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Appalachian Athletic Conference

NAIA college athletic conference


NAIA college athletic conference

FieldValue
nameAppalachian Athletic Conference
logoAppalachian Athletic Conference logo.gif
logo_size200
founded
associationNAIA
teams15
sports24
mens13
womens11
regionSoutheastern United States
headquartersAsheville, North Carolina
commissionerBill Popp
website
mapAppAC conference map.png
map_size250
colorblack; border:1px solid #008856
font_colorwhite

The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

History

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The conference is the successor to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), which began in the 1940s; and later the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) that operated during the 1980s and 1990s. The Appalachian Athletic Conference was formed in 2000 with the additions of members from Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Recent changes

Bluefield College was a member of the AAC from 2000 until 2012 when it left to join the Mid-South Conference. On March 3, 2014, Bluefield announced that it would return to the AAC in fall 2014.

In 2019 the conference added Kentucky Christian University as a full member and Savannah College of Art and Design as an associate member in men's and women's lacrosse.

Chronological timeline

  • 2000 – In 2000, the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) was founded from the remnants of the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC). Charter members included Alice Lloyd College, Bluefield College (now Bluefield University), King College (now King University), Milligan College (now Milligan University), Montreat College, Tennessee Wesleyan College (now Tennessee Wesleyan University), Virginia Intermont College and the University of Virginia–Wise (UVA Wise); as well as the additions of Bryan College, Brevard College, and Covenant College, beginning the 2000–01 academic year.
  • 2002 – Union College (now Union Commonwealth University) joined the AAC in the 2002–03 academic year.
  • 2005 – Alice Lloyd left the AAC to rejoin the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC; now the River States Conference) after the 2004–05 academic year.
  • 2006 – Brevard left the AAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-II Independent (to later join the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), beginning the 2008–09 school year) after the 2005–06 academic year.
  • 2009 – Two institutions left the AAC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2008–09 academic year:
    • Covenant to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an NCAA D-III Independent (to later join the Great South Athletic Conference (GSAC), beginning the 2010–11 school year)
    • King (Tenn.) to become an NAIA Independent (to later join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent during the 2010–11 school year; and then subsequently join the Conference Carolinas (CC), beginning the 2011–12 school year)
  • 2009 – Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) joined the AAC in the 2009–10 academic year.
  • 2010 – UVa Wise left the AAC to join the Mid-South Conference (MSC) after the 2009–10 academic year.
  • 2011 – Columbia College and Atlanta Christian College (now Point University) joined the AAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
  • 2012 – Bluefield left the AAC to join the Mid-South after the 2011–12 academic year.
  • 2012 – St. Andrews University (formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College) and the Savannah College of Art and Design at Atlanta joined the AAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
  • 2013 – Truett McConnell University joined the AAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
  • 2014 – Virginia Intermont left the AAC when the school ceased operations after the 2013–14 academic year.
  • 2014 – Bluefield rejoined the AAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
  • 2015 – Asbury University and the University of the Cumberlands joined the AAC as affiliate members for men's and women's lacrosse in the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
  • 2016 – West Virginia University Institute of Technology (West Virginia Tech or WVU Tech) joined the AAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming in the 2016–17 academic year.
  • 2016 – Allen University joined the AAC in the 2016–17 academic year.
  • 2017
    • Brenau University joined the AAC in the 2017–18 academic year.
    • Two institutions joined the AAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2017–18 academic year:
      • Georgetown College for women's lacrosse
      • and West Virginia Tech for men's wrestling
  • 2018
    • Cumberlands (Ky.) and Georgetown (Ky.) left the AAC as affiliate members for women's lacrosse to compete in their primary home conference in the Mid-South (where they began sponsoring that sport) after the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
    • Columbia International University joined the AAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
  • 2019
    • Asbury left the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse as the school announced to discontinue the sport during mid-season within the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year).
    • Kentucky Christian University joined the AAC in the 2019–20 academic year.
    • Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah joined the AAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's lacrosse in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2020
    • Allen left the AAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and to rejoin the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) after the 2019–20 academic year.
    • Webber International University joined the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse in the 2021 spring season (2020–21 academic year).
  • 2021
    • Asbury left the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse, men's and women's swimming after the 2020–21 academic year.
    • The Tennessee campus of Johnson University joined the AAC in the 2021–22 academic year.
    • Keiser University joined the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
  • 2022
    • Eight institutions joined the AAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2022–23 academic year:
      • Brewton-Parker College, Keiser, St. Thomas University and Southeastern University for men's wrestling
      • Georgetown (Ky.) returned for women's lacrosse
      • Life University for men's volleyball and men's wrestling
      • and Warner University and Webber International for men's volleyball
    • The AAC began to sponsor football, with core members Bluefield, Kentucky Christian, Point, Reinhardt, St. Andrews (N.C.), and Union (Ky.) in the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
  • 2023
    • Point left the AAC to join the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) after the 2023–24 academic year; while their football team still remains in the AAC as an affiliate member.
    • The University of Pikeville joined the AAC in the 2023–24 academic year.
  • 2025
    • Kentucky Christian left the AAC to join the River States Conference (RSC) after the 2024–25 academic year; while their football team still remains in the AAC as an affiliate member.
    • St. Andrews left the AAC as the school announced its closure after the 2024–25 academic year.
    • Spartanburg Methodist College joined the AAC as a full member, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.
    • The University of Rio Grande joined the AAC as an affiliate member for football in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The AAC currently has 15 full members, all private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedBasketball?
Bluefield UniversityBluefield, Virginia1922Baptist989Rams2000;
2014both
Brenau UniversityGainesville, Georgia1878Nonsectarian2,420Golden Tigers2017women's
Bryan CollegeDayton, Tennessee1930Nondenominational1,548Lions2000both
Columbia CollegeColumbia, South Carolina1854United Methodist1,572Koalas2011both
Columbia International UniversityColumbia, South Carolina1923Christian2,631Rams2018both
Johnson UniversityKimberlin Heights and
Knoxville, Tennessee1893Christian950Royals2021both
Milligan UniversityElizabethton, Tennessee1866Restoration
Movement1,200Buffaloes2000both
Montreat CollegeMontreat, North Carolina1916Presbyterian
(PCUSA)932Cavaliers2000both
Pikeville, Kentucky1889Presbyterian
(PCUSA)2,610Bears2023both
Reinhardt UniversityWaleska, Georgia1883United Methodist1,170Eagles2009both
Savannah College of Art and Design at AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia2005Non-profit art school2,000Bees2012none
Spartanburg, South Carolina1911United Methodist1,220Pioneers2025both
nowrapTennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, Tennessee1857United Methodist1,074Bulldogs2000both
Truett McConnell UniversityCleveland, Georgia1946Baptist2,714Bears2013both
Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourville, Kentucky1879United Methodist1,129Bulldogs2002both

