Football champion Appalachian State Mountaineers
, who stunned the fifth-ranked
Michigan Wolverines
34–32
on September 1, 2007; and from the Davidson Wildcats
, who reached the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
by upsetting power programs Gonzaga
(a mid-major school which became a power program in the 2000s), Georgetown and Wisconsin
.
The conference was formed on February 25, 1921 in Atlanta as fourteen member institutions split from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
. Southern Conference charter members were Alabama
, Auburn
, Clemson
, Georgia
, Georgia Tech
, Kentucky
, Maryland
, Mississippi State
, North Carolina
, North Carolina State
, Tennessee
, Virginia
, Virginia Tech
, and Washington & Lee
. In 1922, six more universities - Florida
, LSU
, Mississippi
, South Carolina
, Tulane
, and Vanderbilt
joined the conference. Later additions included Sewanee (1923), Virginia Military Institute
(1924), and Duke
(1929).
The SoCon is particularly notable for having spawned two other major conferences. In 1933, thirteen schools located south and west of the Appalachians (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt) departed the SoCon to form the Southeastern Conference
(SEC). In 1953, seven schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) withdrew from the SoCon to form the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC).
Other former members include East Carolina
(1964–76), East Tennessee State
(1978–2005), George Washington
(1936–70), Marshall
(1976–97), Richmond
(1936–76), William & Mary (1936–77) and West Virginia
(1950–68).
playing institutions to ten. Men's basketball and volleyball are split into divisions
for conference play. North Division members are: Appalachian State, Chattanooga, Elon, Samford, UNC Greensboro, and Western Carolina. South Division members include: The Citadel, College of Charleston, Davidson, Furman, Georgia Southern, and Wofford.
+Denote loser of the head-to-head battle between co-champions.
The Southern Conference split into a divisional format for basketball beginning with the 1994–95 season.
.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA). Southern Conference football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA). Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. The Southern Conference ranks as the fourth oldest major college athletic conference in the United States. Only the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
(1896), Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
(1907) and Southwestern Athletic
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(1920) conferences are older.
The Southern Conference is considered one of the stronger football conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision, and is considered a mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
conference in basketball. It has also garnered considerable national attention from its recent success in these sports: in particular, three-time Division I NCAA Football champion Appalachian State Mountaineers
Appalachian State Mountaineers football
The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team is the college football team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I Football Championship Subdivision member of the National...
, who stunned the fifth-ranked
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Three polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a National Championship title. That title is bestowed by one or more...
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
34–32
2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game
The 2007 Appalachian State-Michigan game was a college football game held on September 1 at Michigan Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It pitted the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines against the two-time defending champions of the Division I FCS, the...
on September 1, 2007; and from the Davidson Wildcats
Davidson Wildcats men's basketball
The Davidson Wildcats basketball team is the basketball team that represents Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, in the NCAA Division I. The school's team currently competes in the Southern Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008. The...
, who reached the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
by upsetting power programs Gonzaga
Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball
The Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Gonzaga University. The school competes in the West Coast Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
(a mid-major school which became a power program in the 2000s), Georgetown and Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball
The Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team is a NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at the Kohl Center, located on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus in Madison, Wisconsin....
.
History
| Wallace Wade | 1951–60 |
| Lloyd Jordon | 1960–73 |
| Ken Germann | 1974–86 |
| Dave Hart | 1986–91 |
| Wright Waters | 1991–98 |
| Alfred B. White | 1998–2001 |
| Danny Morrison | 2001–05 |
| John Iamarino | 2006–present |
The conference was formed on February 25, 1921 in Atlanta as fourteen member institutions split from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
. Southern Conference charter members were Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, North Carolina State
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
, and Washington & Lee
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
. In 1922, six more universities - Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, Tulane
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, and Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
joined the conference. Later additions included Sewanee (1923), Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
(1924), and Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(1929).
The SoCon is particularly notable for having spawned two other major conferences. In 1933, thirteen schools located south and west of the Appalachians (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Sewanee, Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt) departed the SoCon to form the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC). In 1953, seven schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) withdrew from the SoCon to form the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC).
