Collegiate Conference of the South

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Collegiate Conference of the South
AssociationNCAA
Founded2022
CommissionerBeth Vansant
Sports fielded
  • 14
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 7
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams9
RegionSouth
Official websitecollegiateconferenceofthesouth.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is an athletic conference which competes in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 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]

Member schools[edit]

Founding members[edit]

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[a] 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[a] Macon, Georgia 1836 United
Methodist
550 Wolves 2022 No
Notes
  1. ^ a b This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

Future members[edit]

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

Membership timeline[edit]

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 Conference

Sports[edit]

The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball Green tickY
Basketball Green tickY Green tickY
Cross Country Green tickY Green tickY
Golf Green tickY
Soccer Green tickY Green tickY
Softball Green tickY
Tennis Green tickY Green tickY
Track and field (outdoor) Green tickY Green tickY
Volleyball Green tickY

Conference facilities[edit]

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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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.

External links[edit]