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

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

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 Green tickY
Basketball Green tickY Green tickY
Cross Country Green tickY Green tickY
Golf Green tickY Green tickY
Soccer Green tickY Green tickY
Softball Green tickY
Tennis Green tickY Green tickY
Track & Field Outdoor Green tickY Green tickY
Volleyball Green tickY

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 Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Augusta Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Clayton State Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Columbus State Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 6
Flagler Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 6
Francis Marion Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 6
Georgia College Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Georgia Southwestern State Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Lander Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Montevallo Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 6
UNC Pembroke Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
North Georgia Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
USC Aiken Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Young Harris Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 6
Totals 13 14 10 11 10 11 6 75
Future Members
Auburn–Montgomery Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick Green tick 5
Affiliate Members
Alabama–Huntsville Green tick 1
Florida Tech Green tick 1
Nova Southeastern Green tick 1
Shorter Green tick 1

Women's sponsored sports by school

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

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

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

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