Other former members include East Carolina
East Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
(1964–76), East Tennessee State
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
(1978–2005), George Washington
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(1936–70), Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
(1976–97), Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
(1936–76), William & Mary (1936–77) and West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
(1950–68).
Sports offered
The Southern Conference currently offers 19 sports, 10 for men and 9 for women.| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball College baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily... |
Basketball College basketball College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III.... |
| Basketball College basketball College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III.... |
Cross Country Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
| Cross Country Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
| Football College football College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities... |
Soccer College soccer College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes... |
| Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... |
Softball College softball College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate... |
| Soccer College soccer College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes... |
Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
| Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
Indoor Track |
| Indoor Track | Outdoor Track |
| Outdoor Track | Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... |
| Wrestling Collegiate wrestling Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States... |
Members
Conference membership increased to 12 full members when Samford joined on July 1, 2008, bringing the number of footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
playing institutions to ten. Men's basketball and volleyball are split into divisions
Division (sport)
In sports, a division is a group of teams who compete against each other for a championship.-League system:In sports using a league system , a division consists a group of teams who play a sport at a similar competitive level...
for conference play. North Division members are: Appalachian State, Chattanooga, Elon, Samford, UNC Greensboro, and Western Carolina. South Division members include: The Citadel, College of Charleston, Davidson, Furman, Georgia Southern, and Wofford.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Joined | Nicknames |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University Appalachian State University Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system... |
Boone, North Carolina Boone, North Carolina Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010... |
1899 | Public (UNC) University of North Carolina Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century... |
16,969 (Fall 2009) | 1971 | Mountaineers Appalachian State Mountaineers The Appalachian State Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, United States. The Mountaineers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have been a member of the Southern Conference since 1972.... |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga University of Tennessee at Chattanooga The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in... |
Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County... |
1886 | Public (UT) University of Tennessee system The University of Tennessee system is one of two public university systems in the state of Tennessee. It consists of three primary campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, a health sciences campus in... |
10,526 (Fall 2009) | 1976 | Mocs and Lady Mocs |
| The Citadel | Charleston, South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the... |
1842 | Public | 3,235 (Spring 2009) | 1936 | Bulldogs The Citadel Bulldogs The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I. Varsity sports compete primarily in the Southern Conference, although the Rifle teams compete in the South Eastern Air Rifle Conference... |
| College of Charleston College of Charleston The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States... |
Charleston, South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the... |
1770 | Public | 11,772 (Fall 2009) | 1998 | Cougars |
| Davidson College Davidson College Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News... |
Davidson, North Carolina Davidson, North Carolina Davidson is a town in Mecklenburg County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 7,139 at the 2000 census. It is home to Davidson College... |
1837 | Private | 1,890 (Fall 2009) | 1936–88; 1991 | Wildcats |
| Elon University Elon University Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes... |
Elon, North Carolina Elon, North Carolina Elon is a town in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 7,060. The town of Elon is home to Elon University. The town was called "Elon College" until the college known as Elon... |
1889 | Private | 5,666 (Fall 2009) | 2003 | Phoenix |
| Furman University Furman University Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina... |
Greenville, South Carolina Greenville, South Carolina -Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families... |
1826 | Private | 2,958 (Fall 2009) | 1936 | Paladins |
| Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive... |
