Appalachian Athletic Conference

For the North Carolina high school association formerly known as the Appalachian Athletic Conference, see Western North Carolina Athletic Conference.
Appalachian Athletic Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded2000 (2000)
CommissionerBill Popp[1]
Sports fielded
  • 24
    • men's: 13
    • women's: 11
No. of teams15
HeadquartersAsheville, North Carolina
RegionSoutheastern United States
Official websiteaacsports.com
Locations

The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[2] Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.[2]

History

Appalachian Athletic Conference
120km
75miles
Spartanburg Methodist
Bryan
Pikeville
Johnson
Columbia International
Brenau
Truett McConnell
SCAD Atlanta
Columbia (SC)
Reinhardt
Union Commonwealth
Bluefield
TWU
Montreat
Milligan
Location of AAC members: current

The conference is the successor to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), which began in the 1940s;[2] and later the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) that operated during the 1980s and 1990s.[2] The Appalachian Athletic Conference was formed in 2000 with the additions of members from Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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 Bryan College, Brevard College, Covenant College, King College (now King University), Milligan College (now Milligan University), Tennessee Wesleyan College (now Tennessee Wesleyan University), Virginia Intermont College and the University of Virginia–Wise (UVA Wise); as well as the additions of Alice Lloyd College, Bluefield College (now Bluefield University) and Montreat 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:
  • 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:
  • 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
  • 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:
    • 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
  • 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 are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Basketball?
Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Baptist 989 Rams 2000;
2014[b] 		both
Brenau University[c] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Nonsectarian 2,420 Golden Tigers 2017 women's
Bryan College Dayton, Tennessee 1930 Nondenominational 1,548 Lions 2000 both
Columbia College[d] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,572 Koalas 2011 both[e]
Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina 1923 Christian 2,631 Rams 2018 both
Johnson University Kimberlin Heights and
Knoxville, Tennessee 		1893 Christian 950 Royals 2021 both
Milligan University Elizabethton, Tennessee 1866 Restoration
Movement 		1,200 Buffaloes 2000 both
Montreat College Montreat, North Carolina 1916 Presbyterian
(PCUSA) 		932 Cavaliers 2000 both
University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA) 		2,610 Bears 2023 both
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883 United Methodist 1,170 Eagles 2009 both
Savannah College of Art and Design at Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 2005 Non-profit art school 2,000 Bees 2012 none
Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg, South Carolina 1911 United Methodist 1,029 Pioneers 2025 both
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee 1857 United Methodist 1,074 Bulldogs 2000 both
Truett McConnell University Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Baptist 2,714 Bears 2013 both
Union Commonwealth University[f] Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United Methodist 1,129 Bulldogs 2002 both
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Bluefield left the AAC after the 2011–12 school year to join the Mid-South Conference; before rejoining the AAC in the 2014–15 school year.
  3. ^ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  4. ^ This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports (Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21).
  5. ^ The Columbia (S.C.)'s men's basketball teams joined the AAC 13 years after becoming a full member for other sports (2024–25).
  6. ^ Formerly known as Union College until 2024.
Notes

Affiliate members

The AAC currently has 15 affiliate members, all but one are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] AAC
sport 		Primary
conference
Brewton–Parker College[5][6] Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Baptist 1,123 Barons 2022 Men's wrestling Southern States (SSAC)
2024 Men's volleyball
Carolina University[6][7] Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1945 Nondenominational 893 Bruins 2024 Men's volleyball Continental
Georgetown College[b] Georgetown, Kentucky 1829 Baptist 1,463 Tigers 2017
2022 		Women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Keiser University[5] West Palm Beach, Florida 1977 Nonsectarian 19,861 Seahawks 2021 Men's lacrosse The Sun
2022 Men's wrestling4
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 2025[c] Football River States (RSC)
Life University[5] Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,711 Running Eagles 2022 Men's volleyball Southern States (SSAC)
Men's wrestling
Point University West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 2,827 Skyhawks 2023[d] Football Southern States (SSAC)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Hybrid[e] 2,168 RedStorm 2025 Football River States (RSC)
Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, Georgia 1978 Non-profit art school 17,575 Bees 2019 Men's lacrosse The Sun
Women's lacrosse
St. Thomas University[5][6] Miami Gardens, Florida 1961 Catholic
(Archdiocese of Miami) 		6,455 Bobcats 2022 Men's wrestling The Sun
2024 Men's volleyball
Southeastern University[5][8] Lakeland, Florida 1935 Assemblies of God 10,400 Fire 2022 Men's wrestling The Sun
Talladega College[6] Talladega, Alabama 1867 United Church of Christ 837 Tornadoes 2024 Men's volleyball HBCU (HBCUAC)
University of the Cumberlands[f] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 20,327 Patriots 2015 Men's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Warner University[5] Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 891 Royals 2022 Men's volleyball The Sun
Webber International University[5] Babson Park, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 930 Warriors 2020 Men's lacrosse The Sun
2022 Men's volleyball
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia 1895 Public 1,448 Golden Bears 2016 Men's swimming River States (RSC)
Women's swimming
2017 Men's wrestling
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Georgetown (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse during the 2018 spring season (2017–18), then rejoined since the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
  3. ^ Kentucky Christian was a full member of the AAC from 2019–20 to 2024–25.
  4. ^ Point was a full member of the AAC from 2011–12 to 2022–23.
  5. ^ Rio Grande consists of a public community college and a private, nonsectarian four-year university. The community college component is part of the University System of Ohio.
  6. ^ Cumberlands (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse from 2015–16 to 2017–18.

