Peach Belt Conference

Peach Belt Conference
Peach Belt Conference
PBC
Established	1990
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	10 (11 in 2022)
Sports fielded	16 men's: 8; women's: 8; ;
Region	Southeastern United States
Headquarters	Augusta, Georgia
Commissioner	David Brunk (since 2007)
Website	peachbeltconference.org
Locations

The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level. The ten member institutions are located in the South Atlantic states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In addition, five affiliate members participate in one sport each; namely sports not sponsored by their home conferences.

Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt has, across all sanctioned sports, produced 30 national champions and additional 27 national finalists. Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men's and women's basketball, the conference has expanded to 16 championship sports with the addition of women's golf in the fall of 2009 and men's lacrosse in the summer of 2020.

History[]

The conference traces its roots back to November 1988 when 11 schools first met in Greenville, S.C. to form a Division II conference. Following a second meeting on Dec. 3, 1989, five of those 11 schools, plus two others, formed the Peach Belt Athletic Conference and began play in the fall of 1990.

The seven charter members of the conference were Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Armstrong State University), Columbus State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College (now Georgia College & State University), Lander University, USC Aiken, and USC Upstate. The name Peach Belt Athletic Conference was adopted in January 1990 and modified to Peach Belt Conference in May 2000.

Augusta State University joined the conference in 1991 and UNC Pembroke became the ninth member on July 1, 1992. They were followed by Kennesaw State University on July 1, 1994, Clayton State University on July 1, 1995 and the University of North Florida on July 1, 1997. Kennesaw State and North Florida departed for the Division I ranks in 2005, USC Upstate did the same in 2007, and the conference welcomed in North Georgia College & State University in 2005 and Georgia Southwestern State University in 2006. In 2009-10, the University of Montevallo and Flagler College were added, returning a league presence to Florida and broke new ground in Alabama. In 2012-13, the Peach Belt expanded to 14 members, the most the league has ever had, with the addition of Young Harris College. On January 8, 2013, the University System of Georgia finalized the mergers of two conference members into new institutions. Augusta State was merged into Georgia Regents University, which was renamed in 2015 as Augusta University, and NGCSU was merged into the University of North Georgia.^[1]^[2] In both cases, the new institutions inherited the Peach Belt memberships of the older schools.

Map of Southeastern United States with member institutions in the Division II Peach Belt Conference

The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing its first of many national championships. The Columbus State golf team took the honor by winning the 1992 national crown, the first of three golf championships the Cougars own. One year later, the Lander men's tennis team began their record-breaking run of eight straight national titles, the first PBC dynasty. Since then, USCA men's golf has won three straight national titles from 2004-06 while AASU women's tennis has captured four titles overall.

The 2010–11 season was one of the most memorable the league has ever had. Clayton State became the first PBC women's basketball team to capture a national championship. Montevallo watched their men's basketball team reach the Elite Eight, eventually competing in the National Championship Game. Unfortunately, their run came to an end with a loss to Western Washington University. The Columbus State men's tennis team reached the national semifinals while the Clayton State and Armstrong Atlantic State women's tennis teams also played in the national semifinals. The North Georgia softball team made an unprecedented third straight appearance in the NCAA Women's College World Series, while Columbus State's Meshack Koyiaki registered a runner-up finish at the Men's Cross Country National Championships. In all, 46 Peach Belt teams made appearances in the NCAA postseason, including seven men's tennis teams and six each in the sports of men's golf and women's tennis.

David Brunk was named the second PBC commissioner in May 2007. Brunk replaced Marvin Vanover, who was the first PBC commissioner from 1991 to 2007. Brunk is charged with continuing the strong growth of the conference as its second era begins.

Dr. Kendall Blanchard, president of Georgia Southwestern State University, began the second of his two-year term as the league president in July 2011.

