Peach Belt Conference

The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level. The twelve member institutions are located in the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In addition, there are five affiliate members who participate in one sport each; where their home conference does not sponsor that sport.

Peach Belt Conference
PBC
Established	1990
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	12 (10 in 2021)
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

Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt has, across all sanctioned sports, produced 30 national champions and additional 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.

In April, 2020, Francis Marion University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced that they are leaving the Peach Belt Conference effective 2021-22, and will both join Conference Carolinas.[3]

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.[4]

Member schools

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined
Augusta University	Augusta, Georgia	1828	Public	9,000	Jaguars		1991
Clayton State University	Morrow, Georgia	1969	Public	7,145	Lakers		1995
Columbus State University	Columbus, Georgia	1958	Public	8,597	Cougars		1990
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	1968	Private (Nonsectarian)	2,046	Saints		2009
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970	Public	4,187	Patriots		1990
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville, Georgia	1889	Public	6,041	Bobcats		1990
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	1906	Public	3,033	Hurricanes		2006
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	Public	3,000	Bearcats		1990
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	Public	7,698	Braves		1992
University of North Georgia	Dahlonega, Georgia	1873	Public	18,782	Nighthawks		2005
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, South Carolina	1961	Public	3,280	Pacers		1990
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	Private (United Methodist)	1,120	Mountain Lions		2012

• Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke will depart the Peach Belt and become members of Conference Carolinas beginning in the 2021-2022 season.[5]

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined	Sport	Primary Conference
Albany State University	Albany, Georgia	1903	Public	6,371	Golden Rams		2019	Soccer (W)	SIAC
Claflin University	Orangeburg, South Carolina	1869	Private (United Methodist)	1,978	Panthers		2019	Baseball	CIAA
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University	Daytona Beach, Florida	1926	Private (Nonsectarian)	6,794	Eagles		2017	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Florida Institute of Technology	Melbourne, Florida	1958	Private (Nonsectarian)	8,985	Panthers		2014	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State
Nova Southeastern University	Davie, Florida	1964	Private (Nonsectarian)	33,135	Sharks		2012	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Sunshine State

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Armstrong State University	Savannah, Georgia	1935	Public	Pirates	1990	2017	Merged in 2017 with Georgia Southern University
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw, Georgia	1963	Public	Owls	1994	2005	ASUN (NCAA D-I)
University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	Falcons	2009	2017	Gulf South
University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	1969	Public	Ospreys	1997	2005	ASUN (NCAA D-I)
University of South Carolina Upstate	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1967	Public	Spartans	1990	2007	Big South (NCAA D-I)

Former affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Nickname	Joined	Left	Sport	Primary Conference
University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville, Alabama	1969	Public	Chargers	2012	2016	track & field outdoor (M); track & field outdoor (W)	Gulf South
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Private (Baptist)	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 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
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
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	Y		6
UNC Pembroke	Y	Y	Y				Y	4
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	11	12	9	9	8	10	5	64
Affiliate Members
Clafin	Y							1
Embry–Riddle							Y	1
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
Augusta	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	Y	6
Clayton State	Y	Y		Y			Y		4
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	Y		Y	7
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	5
Young Harris	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			6
Totals	12	12	6	11	11	10	6	8	76
Affiliate Members
Albany State				Y					1
Embry–Riddle							Y		1
Florida Tech							Y		1
Nova Southeastern							Y		1

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Men						Women					Co-ed
		Football	Golf	Lacrosse	Track & Field Indoor	Wrestling		Golf	Lacrosse	Swimming & Diving	Track & Field Indoor		Rifle[lower-alpha 1]
Augusta			MEAC[lower-alpha 2]					IND[lower-alpha 2]
Clayton State					IND						IND
Flagler					IND						IND
Francis Marion			IND[lower-alpha 2]
Lander				GLVC		IND			GSC
UNC Pembroke		IND[lower-alpha 3]			MEC	MEC				MEC	MEC
North Georgia													SoCon
Young Harris				GLVC					GSC

1. 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.
2. The NCAA sponsors Division II men's and women's golf championships, but Augusta (men and women) and Francis Marion (men only) compete as Division I members in that sport.
3. UNC Pembroke football will join the Mountain East Conference in 2020; its indoor track & field, women's swimming, and wrestling teams joined that conference in 2019.[6]

Championships

See also: Peach Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

References

1. "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents" (Press release). University System of Georgia. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
2. "So long, Georgia Regents. Hello, Augusta University".
3. "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
4. "Peach Belt Conference History". Peach Belt Conference. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
5. "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
6. "Davis & Elkins To Join MEC; UNC Pembroke To Be Associate Member" (Press release). Mountain East Conference. August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.

External links

• Official website