Former members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] Subsequent
conference(s) 		Current
conference
Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, Kentucky 1925 Nondenominational 553 Eagles 2000 2005 River States (RSC)
(2005–present)
Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 A.M.E. Church 677 Yellow Jackets 2016 2020 Southern (SIAC)[c]
(2020–present)
Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina 1853 United Methodist 787 Tornados 2000 2006 D-II Independent
(2006–07)
South Atlantic (SAC)[c]
(2007–17) 		USA South[d]
(2017–present)
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian
(PCA) 		928 Scots 2000 2009 various[e] C.C. of the South (CCS)[d]
(2022–present)
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 541 Knights 2019 2025 River States (RSC)
King University[f] Bristol, Tennessee 1867 Presbyterian
(Evangelical
Presbyterian/
PCUSA) 		1,295 Tornados 2000 2009 NAIA Independent
(2009–10)
D-II Independent
(2010–11) 		Carolinas (CC)[c]
(2011–present)
Point University[g] West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 2,827 Skyhawks 2011 2023 Southern States (SSAC)
(2023–present)
St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1958 Presbyterian
(PCUSA) 		N/A Knights 2012 2025 Closed in 2025
Virginia Intermont College Bristol, Virginia 1884 Baptist N/A Cobras 2000 2014 Closed in 2014
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 1,911 Highland
Cavaliers[h] 		2000 2010 various[j] South Atlantic (SAC)[c]
(2019–present)
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. ^ a b c d Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  5. ^ Covenant had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-III Independent during the 2009–10 and 2012–13 school years; the Great South Athletic Conference[d] (GSAC) from 2010–11 to 2011–12; and the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South)[d] from 2013–14 to 2021–22.
  6. ^ Currently known as King University since 2013.
  7. ^ Point remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for football.
  8. ^ UVA Wise dropped "Highland" from its athletic nickname in 2017.
  9. ^ a b UVA Wise left the Mid-South after the 2012–13 school year. Originally it joined the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) as a charter member for most sports as a transitional NCAA Division II member school during the 2012–13 school year, but was fulfilling its commitments to the final year of competition in the Mid-South and in the NAIA. However it never began competition as a full G-MAC member, as it would later announce that it would join the Mountain East Conference (MEC), beginning the 2013–14 school year.
  10. ^ UVA Wise had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Mid-South Conference (MSC)[i] from 2010–11 to 2012–13; the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)[c][i] during the 2012–13 school year; and the Mountain East Conference[c] (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19.

Former affiliate members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] AAC
sport(s) 		Primary
conference
Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,942 Eagles 2015 2019 Men's lacrosse C.C. of the South (CCS)
2021 Women's lacrosse
2016 Men's swimming & diving
Women's swimming & diving
University of the Cumberlands[c] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 20,327 Patriots 2015 2018 Women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. ^ Cumberlands (KY) remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Membership timeline

 Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport) 

Conference sports

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

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball Y
Basketball Y Y
Cross country Y Y
Football Y
Golf Y Y
Lacrosse Y Y
Soccer Y Y
Softball Y
Swimming Y Y
Tennis Y Y
Track & field outdoor Y Y
Track & field indoor Y Y
Volleyball Y Y
Wrestling Y

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Bill Popp". aacsports.com. Appalachian Athletic Conference. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "NAIA Conference Profile: Appalachian Athletic Conference" (PDF). NAIA. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  3. ^ "Bluefield College returns to Appalachian Athletic Conference". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "AAC OFFICIALLY WELCOMES KCU TO LEAGUE, BECOMES LARGEST CONFERENCE IN NAIA". Appalachian Athletic Conference. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g AAC Welcome 5 New Affiliates, Adds Men's Volleyball as Championship Sport for 2022-23 - Appalachian Athletic Conference Athletics
  6. ^ a b c d AAC Adds 4 Affiliates for Men's Volleyball - Appalachian Athletic Conference
  7. ^ Men's Volleyball Joins Appalachian Athletic Conference - Carolina University Athletics
  8. ^ Fire Wrestling to Move to Appalachian Athletic Conference - Southeastern University Athletics
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