Statesboro, Georgia Statesboro, Georgia Statesboro is a city in southeast Georgia, United States, and is the county seat and most populous city of Bulloch County. Statesboro has a population of 28,422 and the Statesboro, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 70,217... |
1906 | Public (USG) University System of Georgia The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering... |
19,086 (Fall 2009) | 1991 | Eagles Georgia Southern Eagles The Georgia Southern Eagles are the athletic teams of Georgia Southern University. The Eagles compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are members of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference... |
| Samford University Samford University Samford University, founded as Howard College is a private, coeducational, Alabama Baptist Convention-affiliated university located in Homewood, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. It includes the , Cumberland School of Law, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Brock School of Business, Ida V.... |
Homewood, Alabama Homewood, Alabama Homewood is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, located on the other side of Red Mountain due south of the city center. It has one of the highest population densities in Alabama. As of 2009 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the... |
1841 | Private | 4,658 (Fall 2009) | 2008 | Bulldogs Samford Bulldogs Samford University fields 17 varsity teams . The Bulldogs have done well in recent years in both football and men's basketball, participating in the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The women's basketball team made its initial NCAA tournament appearance in the 2011 NCAA... |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Greensboro The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26... |
Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S... |
1891 | Public (UNC) University of North Carolina Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century... |
17,397 (Fall 2010) | 1997 | Spartans UNC Greensboro Spartans The intercollegiate athletics program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro reaches as far back as the late 1940s during the days of the WCUNC, with students participating in national golf tournaments in 1948 and the school hosting the national tournaments for women's golf and tennis... |
| Western Carolina University Western Carolina University Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system.... |
Cullowhee, North Carolina Cullowhee, North Carolina Cullowhee is a census-designated place in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Cullowhee is best known for being the home of Western Carolina University . The population was 9,428 as of the 2010 census. The area known as Cullowhee has Western Carolina University, part of the UNC... |
1889 | Public (UNC) University of North Carolina Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century... |
9,429 (Fall 2009) | 1976 | Catamounts Western Carolina Catamounts The Western Carolina Catamounts are the athletic teams of Western Carolina University. The Catamounts compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Southern Conference. Western fields sixteen varsity sports teams. The Catamount football team competes in Division I Football... |
| Wofford College Wofford College Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The... |
Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg, South Carolina thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of... |
1854 | Private | 1,439 (Fall 2009) | 1997 | Terriers Wofford Terriers Wofford College sponsors 18 sports for men's and women's programs. The Terriers also compete in the Southern Conference, and have been a part of the league since the 1997–98 academic year. Wofford and the other SoCon members play football in the Football Championship Subdivision... |
Associate members
There are four associate member schools (wrestling only):| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell University Campbell Fighting Camels The Campbell University Fighting Camels and Lady Camels are the nicknames of the school's 18 teams that compete at the Division I level of the NCAA.-Sports teams:*Men's sports**Baseball**Basketball**Cross country**Football**Golf**Soccer... |
Buies Creek, North Carolina Buies Creek, North Carolina Buies Creek is a census-designated place located in the Neills Creek Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,215 at the 2000 census.-Incorporation:... |
1887 | Private | 10,487 | Fighting Camels Campbell Fighting Camels The Campbell University Fighting Camels and Lady Camels are the nicknames of the school's 18 teams that compete at the Division I level of the NCAA.-Sports teams:*Men's sports**Baseball**Basketball**Cross country**Football**Golf**Soccer... |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina Boiling Springs, North Carolina Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 4,647. It is home to Gardner-Webb University. The Broad River runs along the south of the township, where the Broad River Greenway is located, providing recreational... |
1905 | Private | 4,300 | Runnin' Bulldogs |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville SIU Edwardsville Cougars The Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Cougars are a member of NCAA Division I and compete within the Ohio Valley Conference... |
Edwardsville, Illinois Edwardsville, Illinois Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois... |
1957 | Public (SIU Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses... ) |
