Peach Belt Conference

Peach Belt Conference (PBC)

Established	1990
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	14 (13 in 2017)
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	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	Saint Augustine !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
Montevallo !University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	3,000	Falcons	2009
North Carolina-Pembroke !University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	5,827	Braves	1992
North Georgia !University of North Georgia	Dahlonega, Georgia	2013	15,072	Nighthawks	2005
South Carolina-Aiken !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

Montevallo — will join the Gulf South Conference in 2017.^[4]

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined	Sport	Primary Conference
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

Florida Tech, Nova Southeastern — track & field outdoor (M), track & field outdoor (W) will join the Sunshine State Conference in 2017.

Former members

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

Former affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Nickname	Joined	Left	Sport	Primary Conference
Alabama-Huntsville !University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	Chargers	2012	2016	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Gulf South
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Hawks	2012	2016	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Gulf South

Membership timeline

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

Sports

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

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

Men's sponsored sports by school

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

Women's sponsored sports by school

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

Other sponsored sports by school

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

^‡ — D-I sport

References

↑ "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
↑ http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/so-long-georgia-regents-hello-augusta-university/nnfgk/
↑ "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
↑ "Montevallo Falcons returning to Gulf South Conference". University of Montevallo. Retrieved June 15, 2016.

External links

Official website

Peach Belt Conference

Members	Armstrong State Pirates Augusta Jaguars Clayton State Lakers Columbus State Cougars Flagler Saints Francis Marion Patriots Georgia College Bobcats Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes Lander Bearcats Montevallo Falcons North Carolina–Pembroke Braves North Georgia Nighthawks South Carolina–Aiken Pacers Young Harris Mountain Lions

Affiliates	Florida Tech Panthers Nova Southeastern Sharks

NCAA Division II

Atlantic	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mountain East Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Independent — Bluefield State College

Central	Great American Conference Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

East	Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference East Coast Conference Northeast-10 Conference

Midwest	Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Great Lakes Valley Conference Great Midwest Athletic Conference Independent — Oakland City University Salem International University

South	Gulf South Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sunshine State Conference Independent — Auburn University at Montgomery

South Central	Heartland Conference Lone Star Conference Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Southeast	Conference Carolinas Peach Belt Conference South Atlantic Conference

West	California Collegiate Athletic Association Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pacific West Conference

Division II	Independents ECAC Division II Lacrosse League

NCAA	Conferences Institutions Baseball (Championship) Basketball (Men, Women) Cross Country (Men, Women) Field Hockey (Championship) Football (Championship) Golf (Men, Women) Lacrosse (Men, Women) Rowing (Championship) Soccer (Men, Women) Softball (Championship) Swimming & Diving (Men, Women) Tennis (Men, Women) Track & Field (Men's indoor and outdoor, Women's indoor and outdoor) Volleyball (Championship) Wrestling (Championship) Discontinued — Ice Hockey (Championship)

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