In April 2020, Francis Marion University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced that they would leave the Peach Belt Conference effective 2021–22, both joining Conference Carolinas.^[3]

On April 14, 2021, the conference invited the NAIA's University of South Carolina Beaufort to join in 2022–23 after applying for membership in Division II and gaining acceptance into the NCAA.^[4]

The conference currently holds championships in 16 sports, eight for men and eight for women. They are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, baseball, softball, men's and women's track & field, and men's and women's golf.^[5] Men's lacrosse was added on July 10, 2020, and its first season was in spring 2021.^[6]

Member schools[]

Current members[]

Institution	Location	Founded	Joined	Type	Enrollment	Nickname
Augusta University	Augusta, Georgia	1828	1991	Public	9,000	Jaguars
Clayton State University	Morrow, Georgia	1969	1995	Public	7,145	Lakers
Columbus State University	Columbus, Georgia	1958	1990	Public	8,597	Cougars
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	1968	2009	Private (Nonsectarian)	2,046	Saints
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville, Georgia	1889	1990	Public	6,041	Bobcats
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	1906	2006	Public	3,033	Hurricanes
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	1990	Public	3,000	Bearcats
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega, Georgia	1873	2005	Public	18,782	Nighthawks
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, South Carolina	1961	1990	Public	3,280	Pacers
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	2012	Private (United Methodist)	1,120	Mountain Lions

Future member[]

Institution	Location	Founded	Joining	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Primary conference
University of South Carolina Beaufort^[a]	Bluffton, South Carolina	1959	2022–23	Public	1,375	Sand Sharks		The Sun (NAIA)

Notes

^ South Carolina–Beaufort could be a full member only after the addition of men's and women's basketball.^[7]

Affiliate members[]

Institution	Location	Founded	Joined	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	PBC sport(s)	Primary conference
University of Alabama in Huntsville^[a]	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	2021–22	Public	8,027	Chargers	lacrosse (M)	Gulf South
Albany State University	Albany, Georgia	1903	2019–20	Public	6,371	Golden Rams	soccer (W)	SIAC
Claflin University	Orangeburg, South Carolina	1869	2019–20	Private (United Methodist)	1,978	Panthers	baseball	CIAA
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	2017–18	Private (Nonsectarian)	6,794	Eagles	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne, Florida	1958	2014–15	Private (Nonsectarian)	8,985	Panthers	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
University of Montevallo^[b]	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	2021–22	Public	2,228	Falcons	lacrosse (M)	Gulf South
Nova Southeastern University	Davie, Florida	1964	2012–13	Private (Nonsectarian)	33,135	Sharks	track & field indoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Shorter University^[a]	Rome, Georgia	1873	2021–22	Private (Baptist)	1,306	Hawks	lacrosse (M)	Gulf South

Notes

^ ^a ^b Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter were affiliates of the Peach Belt for men's and women's outdoor track & field from the 2013 to 2016 spring seasons (2012–13 to 2015–16 school years).
^ Montevallo was a full member of the Peach Belt from 2009–10 to 2016–17.

Former members[]

Institution	Location	Founded	Joined	Left	Type	Nickname	Current conference
Armstrong State University	Savannah, Georgia	1935	1990	2017	Public	Pirates	N/A^[a]
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970	1990	2021	Public	Patriots	Carolinas
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw, Georgia	1963	1994	2005	Public	Owls	ASUN (NCAA D-I)
University of Montevallo^[b]	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	2009	2017	Public	Falcons	Gulf South
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	1992	2021	Public	Braves	Carolinas
University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	1969	1997	2005	Public	Ospreys	ASUN (NCAA D-I)
University of South Carolina Upstate	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1967	1990	2007	Public	Spartans	Big South (NCAA D-I)

Notes

^ Armstrong State has merged with Georgia Southern University in 2017.
^ Montevallo remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Membership timeline[]

Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football-only) Associate member (sport)

Sports[]

A divisional format is used for basketball (M / W).
East Augusta Flagler Francis Marion Lander UNC Pembroke USC Aiken	West Clayton State Columbus State Georgia College Georgia Southwestern State North Georgia Young Harris

**Conference sports**
Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Lacrosse	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & field outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

Men's sponsored sports by school[]

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Tennis	Track & field outdoor	Total PBC sports
Augusta	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	5
Clayton State		Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	5
Columbus State	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	6
Flagler	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			6
Francis Marion	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	6
Georgia College	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y		5
Georgia Southwestern State	Y	Y		Y		Y	Y		5
Lander	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		7
UNC Pembroke	Y	Y	Y					Y	4
North Georgia	Y	Y		Y		Y	Y		5
USC Aiken	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			5
Young Harris	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		7
Totals	11	12	9	9	3	8	10	5	67
Affiliate members
Alabama–Huntsville					Y				1
Clafin	Y								1
Embry–Riddle								Y	1
Florida Tech								Y	1
Montevallo					Y				1
Nova Southeastern								Y	1
Shorter					Y				1
Future member
USC Beaufort	Y	^[a]	Y	Y				Y	4

^ USC Beaufort is to add men's basketball no later than 2023.