14,133 | Cougars SIU Edwardsville Cougars The Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Cougars are a member of NCAA Division I and compete within the Ohio Valley Conference... |
| Virginia Military Institute VMI Keydets wrestling The VMI Keydets wrestling team represents the Virginia Military Institute of Lexington, Virginia. The squad is coached by John Trudgeon. VMI is a member of the Big South Conference in other sports, but the Keydets wrestle as part of the Southern Conference since the Big South does not sponsor... |
Lexington, Virginia Lexington, Virginia Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to... |
1839 | Public | 1,500 (Fall 2009) | Keydets |
Conference facilities
| School | Football stadium | Basketball arena | Baseball stadium | Soccer stadium | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Capacity | Name | Capacity | Name | Capacity | Name | Capacity | |
| Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer Stadium Kidd Brewer Stadium Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field... |
21,650 | Holmes Center | 8,325 | Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium is a baseball stadium in Boone, North Carolina, that is home to the Appalachian State baseball program. The stadium was dedicated on April 10, 2007 with the Mountaineers claiming a 6–1 victory over Gardner-Webb... |
2,000 | ASU Soccer Stadium | 1,000 |
| Chattanooga | Finley Stadium | 20,668 | McKenzie Arena McKenzie Arena McKenzie Arena is the primary basketball arena for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. It replaced Maclellan Gymnasium, a 4,177-seat gymnasium now used for women's volleyball and wrestling... |
11,218 | Non-baseball School | N/A | North River Soccer Complex | 500 |
| The Citadel | Johnson Hagood Stadium Johnson Hagood Stadium Johnson Hagood Stadium, is a 21,000-seat football stadium in Charleston, South Carolina that is the home field of The Citadel; it is named in honor of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood CSA, Class of 1847 who commanded Confederate forces in Charleston during the Civil War and later served as... |
21,000 | McAlister Field House McAlister Field House McAlister Field House is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1939 and is home to The Citadel Bulldogs basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams.... |
6,000 | Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park is a stadium located in Charleston, South Carolina. The stadium is named after Charleston's longest serving mayor, Joseph P. Riley, Jr.. The stadium replaced College Park.... |
6,000 | Washington Light Infantry Field | — |
| College of Charleston | Non-football School | N/A | TD Arena | 5,100 | CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point is a baseball venue located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA. It is home to the College of Charleston Cougars baseball team, a member of the Division I Southern Conference. The venue is located across Charleston Harbor from the campus of the college... |
2,000 | CofC Soccer Stadium | 1,000 |
| Davidson | Richardson Stadium Richardson Stadium Richardson Stadium is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Davidson, North Carolina. It is home to the Davidson College Wildcats football and track and field teams. The stadium incorporates both Stephen B. Smith Field and Irwin Belk Track. It has also hosted the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on... |
6,000 | John M. Belk Arena John M. Belk Arena John M. Belk Arena is a 5,223-seat multi-purpose arena, located on the campus of Davidson College, in Davidson, North Carolina.It is named for Davidson alumnus and benafactor John M... |
5,223 | T. Henry Wilson, Jr. Field | 700 | Alumni Stadium | 2,000 |
| Elon | Rhodes Stadium Rhodes Stadium Rhodes Stadium is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Elon, North Carolina. Named for trustee Dusty Rhodes, his wife, Peggy, and their family, the stadium opened in 2001 and is home to the Elon University Phoenix football team. The stadium also hosts soccer games.Before Rhodes Stadium was built... |
11,250 | Alumni Gym Alumni Gym (Elon University) Alumni Gym is a 1,585-seat multi-purpose arena in Elon, North Carolina. It was built in 1949 and is home to the Elon University Phoenix basketball team.-References:... |
1,768 | Walter C. Latham Park Walter C. Latham Park Walter C. Latham Park is a baseball venue located in Elon, North Carolina, USA. It is home to the Elon Phoenix baseball team, a member of the Division I Southern Conference. The venue has a capacity of 2,000 spectators.... |
500 | Rudd Field | 500 |
| Furman | Paladin Stadium Paladin Stadium Paladin Stadium is a 16,000-seat stadium located near Greenville, South Carolina, USA. It was built in 1981 at a cost of $2 million and originally seated 13,200 fans. It was expanded to its current capacity in 1985, and is currently home to the Furman University Paladins football team... |
16,000 | Timmons Arena Timmons Arena Timmons Arena is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Greenville, South Carolina. It was built in 1998 and is home to the Furman University Paladins basketball team.... |
5,000 | Latham Baseball Stadium Latham Baseball Stadium Latham Baseball Stadium is a baseball venue located in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. It is home to the Furman Paladins college baseball team. The venue opened in 1956 and has a capacity of 2,000 spectators.-Naming:... |