;Notes:

Future member

The AAC will have one future full member for the 2025–26 school year:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoiningCurrent
conference

--

;Notes:

Affiliate members

The AAC currently has 15 affiliate members. Thirteen are fully private, one is public, and one operates public and private schools within a single entity.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedAAC
sportPrimary
conference
Brewton–Parker CollegeMount Vernon, Georgia1904Baptist1,123Barons2022Southern States (SSAC)
2024
Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem, North Carolina1945Nondenominational893Bruins2024Continental
Georgetown CollegeGeorgetown, Kentucky1829Baptist1,463Tigers2017
2022Mid-South (MSC)
Keiser UniversityWest Palm Beach, Florida1977Nonsectarian19,861Seahawks2021The Sun
20224
Kentucky Christian UniversityGrayson, Kentucky1919Christian541Knights2025FootballRiver States (RSC)
Life UniversityMarietta, Georgia1974Nonsectarian2,711Running Eagles2022Southern States (SSAC)
Point UniversityWest Point, Georgia1937Christian2,827Skyhawks2023FootballSouthern States (SSAC)
Rio Grande, Ohio1876Hybrid2,168RedStorm2025FootballRiver States (RSC)
Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, Georgia1978Non-profit art school17,575Bees2019The Sun
Miami Gardens, Florida1961Catholic
(Archdiocese of Miami)6,455Bobcats2022The Sun
2024
Southeastern UniversityLakeland, Florida1935Assemblies of God10,400Fire2022The Sun
Talladega CollegeTalladega, Alabama1867United Church of Christ837Tornadoes2024HBCU (HBCUAC)
Williamsburg, Kentucky1887Nondenominational20,327Patriots2015Mid-South (MSC)
Warner UniversityLake Wales, Florida1968Church of God891Royals2022The Sun
Webber International UniversityBabson Park, Florida1927Nonsectarian930Warriors2020The Sun
2022
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckley, West Virginia1895Public1,448Golden Bears2016River States (RSC)
2017

