Collegiate Conference of the South

Last updated
Collegiate Conference of the South
Collegiate Conference of the South.jpg
Association NCAA
Founded2022
CommissionerBeth Vansant
Sports fielded
  • 14
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 7
Division Division III
No. of teams9
Region South
Official website collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com
Locations
CCoS-USA-states.png

The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Member schools are located in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. [1]

Contents

The conference was established after a decision was made to split the 19-member USA South Athletic Conference into two smaller, geographically oriented leagues. While competitive play began immediately during the 2022–23 school year, the CCS will not be eligible for automatic NCAA Division III tournament bids until 2024. [2] The conference sponsors 14 championship sports. Football, women's golf, and men's and women's lacrosse teams sponsored by CCS members continue to compete in the USA South as associate members. [3]

Member schools

Founding members

The CCS began with nine full members, all private and faith-based schools, with only Berea not being tied to one or more specific Christian denominations.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedFootball?
Agnes Scott College [lower-alpha 1] Decatur, Georgia 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
914 Scotties 2022No
Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi 1883 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
3,245 Blazers 2022Yes
Berea College Berea, Kentucky 1855Christian
(unaffiliated)
1,613 Mountaineers 2022No
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian
(PCA)
1,282 Scots &
Lady Scots
2022No
Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama 1854 United
Methodist
900 Hawks 2022Yes
LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia 1831United
Methodist
1,137 Panthers 2022Yes
Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee 1819 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
1,103 Scots 2022Yes
Piedmont University Demorest, Georgia 1897 United Church of Christ &
Congregationalist
2,640 Lions 2022No
Wesleyan College [lower-alpha 1] Macon, Georgia 1836United
Methodist
550 Wolves 2022No
Notes
  1. 1 2 This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

Future members

The CCS has one future full member, which like departing member Berea is a Christian institution that is not currently affiliated with one or more specific denominations.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoiningCurrent
conference
Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890Christian
(unaffiliated)
1,054 Eagles 2024 [4] Independent

Membership timeline

Asbury EaglesNCAA Division III independent schoolsRiver States ConferenceWesleyan WolvesUSA South Athletic ConferencePiedmont LionsUSA South Athletic ConferenceMaryville ScotsUSA South Athletic ConferenceLaGrange PanthersUSA South Athletic ConferenceHuntingdon HawksUSA South Athletic ConferenceCovenant Scots and Lady ScotsUSA South Athletic ConferenceHeartland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceBerea MountaineersUSA South Athletic ConferenceBelhaven BlazersAmerican Southwest ConferenceAgnes Scott ScottiesUSA South Athletic ConferenceCollegiate Conference of the South

Sports

The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Green check.svg
Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Golf Green check.svg
Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Softball Green check.svg
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track and field (outdoor) Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svg

Conference facilities

Future member Asbury in gray; departing member Berea in pink. All CCS members with football teams play that sport in the USA South.

SchoolFootballBasketball
StadiumCapacityArenaCapacity
Agnes ScottNon-football schoolWoodruff Athletic Complex
AsburyNon-football schoolLuce Center Gym1,500
BelhavenBelhaven Bowl1,200Charles R. Rugg Arena500
BereaNon-football schoolSeabury Center Arena2,000
CovenantNon-football schoolBarnes Physical Education Center650
HuntingdonCharles Lee Field at Samford Stadium2,500Catherine Dixon Roland Arena976
LaGrangeCallaway Stadium5,000Mariotti Gymnasium500
Maryville Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium 3,000Boydson-Baird Gymnasium2,000
PiedmontNon-football schoolJohnny Mize Athletic Center and Cave Arena [5] 1,500
WesleyanNon-football schoolPorter Gymnasium586

See also

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References

  1. "USA South Announces Conference Restructuring". USA South Athletic Conference. February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. Coleman, Pat; McHugh, Dave (February 16, 2022). "USA South Athletic Conference to split in two". D3Sports. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  3. "Collegiate Conference of the South approved by the NCAA, following USA South separation". Agnes Scott Scotties. February 18, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  4. TeamAU (October 6, 2023). "Asbury Joins Division III Collegiate Conference of the South". Asbury Eagles. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  5. "Johnny Mize Athletic Center with Video". Piedmont Lions. Piedmont College. Retrieved April 9, 2022.