2,000 | Stone Stadium Eugene E. Stone III Stadium (Greenville) Eugene Stone III Soccer Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Greenville, South Carolina on the campus of Furman University.The 3,000-seat stadium opening in 1995 during a ceremony featuring Brazil national football team legend Pelé... |
3,000 |
| Georgia Southern | Paulson Stadium Paulson Stadium Allen E. Paulson Stadium is an 18,000 seat on campus football stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. It is home to the Georgia Southern Eagles football team and the focal point of Erk Russell Athletic Park.... |
18,000 | Hanner Fieldhouse Hanner Fieldhouse Hanner Fieldhouse is a 4,358-seat multi-purpose arena in Statesboro, Georgia. It was built in 1969 and is home to the Georgia Southern University Eagles basketball team... |
4,358 | J.I. Clements Stadium | 3,000 | Eagle Field | 500 |
| Samford | Seibert Stadium Seibert Stadium Seibert Stadium is a 6,700-seat multi-purpose stadium in Homewood, Alabama. It is home to the Samford University Bulldogs college football team. The facility opened in 1958 and is named for F. Page Seibert, who in 1961, donated money for the completion of the stadium... |
6,700 | Pete Hanna Center Pete Hanna Center The Pete Hanna Center is the building housing the 4,974-seat Thomas E. and Marla H. Corts Arena on the campus of Samford University in Homewood, Alabama... |
5,000 | Joe Lee Griffin Stadium Joe Lee Griffin Stadium Joe Lee Griffin Stadium is a baseball venue located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. It is home to the Samford Bulldogs college baseball team of the Division I Southern Conference. It has a capacity of 1,000 spectators.... |
1,000 | Bulldog Field | 972 |
| UNC Greensboro | Non-football School | N/A | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro Coliseum The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is an entertainment complex located in College Hill neighborhood of Greensboro, North Carolina. Opening in 1959, the arena was one of the largest venues in the South, with a seating capacity of over 7,000... (men's) Fleming Gymnasium Fleming Gymnasium The Michael B. Fleming Gymnasium is a 2,320-seat multi-purpose arena in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is located in the Health and Human Performance Building, a $16.2 million facility that opened on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's campus in June 1989.It is home to the University... (women's) |
23,500 2,320 |
UNCG Baseball Stadium UNCG Baseball Stadium UNCG Baseball Stadium is a baseball venue located in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. It is home to the UNC Greensboro Spartans college baseball team of the Division I Southern Conference. It has a capacity of 3,500 spectators and opened in 1999.... |
3,500 | UNCG Soccer Stadium UNCG Soccer Stadium UNCG Soccer Stadium is a 3,540-capacity stadium located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The stadium is home to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans men's and women's soccer teams. It has also hosted the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on several occasions. The stadium opened... |
3,540 |
| Western Carolina | E. J. Whitmire Stadium | 13,742 | Ramsey Center Ramsey Center The Liston B. Ramsey Regional Activity Center is a 7,826-seat multi-purpose arena in Cullowhee, North Carolina and is home to the Western Carolina University Catamounts basketball and volleyball teams.It is also named "THE LAIR"... |
7,826 | Hennon Stadium Hennon Stadium Ronnie G. Childress Field at Hennon Stadium is the home of the Western Carolina Catamounts baseball team in Cullowhee, North Carolina.-Dimensions:... |
1,500 | Catamount Athletic Complex | 1,000 |
| Wofford | Gibbs Stadium Gibbs Stadium Gibbs Stadium is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It opened in 1996 and is home to the Wofford College Terriers football team. It is also the home to the Spartanburg High School varsity football team. It is home to the 30th largest college football scoreboard in... |
13,000 | Benjamin Johnson Arena Benjamin Johnson Arena Benjamin Johnson Arena is a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was built in 1981 and is home to the Wofford College Terriers basketball team. The arena is named after the late Benjamin O. Johnson, former vice president of Spartan Mills and community leader in... |
3,500 | Russell C. King Field Russell C. King Field Russell C. King Field is a baseball venue located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It is home to the Wofford Terriers college baseball team of the Division I Southern Conference. It has a capacity of 2,500 spectators.... , McNair Field McNair Field McNair Field is a 1,494-seat baseball stadium located in Forest City, North Carolina. It was built in 2008 as the home of the Forest City Owls baseball team... |
2,500 | Snyder Field | 2,250 |
Football
This is a partial list of the last 10 champions. For the full history, see List of Southern Conference football champions.| Year | Champion | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Georgia Southern Furman |
7–1–0 |
| 2002 | Georgia Southern | 7–1–0 |
| 2003 | Wofford | 8–0–0 |
| 2004 | Furman Georgia Southern |
6–1–0 |
| 2005 | Appalachian State | 6–1–0 |
| 2006 | Appalachian State | 7–0–0 |
| 2007 | Wofford Appalachian State+ |
5–2–0 |
| 2008 | Appalachian State | 8–0–0 |
| 2009 | Appalachian State | 8–0–0 |
| 2010 | Appalachian State Wofford+ |
7–1–0 |
| 2011 | Georgia Southern University | 7–1–0 |
+Denote loser of the head-to-head battle between co-champions.