;Notes:

Future affiliate members

The AAC has one future affiliate member, which operates public and private institutions within a single entity.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoiningAAC
sportPrimary
conference

--

Former members

The AAC had eight former full members, all but one were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftSubsequent
conference(s)Current
conference
Alice Lloyd CollegePippa Passes, Kentucky1925Nondenominational553Eagles20002005River States (RSC)
(2005–present)
Allen UniversityColumbia, South Carolina1870A.M.E. Church677Yellow Jackets20162020Southern (SIAC)
(2020–present)
Brevard CollegeBrevard, North Carolina1853United Methodist787Tornados20002006D-II Independent
(2006–07)
South Atlantic (SAC)
(2007–17)USA South
(2017–present)
Covenant CollegeLookout Mountain, Georgia1955Presbyterian
(PCA)928Scots20002009variousC.C. of the South (CCS)
(2022–present)
Kentucky Christian UniversityGrayson, Kentucky1919Christian541Knights20192025River States (RSC)
King CollegeBristol, Tennessee1867Presbyterian
(Evangelical
Presbyterian/
PCUSA)1,295Tornados20002009NAIA Independent
(2009–10)
D-II Independent
(2010–11)Carolinas (CC)
(2011–present)
Point UniversityWest Point, Georgia1937Christian2,827Skyhawks20112023Southern States (SSAC)
(2023–present)
Laurinburg, North Carolina1958Presbyterian
(PCUSA)N/AKnights20122025Closed in 2025
Virginia Intermont CollegeBristol, Virginia1884BaptistN/ACobras20002014Closed in 2014
Wise, Virginia1954Public1,911nowrapHighland
Cavaliers20002010variousSouth Atlantic (SAC)
(2019–present)

;Notes:

Former affiliate members

The AAC had two former affiliate members, both were private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftAAC
sport(s)Primary
conference
Asbury UniversityWilmore, Kentucky1890Christian1,942Eagles20152019C.C. of the South (CCS)
2021
2016
Williamsburg, Kentucky1887Nondenominational20,327Patriots20152018Mid-South (MSC)

;Notes:

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:2000 till:2030 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5

Colors = id:line value:black id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

PlotData = width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2005 text:Alice Lloyd (2000–2005) bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:River States

bar:2 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2012 text:Bluefield (2000–2012) bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2014 text:Mid-South bar:2 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2022 text:(2014–present) bar:2 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

bar:3 color:FullxF from:2000 till:end text:Bryan (2000–present)

bar:4 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2006 text:Brevard (2000–2006) bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:end text:D-II Ind. bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2008 till:2017 text:South Atlantic bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2017 till:end text:USA South

bar:5 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2009 text:Covenant (2000–2009) bar:5 shift:(-20) color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:2010 text:D-III Ind. bar:5 color:OtherC2 from:2010 till:2012 text:Great South bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2013 text:D-III Ind. bar:5 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2022 text:USA South bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:C.C. of the South

bar:6 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2009 text:King (Tenn.) (2000–2009) bar:6 shift:(-20) color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:2010 text:NAIA Ind. bar:6 color:OtherC2 from:2010 till:2011 text:D-II Ind. bar:6 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:7 color:FullxF from:2000 till:end text:Milligan (2000–present)

bar:8 color:FullxF from:2000 till:end text:Montreat (2000–present)

bar:9 color:FullxF from:2000 till:end text:Tennessee Wesleyan (2000–present)

bar:10 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2014 text:Virginia Intermont (2000–2014)

bar:11 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2010 text:UVa Wise (2000–2010) bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2010 till:2012 text:Mid-South bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2013 text:G-MAC bar:11 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2019 text:Mountain East bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2019 till:end text:South Atlantic

bar:12 color:FullxF from:2002 till:2022 text:Union (Ky.)/Union Commonwealth (2002–present) bar:12 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

bar:13 color:FullxF from:2009 till:2022 text:Reinhardt (2009–present) bar:13 color:Full from:2022 till:end text:

bar:14 color:FullxF from:2011 till:end text:Columbia (S.C.) (2011–present)

bar:15 color:FullxF from:2011 till:2022 text:Point (2011–2023) bar:15 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 text: bar:15 color:AssocF from:2023 till:end text:SSAC (AAC fb.-only, 2023–present)

