Southern States Athletic Conference
NAIA athletic conference in the US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 12 member universities that compete in 20 sports are located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Basketball teams compete as a single division in the NAIA.
FormerlyGeorgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004)
AssociationNAIA
Founded1999
CommissionerMike Hall
| |
| Formerly | Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference (1999–2004) |
|---|---|
| Association | NAIA |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Commissioner | Mike Hall |
| Sports fielded |
|
| No. of teams | 12 (15 in 2026; 17 in 2027) |
| Headquarters | Montgomery, Alabama |
| Region | Southeastern United States |
| Official website | ssacsports.com |
| Locations | |
 | |
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 (now Brewton–Parker Christian University), 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 left the SSAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 2024–25 academic year.
- 2026 – Andrew College, Wesleyan College, and Xavier University of Louisiana will join the SSAC, beginning the 2026–27 academic year.
- 2027 – Georgia Southern University–East Georgia Campus and the United States Sports University (U.S.S.U.) will join the SSAC, beginning the 2027–28 academic year.
Member schools
Current members
The SSAC currently has 12 full members, all but three being private schools.
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Part of the University System of Georgia.
- Part of the University of Tennessee System.
- UT Southern initially joined the SSAC in the 2013–14 school year under its old name Martin Methodist College, before leaving after the 2019–20 school year, and then rejoining under its current name before the 2023–24 school year.
Future members
The SSAC will have three future members, all private schools.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining[a] | Basketball? | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew College | Cuthbert, Georgia | 1854 | United Methodist |
496 | Fighting Tigers | 2026 | both | Georgia (GCAA)[b] |
| Georgia Southern University–East Georgia | Swainsboro, Georgia | 1973[c] | Public | 1,826 | Golden Eagles | 2027 | both | Georgia (GCAA)[d][b] |
| United States Sports University | Daphne, Alabama | 1972 | Nonsectarian | 367 | Eagles | 2027 | none | USCAA Independent |
| Wesleyan College[e] | Macon, Georgia | 1839 | United Methodist |
614 | Wolves | 2026 | women's | C.C. South (CCS)[f] |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1925 | Catholic (S.B.S.)[g] |
3,181 | Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets |
2026[h] | both | Red River (RRAC) |
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- GSU–East Georgia was originally founded as East Georgia State College, which both began offering degrees in 1973. East Georgia State was consolidated into Georgia Southern as its East Georgia campus in 2026.
- As East Georgia State College.
- This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not field men's sports.
- Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
- Xavier was previously a SSAC affiliate member for cheer and men's & women's tennis for the 2020–21 athletic season.
Affiliate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | SSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, Florida | 1879 | American Baptist[b] |
1,365 | Lions | 2022 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
Former members
The SSAC had 21 former full members, all but six were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year of SSAC membership:
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
- Bethel was already a Mid-South Conference affiliate in archery and football. Bethel returned to the MSC in track and field, and transferred all other sports to that conference as a full member.
- This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
- Part of the University System of Georgia.
- This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports [Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21].
- Currently known as Emmanuel University since 2023.
- Florida College had sponsored women's basketball until after the 2020–21 school year.
- North Georgia State consolidated with Gainesville State College in 2013 to form the current University of North Georgia.
- Since the 2013 merger, North Georgia has competed as the North Georgia Nighthawks.
- Currently known as Reinhardt University since 2010.
- Southern Poly had consolidated with Kennesaw State University in 2014.
Former affiliate members
The SSAC had nine former affiliate members, all were private schools.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | SSAC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillard University | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1869 | United Methodist & U.C.C.[c] |
1,122 | 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 | U.C.C.[c] | 1,005 | Bulldogs | 2021 | 2022 | women's tennis | HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Florida National University | Hialeah, Florida | 1988 | For-profit | 2,638 | Conquistadors | 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2023m.ten. 2023w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
Continental |
| Keiser University | West Palm Beach, Florida | 1977 | Nonsectarian | 20,102 | Seahawks | 2023 | 2024 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
| Point University | West Point, Georgia | 1937 | Christian | 2,827 | Skyhawks | 2017 | 2023 | competitive cheer | Southern States (SSAC) |
| Rust College | Holly Springs, Mississippi | 1866 | United Methodist[c] |
429 | Bearcats | 2021m.ten. 2021w.ten. |
2022m.ten. 2022w.ten. |
men's tennis women's tennis |
HBCU (HBCUAC) |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo, Mississippi | 1869 | U.C.C. & Disciples of Christ[c] |
725 | 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 | 891 | Royals | 2020 | 2021 | competitive cheer | The Sun (TSC) |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1925 | Catholic (S.B.S.)[c] |
3,181 | 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
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
Membership timeline
Full member (non-football)
Sports
The SSAC holds championships in the following 20 sports:
| A divisional format is used for men's and women's basketball. | |
East
|
West
|
| Sport | Men's | Women's | Mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  | ||
| Basketball | | | |
| Bowling | | | |
| Competitive Cheer | | ||
| Cross Country | | | |
| Golf | | | |
| Soccer | | | |
| Softball | | ||
| Tennis | | | |
| Track & Field Indoor | | | |
| Track & Field Outdoor | | | |
| Volleyball | |