Men's basketball
This is a partial list of the last 10 champions. For the full history, see List of Southern Conference men's basketball champions.The Southern Conference split into a divisional format for basketball beginning with the 1994–95 season.
| Year | Regular Season Champion (North) | Record | Regular Season Champion (South) | Record | Tournament Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Davidson UNC Greensboro East Tennessee State |
11–5 | College of Charleston Georgia Southern Chattanooga |
9–7 | Davidson |
| 2002–03 | Davidson East Tennessee State Appalachian State |
11–5 | College of Charleston | 13–3 | East Tennessee State |
| 2003–04 | East Tennessee State | 15–1 | Davidson Georgia Southern College of Charleston |
11–5 | East Tennessee State |
| 2004–05 | Davidson | 16–0 | College of Charleston Georgia Southern |
10–6 | Chattanooga |
| 2005–06 | Elon | 10–4 | Georgia Southern | 11–4 | Davidson |
| 2006-07 2007 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2007 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place between Wednesday, February 28 and Saturday, March 3 at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Davidson Wildcats won the championship to secure their 9th trip to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball... |
Appalachian State | 15–3 | Davidson | 17–1 | Davidson |
| 2007-08 2008 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2008 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place between Friday, March 7 and Monday, March 10 in North Charleston, South Carolina at the North Charleston Coliseum. All rounds were available on ESPN 910. The semifinals were televised by SportSouth, and the Southern Conference... |
Appalachian State Chattanooga |
13–7 | Davidson | 20–0 | Davidson |
| 2008-09 2009 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2009 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place between Friday, March 6 and Monday, March 9 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at McKenzie Arena... |
Chattanooga Western Carolina |
11–9 | Davidson | 18–2 | Chattanooga |
| 2009-10 2010 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2010 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place March 5–8 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The first and quarterfinal rounds took place at Bojangles' Coliseum. The semifinals and championship game were played at Time Warner Cable Arena. The semifinals were broadcast on SportsSouth... |
Appalachian State | 13–5 | Wofford | 15–3 | Wofford |
| 2010-11 2011 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament The 2011 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place between Friday, March 4 and Monday, March 7 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at McKenzie Arena. The semifinals were televised by SportSouth, with the Southern Conference Championship Game televised by ESPN2. The championship matched the... |
Western Carolina Chattanooga |
12–6 | College of Charleston Wofford |
14–4 | Wofford |
Baseball
This is a partial list of the last 10 champions. For the full history, see Southern Conference Baseball TournamentSouthern Conference Baseball Tournament
The Southern Conference Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Southern Conference. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.-Tournament:...
.
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2001 | The Citadel |
| 2002 | Georgia Southern |
| 2003 | Western Carolina |
| 2004 | The Citadel |
| 2005 | Furman |
| 2006 | College of Charleston |
| 2007 | Wofford |
| 2008 | Elon |
| 2009 | Georgia Southern |
| 2010 | The Citadel |