Peach Belt Conference

Peach Belt Conference
Association	NCAA
Founded	1990
Commissioner	David Brunk (since 2007)
Sports fielded	18 men's: 9; women's: 9; ;
Division	Division II
No. of teams	10 (11 for 2025)
Headquarters	Augusta, Georgia
Region	Southeastern United States
Official website	peachbeltconference.org
Locations

The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. The 10 member institutions are located in the South Atlantic states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In addition, seven affiliate members participate in one sport each; namely sports not sponsored by their home conferences.

Since its inception came in the 1990–91 school year, the Peach Belt has, across all sanctioned sports, produced 30 national champions and an additional 27 national finalists. Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men's and women's basketball, the conference has expanded to 18 championship sports with the addition of men's lacrosse in the summer of 2020 and men's and women's indoor track and field in 2023.

History

Peach Belt Conference

150km
100miles

Augusta

Middle Georgia State

USC Beaufort

USC Aiken

North Georgia

Lander

Georgia Southwestern State

Georgia College

Flagler

Columbus State

Clayton State

Location of Peach Belt Conference members:

full,

future

The conference traces its roots 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 (later 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 as the eighth member 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 breaking 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.

The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing its first of many national championships. The Columbus State men's 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 won three straight national titles from 2004 to 2006 while AASU women's tennis 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, replacing 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.

In April 2020, Francis Marion University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced that they would leave the Peach Belt Conference starting in 2021–22, both joining Conference Carolinas.^[3]

On April 14, 2021, the conference invited the NAIA's University of South Carolina Beaufort to join in 2022–23 after applying for membership in Division II and gaining acceptance into the NCAA.^[4] By July 14, 2022, USCB was accepted into the NAIA's Continental Athletic Conference for its first year of provisional membership while still playing a Peach Belt schedule as part of the Sand Sharks' dual NAIA-NCAA membership. USCB is ineligible for a Peach Belt or NCAA postseason during the three-year transition.^[5]

The conference currently holds championships in 16 sports, eight for men and eight for women. The championship sports 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, men's and women's track & field, and men's and women's golf.^[6] Men's lacrosse was added on July 10, 2020, with its first season was in spring 2021, and men's and women's indoor track and field was added on August 11, 2023.^[7]^[8]

Chronological timeline

1989 - On December 3, 1989, the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) was founded as the Peach Belt Athletic Conference (PBAC). Charter members included Armstrong State College (later Armstrong Atlantic University before merging with Georgia Southern University), Columbus College (now Columbus State University), Francis Marion College (now Francis Marion University), Georgia College (now Georgia College & State University), Lander College (now Lander University), the University of South Carolina at Aiken (USC Aiken) and the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg (USC Spartanburg, now the University of South Carolina Upstate or USC Upstate) beginning the 1990-91 academic year.
1991 - Augusta College (later Augusta State University, now Augusta University) joined the PBAC in the 1991-92 academic year.
1992 - The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNC Pembroke) joined the PBAC in the 1992-93 academic year.
1994 - Kennesaw State University joined the PBAC in the 1994-95 academic year.
1995 - Clayton State University joined the PBAC in the 1995-96 academic year.
1997 - The University of North Florida joined the PBAC in the 1997-98 academic year.
2000 - The PBAC renamed by shortening its name to the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) in the 2000-01 academic year.
2005 - Kennesaw State and North Florida left the PBC to join the Division I ranks National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) after the 2004-05 academic year.
2005 - North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia) joined the PBC in the 2005-06 academic year.
2006 - Georgia Southwestern State University joined the PBC in the 2006-07 academic year.
2007 - USC Upstate left the PBC to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big South Conference after the 2006-07 academic year.
2009 - Flagler College and the University of Montevallo joined the PBC in the 2009-10 academic year.
2012 - Young Harris College joined the PBC in the 2012-13 academic year.
2012 - The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Nova Southeastern University and Shorter University joined the PBC as affiliate members for men's & women's outdoor track & field in the 2013 spring season (2012-13 academic year).
2014 - The Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's & women's outdoor track & field in the 2015 spring season (2014-15 academic year).
2021 - Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter left the PBC as affiliate members for men's & women's outdoor track & field after the 2016 spring season (2015-16 academic year).
2017 - Two members left the PBC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Armstrong State announced that it would discontinue its athletic program and would be merged into Georgia Southern University, and Montevallo rejoined the Gulf South Conference, both after the 2016-17 academic year.
2017 - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's & women's outdoor track & field in the 2018 spring season (2017-18 academic year).
2019 - Two institutions joined the PBC as affiliate members: Albany State University for women's soccer, and Claflin University for baseball, both in the 2019-20 academic year.
2021
- Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke left the PBC to join the Conference Carolinas after the 2020-21 academic year.
- Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter rejoined the PBC as affiliate members for men's lacrosse (with former full member Montevallo also rejoining that sport) in the 2022 spring season (2021-22 academic year).
2022 - The University of South Carolina at Beaufort (USC Beaufort) joined the PBC beginning with the 2022-23 academic year.
2023 - Central State University joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's and women's indoor track and field in the 2024 spring season (2023-24 academic year).
2024
- The Sunshine State Conference, primary home of PBC track affiliates Embry–Riddle and Nova Southeastern, announced it would start sponsoring men's and women's outdoor track & field in 2024–25, and accordingly, both schools moved their respective programs to the SSC. Embry–Riddle will remain a PBC affiliate in men's and women's indoor track.^[9]
- Shorter moved to Conference Carolinas for all sports after the 2023–2024 academic year, including its PBC affiliated sport of men's lacrosse.
2025 - Middle Georgia State University will join the PBC in the 2025–26 academic year.^[10]