Women's sponsored sports by school[]

School	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Soccer	Softball	Tennis	Track & field outdoor	Volleyball	Total PBC sports
Augusta	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	Y	6
Clayton State	Y	Y		Y			Y		4
Columbus State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Flagler	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	7
Francis Marion	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Georgia College	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		Y	6
Georgia Southwestern State	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			5
Lander	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	7
UNC Pembroke	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	7
North Georgia	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		7
USC Aiken	Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	5
Young Harris	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			6
Totals	12	12	6	11	11	10	6	8	76
Affiliate member
Albany State				Y					1
Embry–Riddle							Y		1
Florida Tech							Y		1
Nova Southeastern							Y		1
Future member
USC Beaufort	^[a]	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y		5

^ USC Beaufort is to add women's basketball no later than 2023.

Other sponsored sports by school[]

School	Men			Women				Co-ed
School	Golf	Track & field indoor	Wrestling	Golf	Lacrosse	Swimming & diving	Track & field indoor	Rifle^[a]
Augusta	Southland^[b]			Southland^[b]
Clayton State		IND					IND
Flagler		IND					IND
Lander			SACC		GSC
North Georgia								SoCon
Young Harris					GSC

^ The NCAA holds a single rifle championship event open to schools in all three divisions. Rifle schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same rules, including scholarship limits.
^ ^a ^b The NCAA sponsors Division II men's and women's golf championships, but the Augusta men's and women's golf teams compete as Division I members.

Championships[]

References[]

^ "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
^ "Another New Name". Inside Higher Ed. September 16, 2015.
^ "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
^ "Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member". University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
^ "Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse as Championship Sport" (Press release). July 10, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
^ Goldstein, Andrew (April 14, 2021). "USC-Beaufort to move up to Division II, add women's and men's basketball". WSAV.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.

External links[]

Official website

[8] South Carolina–Beaufort could be a full member only after the addition of men's and women's basketball.^[7]

[Home-9] Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter were affiliates of the Peach Belt for men's and women's outdoor track & field from the 2013 to 2016 spring seasons (2012–13 to 2015–16 school years).

[10] Montevallo was a full member of the Peach Belt from 2009–10 to 2016–17.

[11] Armstrong State has merged with Georgia Southern University in 2017.

[12] Montevallo remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

[13] USC Beaufort is to add men's basketball no later than 2023.

[14] USC Beaufort is to add women's basketball no later than 2023.

[15] The NCAA holds a single rifle championship event open to schools in all three divisions. Rifle schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same rules, including scholarship limits.

[D-I_golf-16] The NCAA sponsors Division II men's and women's golf championships, but the Augusta men's and women's golf teams compete as Division I members.

[1] "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved January 8, 2013.

[2] "Another New Name". Inside Higher Ed. September 16, 2015.

[3] "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

[4] "Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member". University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[5] "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2012.

[6] "Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse as Championship Sport" (Press release). July 10, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.

[7] Goldstein, Andrew (April 14, 2021). "USC-Beaufort to move up to Division II, add women's and men's basketball". WSAV.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.

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v t Peach Belt Conference
Members	Augusta Jaguars Clayton State Lakers Columbus State Cougars Flagler Saints Georgia College Bobcats Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes Lander Bearcats North Georgia Nighthawks South Carolina–Aiken Pacers South Carolina–Beaufort Sand Sharks (joining in 2022) Young Harris Mountain Lions
Affiliates	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers Albany State Golden Rams Claflin Panthers Embry–Riddle Eagles Florida Tech Panthers Montevallo Falcons Nova Southeastern Sharks Shorter Hawks Young Harris Mountain Lions

v NCAA Division II all-sports conferences
Atlantic	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mountain East Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Independent — Bluefield State College Salem University
Central	Great American Conference Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
East	Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference East Coast Conference Northeast-10 Conference
Midwest	Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Great Lakes Valley Conference Great Midwest Athletic Conference
South	Gulf South Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sunshine State Conference
South Central	Lone Star Conference Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Southeast	Conference Carolinas Peach Belt Conference South Atlantic Conference
West	California Collegiate Athletic Association Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pacific West Conference
Division II	Independents