bar:16 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2022 text:St. Andrews (2012–2025) bar:16 color:Full from:2022 till:2025 text:

bar:17 color:FullxF from:2012 till:end text:Savannah A&D–Atlanta (2012–present)

bar:18 color:FullxF from:2013 till:end text:Truett–McConnell (2013–present)

bar:19 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2021 text:Asbury (m. lacrosse, 2015–2019; w. lacrosse, m./w. swimming, 2015–2021)

bar:20 color:AssocOS from:2015 till:end text:Cumberlands (Ky.) (m. lacrosse, 2015–present; w. lacrosse, 2015–2018)

bar:21 color:FullxF from:2016 till:2020 text:Allen (2016–2020) bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:SIAC

bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2016 till:end text:West Virginia Tech (m./w. swimming, 2016–present; m. wrestling, 2017–present)

bar:23 color:FullxF from:2017 till:end text:Brenau (2017–present)

bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:2018 text:Georgetown (Ky.) (w. lacrosse, 2017–2018; 2022–present) bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:

bar:25 color:FullxF from:2018 till:end text:Columbia International (2018–present)

bar:26 color:FullxF from:2019 till:2022 text:Kentucky Christian (2019–2025) bar:26 color:Full from:2022 till:2025 text: bar:26 color:AssocF from:2025 till:end text:RSC (AAC fb.-only, 2025–present)

bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:end text:Savannah A&D–Savannah (m./w. lacrosse, 2019–present)

bar:28 shift:(-100) color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:Webber International (m. lacrosse, 2020–present; m. volleyball, 2022–present)

bar:29 color:FullxF from:2021 till:end text:Johnson–Tennessee (2021–present)

bar:30 shift:(-70) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:Keiser (m. lacrosse, 2021–present; m. wrestling, 2022–present)

bar:31 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Brewton–Parker (m. wrestling, 2022–present)

bar:32 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Life (m. volleyball, m. wrestling, 2022–present)

bar:33 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:St. Thomas (Fla.) (m. wrestling, 2022–present)

bar:34 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Southeastern (Fla.) (m. wrestling, 2022–present)

bar:35 shift:(-30) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:end text:Warner (m. volleyball, 2022–present)

bar:36 color:Full from:2023 till:end text:Pikeville (2023–present)

bar:37 shift:(-30) color:FullxF from:2025 till:end text:Spartanburg Methodist (2025–future)

bar:38 shift:(-30) color:AssocF from:2025 till:end text:Rio Grande (football, 2025–future)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:2000

TextData = fontsize:M textcolor:black pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Appalachian Athletic Conference membership history"

  1. If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.

Conference sports

The Appalachian Athletic Conference currently fields 24 sports (13 men's and 11 women's):

SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Basketball
Cross country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track & field outdoor
Track & field indoor
Volleyball
Wrestling

Notes

References

References

  1. "Bill Popp". Appalachian Athletic Conference.
  2. "NAIA Conference Profile: Appalachian Athletic Conference". [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
  3. "Bluefield College returns to Appalachian Athletic Conference". [[Bluefield Daily Telegraph]].
  4. "AAC OFFICIALLY WELCOMES KCU TO LEAGUE, BECOMES LARGEST CONFERENCE IN NAIA".
  5. [https://www.aacsports.com/general/2021-22/releases/20210917fqr17i AAC Welcome 5 New Affiliates, Adds Men's Volleyball as Championship Sport for 2022-23 - Appalachian Athletic Conference Athletics]
  6. [https://aac.prestosports.com/sports/mvball/2024-25/releases/20240716h6un8o?fbclid=IwY2xjawHuH7NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdiQ08FaKT_BtQA_9Ud9unjoHWGBWpIS22eETcItUysXpjtEoRdQaclCnw_aem_d1x4n5swW9ISF9o5vvohcw AAC Adds 4 Affiliates for Men's Volleyball - Appalachian Athletic Conference]
  7. [https://cubruins.com/news/2024/7/19/mens-volleyball-joins-appalachian-athletic-conference.aspx Men's Volleyball Joins Appalachian Athletic Conference - Carolina University Athletics]
  8. [https://fire.seu.edu/news/2021/10/4/fire-wrestling-to-move-to-appalachian-athletic-conference.aspx Fire Wrestling to Move to Appalachian Athletic Conference - Southeastern University Athletics]
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