Member schools

Current members

The PBC currently has 10 full members, with all but one being public schools. Reclassifying members listed in yellow.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined
Augusta University	Augusta, Georgia	1828	Public	9,158	Jaguars	1991
Clayton State University	Morrow, Georgia	1969	Public	5,847	Lakers	1995
Columbus State University	Columbus, Georgia	1958	Public	7,500	Cougars	1990
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	1968	Nonsectarian	2,623	Saints	2009
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville, Georgia	1889	Public	6,315	Bobcats	1990
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	1906	Public	3,157	Hurricanes	2006
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	Public	4,170	Bearcats	1990
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega, Georgia	1873	Public	18,046	Nighthawks	2005
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, South Carolina	1961	Public	3,840	Pacers	1990
University of South Carolina Beaufort	Bluffton, South Carolina	1959	Public	2,124	Sand Sharks	2022

Notes

Future member

The PBC will have one new full member, also a public school.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	Colors	Primary conference
Middle Georgia State University	Cochran, Georgia^[a]	2013	Public	7,688	Knights	2025		Southern States (SSAC)^[b]

Notes

^ Middle Georgia State's main campus is in Macon, where the women's cross-country and volleyball teams and men's and women's tennis teams are housed; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the Cochran campus.
^ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

Affiliate members

The PBC currently has six affiliate members, two being private schools and four being public.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	PBC sport(s)	Primary conference
University of Alabama in Huntsville^[a]	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	Public	9,636	Chargers	2021–22	Men's lacrosse	Gulf South (GSC)
Albany State University	Albany, Georgia	1903	Public	5,700	Golden Rams	2019–20	Women's soccer	Southern (SIAC)
Central State University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1887	Public	5,434	Marauders	2023–24	Men's indoor track & field	Southern (SIAC)
Central State University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1887	Public	5,434	Marauders	2023–24	Women's indoor track & field	Southern (SIAC)
Claflin University	Orangeburg, South Carolina	1869	United Methodist	1,866	Panthers	2019–20	Baseball	Central (CIAA)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	Nonsectarian	7,603	Eagles	2023–24	Men's indoor track & field	Sunshine State (SSC)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	Nonsectarian	7,603	Eagles	2023–24	Women's indoor track & field	Sunshine State (SSC)
University of Montevallo^[b]	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	2,625	Falcons	2021–22	Men's lacrosse	Gulf South (GSC)

Notes

^ Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter were affiliates of the Peach Belt for men's and women's outdoor track & field from the 2013 to 2016 spring seasons (2012–13 to 2015–16 school years).
^ Montevallo was a full member of the Peach Belt from 2009–10 to 2016–17.

Former members

The PBC has eight former full members, all but one are public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
Armstrong State University	Savannah, Georgia	1935	Public	N/A	Pirates & Lady Pirates	1990	2017	N/A^[a]
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970		3,923	Patriots	1990	2021	Carolinas (CC)
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw, Georgia	1963		42,983	Owls	1994	2005	Conference USA (CUSA)^[b]
University of Montevallo^[c]	Montevallo, Alabama	1896		2,625	Falcons	2009	2017	Gulf South (GSC)
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887		8,318	Braves	1992	2021	Carolinas (CC)
University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	1969		16,594	Ospreys	1997	2005	Atlantic Sun (ASUN)^[b]
University of South Carolina Upstate	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1967		5,405	Spartans	1990	2007	Big South^[b]
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	United Methodist	1,408	Mountain Lions	2012	2023	Carolinas (CC)

Notes

^ Armstrong State was merged into Georgia Southern University since 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
^ Montevallo remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Former affiliate members

The PBC has five former affiliate members, one was a public school, while four were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	PBC sport(s)	Primary conference
University of Alabama in Huntsville^[a]	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	Public	9,636	Chargers	2012–13	2015–16	men's outdoor track & field; women's outdoor track & field	Gulf South (GSC)
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	Nonsectarian	7,603	Eagles	2017–18	2024–25		Sunshine State (SSC)
Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne, Florida	1958	Nonsectarian	7,855	Panthers	2014–15	2017–18
Nova Southeastern University	Davie, Florida	1964	Nonsectarian	20,898	Sharks	2012–13	2024–25
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Baptist	1,482	Hawks	2012–13	2015–16		Carolinas (CC)
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Baptist	1,482	Hawks	2021–22	2024–25	men's lacrosse	Carolinas (CC)

Notes

^ Alabama–Huntsville remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Membership timeline

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

Sports

A divisional format was used for basketball (M / W) until 2020–21.
East Augusta Flagler Francis Marion Lander UNC Pembroke USC Aiken	West Clayton State Columbus State Georgia College Georgia Southwestern State North Georgia Young Harris

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

Men's sponsored sports by school

Departing members/teams in pink.

