Association | NCAA |
---|---|
Founded | 2022 |
Commissioner | Beth Vansant |
Sports fielded |
|
Division | Division III |
No. of teams | 9 |
Region | South |
Official website | collegiateconferenceofthesouth.com |
Locations | |
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]
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]
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.
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Football? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agnes Scott College [lower-alpha 1] | Decatur, Georgia | 1889 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) | 914 | Scotties | 2022 | No |
Belhaven University | Jackson, Mississippi | 1883 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) | 3,245 | Blazers | 2022 | Yes |
Berea College | Berea, Kentucky | 1855 | Christian (unaffiliated) | 1,613 | Mountaineers | 2022 | No |
Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, Georgia | 1955 | Presbyterian (PCA) | 1,282 | Scots & Lady Scots | 2022 | No |
Huntingdon College | Montgomery, Alabama | 1854 | United Methodist | 900 | Hawks | 2022 | Yes |
LaGrange College | LaGrange, Georgia | 1831 | United Methodist | 1,137 | Panthers | 2022 | Yes |
Maryville College | Maryville, Tennessee | 1819 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) | 1,103 | Scots | 2022 | Yes |
Piedmont University | Demorest, Georgia | 1897 | United Church of Christ & Congregationalist | 2,640 | Lions | 2022 | No |
Wesleyan College [lower-alpha 1] | Macon, Georgia | 1836 | United Methodist | 550 | Wolves | 2022 | No |
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.
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asbury University | Wilmore, Kentucky | 1890 | Christian (unaffiliated) | 1,054 | Eagles | 2024 [4] | Independent |
The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:
Sport | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Cross Country | ||
Golf | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Tennis | ||
Track and field (outdoor) | ||
Volleyball |
Future member Asbury in gray; departing member Berea in pink. All CCS members with football teams play that sport in the USA South.
School | Football | Basketball | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stadium | Capacity | Arena | Capacity | |
Agnes Scott | Non-football school | — | Woodruff Athletic Complex | — |
Asbury | Non-football school | — | Luce Center Gym | 1,500 |
Belhaven | Belhaven Bowl | 1,200 | Charles R. Rugg Arena | 500 |
Berea | Non-football school | — | Seabury Center Arena | 2,000 |
Covenant | Non-football school | — | Barnes Physical Education Center | 650 |
Huntingdon | Charles Lee Field at Samford Stadium | 2,500 | Catherine Dixon Roland Arena | 976 |
LaGrange | Callaway Stadium | 5,000 | Mariotti Gymnasium | 500 |
Maryville | Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium | 3,000 | Boydson-Baird Gymnasium | 2,000 |
Piedmont | Non-football school | — | Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Cave Arena [5] | 1,500 |
Wesleyan | Non-football school | — | Porter Gymnasium | 586 |
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