Peach Belt Conference

Peach Belt Conference (PBC)
Established	1990
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	14 (15 in 2016)
Sports fielded	15 (men's: 7; 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. Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt has developed a consistent history of excellence which continues to this day with 30 national championships and 27 national finalists. Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men's and women's basketball, the conference has expanded to 13 championship sports with the addition of women's golf in the fall of 2009.

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.

The conference currently holds championships in 13 sports, six for men and seven 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 and men's and women's golf.^[3]

Member schools

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined
Armstrong State University	Savannah, Georgia	1935	6,728	Pirates		1990
Augusta University	Augusta, Georgia	2013	6,000	Jaguars		1991
Clayton State University	Morrow, Georgia	1969	7,145	Lakers		1995
Columbus State University	Columbus, Georgia	1958	8,597	Cougars		1990
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	1968	2,046	Saints		2009
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970	4,008	Patriots		1990
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville, Georgia	1889	6,041	Bobcats		1990
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	1906	3,033	Hurricanes		2006
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	3,000	Bearcats		1990
University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	3,000	Falcons		2009
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	5,827	Braves		1992
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega, Georgia	2013	15,072	Nighthawks		2005
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, South Carolina	1961	3,280	Pacers		1990
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	1,120	Mountain Lions		2012

Future members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joins
Auburn University at Montgomery	Montgomery, Alabama	1967	5,079	Warhawks		2016

• Reclassifying member in yellow.

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined	Sport	Primary Conference
University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	7,100	Chargers		2012	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Gulf South
Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne, Florida	1958	8,985	Panthers		2014	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Nova Southeastern University	Davie, Florida	1964	33,135	Sharks		2012	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	3,500	Hawks		2012	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Gulf South

• Alabama–Huntsville — track & field outdoor (M) and track & field outdoor (W) will join the Gulf South Conference in 2016.^[4]
• Shorter — track & field outdoor (M) and track & field outdoor (W) will join the Gulf South Conference in 2016.

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw, Georgia	1963	Owls	1994	2005	Atlantic Sun (NCAA D-I)
University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	1969	Ospreys	1997	2005	Atlantic Sun (NCAA D-I)
University of South Carolina Upstate	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1967	Spartans	1990	2007	Atlantic Sun (NCAA D-I)

Membership timeline

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

Sports

Conference sports Sport Men's Women's Baseball Basketball Cross Country Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field Outdoor Volleyball

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

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Soccer	Tennis	Track & Field Outdoor	Total PBC Sports
Armstrong State								5
Augusta								5
Clayton State								5
Columbus State								6
Flagler								6
Francis Marion								6
Georgia College								5
Georgia Southwestern State								5
Lander								5
Montevallo								6
UNC Pembroke								5
North Georgia								5
USC Aiken								5
Young Harris								6
Totals	13	14	10	11	10	11	6	75
Future Members
Auburn–Montgomery								5
Affiliate Members
Alabama–Huntsville								1
Florida Tech								1
Nova Southeastern								1
Shorter								1

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Soccer	Softball	Tennis	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball	Total PBC Sports
Armstrong State									7
Augusta									6
Clayton State									5
Columbus State									8
Flagler									7
Francis Marion									6
Georgia College									6
Georgia Southwestern State									5
Lander									7
Montevallo									8
UNC Pembroke									7
North Georgia									6
USC Aiken									6
Young Harris									6
Totals	14	14	8	12	13	13	6	10	90
Future Members
Auburn–Montgomery									6
Affiliate Members
Alabama–Huntsville									1
Florida Tech									1
Nova Southeastern									1
Shorter									1

• Lander — Golf (W) ends play in 2016.^[5]
• North Georgia — Track & Field Outdoor (W) begins play in 2016.^[6]

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Men						Women						Co-ed
		Football	Golf ^‡	Lacrosse	Track & Field Indoor	Wrestling		Golf ^‡	Lacrosse	Soccer ^‡	Swimming & Diving	Track & Field Indoor		Rifle ^‡
Augusta			MEAC					IND
Clayton State					IND							IND
Flagler					IND							IND
Francis Marion			IND							IND
Montevallo									GSC
UNC Pembroke		IND			IND	ECAC					IND	IND
North Georgia														SoCon
Young Harris				IND					GSC

• ^‡ — D-I sport

References

1. "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
2. http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/so-long-georgia-regents-hello-augusta-university/nnfgk/
3. "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
4. "GSC Adds Men's and Women's Track & Field". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
5. "LU to add women's cross country beginning in 2016-17". Lander University Athletics. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
6. "UNG To Add Women's Track & Field to Sport Offerings". University of North Georgia Athletics. Retrieved April 12, 2016.

External links

• Official website