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Tennis	Track & field indoor	Track & field outdoor	Total PBC sports
Augusta	Y	Y	Y				Y		Y	5
Clayton State		Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	Y	6
Columbus State	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y		Y	6
Flagler	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		8
Georgia College	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y			5
Georgia Southwestern State	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y				6
Lander	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		8
North Georgia	Y	Y		Y		Y	Y			5
USC Aiken	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y				5
USC Beaufort	Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	6
Totals	9+1	10	9	9	2+2	6	6	4+2	4	55+4
Affiliate members
Alabama–Huntsville					Y					1
Clafin	Y									1
Central State								Y		1
Embry–Riddle								Y		1
Montevallo					Y					1

Notes

Women's sponsored sports by school

Departing members/teams in pink.

School	Basketball	Cross country	Golf	Soccer	Softball	Tennis	Track & field indoor	Track & field outdoor	Volleyball	Total PBC sports
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		7
Flagler	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	8
Georgia College	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			Y	6
Georgia Southwestern State	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y				5
Lander	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	8
North Georgia	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y		7
USC Aiken	Y	Y		Y	Y				Y	5
USC Beaufort	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y		7
Totals	10	10	5	9+1	9	7	4+2	5	5	60+3
Affiliate members
Albany State				Y						1
Central State							Y			1
Embry–Riddle							Y			1

Notes

Other sponsored sports by school

School	Men		Women		Co-ed
School	Golf	Wrestling	Golf	Lacrosse	Rifle^[a]
Augusta	Southland^[b]		Southland^[b]
Flagler				GSC
Lander		CC		GSC
North Georgia					SoCon

Notes

^ The NCAA holds a single rifle championship event open to schools in all three divisions. Rifle schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same rules, including scholarship limits.
^ ^a ^b The NCAA sponsors Division II men's and women's golf championships, but the Augusta men's and women's golf teams compete as Division I members.

Championships

References

^ "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
^ "Another New Name". Inside Higher Ed. September 16, 2015.
^ "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
^ "Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member". University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^ "USC Beaufort Approved for NCAA DII Membership". USCB Athletics (Press release). July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
^ "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
^ "Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse as Championship Sport" (Press release). July 10, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
^ "Peach Belt Conference Announces Addition of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships" (Press release). August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
^ "Sunshine State Conference Adds Beach Volleyball and Outdoor Track" (Press release). Sunshine State Conference. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
^ "Peach Belt Extends Invitation To Middle Georgia State University For Conference Membership" (Press release). Peach Belt Conference. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

External links

Official website

[11] Middle Georgia State's main campus is in Macon, where the women's cross-country and volleyball teams and men's and women's tennis teams are housed; the other intercollegiate athletics teams compete on the Cochran campus.

[12] Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

[track-13] Alabama–Huntsville and Shorter were affiliates of the Peach Belt for men's and women's outdoor track & field from the 2013 to 2016 spring seasons (2012–13 to 2015–16 school years).

[14] Montevallo was a full member of the Peach Belt from 2009–10 to 2016–17.

[15] Armstrong State was merged into Georgia Southern University since 2017.

[D1-16] Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

[17] Montevallo remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

[18] Alabama–Huntsville remains in the Peach Belt as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

[19] The NCAA holds a single rifle championship event open to schools in all three divisions. Rifle schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same rules, including scholarship limits.

[D-I_golf-20] The NCAA sponsors Division II men's and women's golf championships, but the Augusta men's and women's golf teams compete as Division I members.

[1] "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved January 8, 2013.

[2] "Another New Name". Inside Higher Ed. September 16, 2015.

[3] "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 17, 2020.

[4] "Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member". University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.

[5] "USC Beaufort Approved for NCAA DII Membership". USCB Athletics (Press release). July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.

[6] "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved May 6, 2012.

[7] "Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse as Championship Sport" (Press release). July 10, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.

[8] "Peach Belt Conference Announces Addition of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships" (Press release). August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

[9] "Sunshine State Conference Adds Beach Volleyball and Outdoor Track" (Press release). Sunshine State Conference. December 13, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2024.

[10] "Peach Belt Extends Invitation To Middle Georgia State University For Conference Membership" (Press release). Peach Belt Conference. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

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v t e Peach Belt Conference
Members	Augusta Jaguars Clayton State Lakers Columbus State Cougars Flagler Saints Georgia College Bobcats Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes Lander Bearcats Middle Georgia State Knights (joining in 2025) North Georgia Nighthawks USC Aiken Pacers USC Beaufort Sand Sharks
Affiliates	Alabama–Huntsville Chargers Albany State Golden Rams Central State Marauders Claflin Panthers Embry–Riddle Eagles Montevallo Falcons

v t e NCAA Division II all-sports conferences
Atlantic	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mountain East Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Independent — Salem University
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
South	Gulf South Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sunshine State Conference
South Central	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