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Conference Carolinas
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 | |
| Formerly | North State Conference (1930–1961) Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1961–1995) Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (1995–2007) |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Commissioner | Chris Colvin |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division II |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Headquarters | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Region | North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia |
| Official website | conferencecarolinas |
| Locations | |
 | |
Conference Carolinas, formerly known as the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) or the Carolinas Conference, is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) primarily at the Division II level. It is also considered as one of the seven Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Conference Carolinas membership currently consists of 15 small colleges or universities, 13 private and two public.
History
[edit]
Conference Carolinas dates to its inception on December 6, 1930. The conference was formed then as an athletic association "for the greater advantage of the small colleges in North Carolina". The official name given back then was the North State Intercollegiate Conference but known informally as the Old North State Conference. The birthplace was the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, and the seven charter members were Appalachian, Atlantic Christian (now Barton College), Catawba, Guilford, Elon, High Point, and Lenoir–Rhyne.
The conference followed a policy of expansion for a period of time. Western Carolina became a member in 1933, East Carolina in 1947, Pfeiffer in 1960, Newberry in 1961, and Presbyterian in 1964, followed closely by Mars Hill.
With the acceptance of the first member from South Carolina in Newberry College, a name change became necessary. Thus on May 20, 1961 the official name of the conference was changed to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) but commonly known less formally as the Carolinas Conference.
East Carolina resigned in 1962 to join the Southern Conference and Appalachian and Western Carolina followed. Football sponsorship in the Carolinas Conference was dropped in 1975 when Lenoir–Rhyne, Newberry, Presbyterian, and Mars Hill joined the South Atlantic Conference.
Pembroke State University, now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, became a first-time member in 1976 followed by Wingate College in 1979, and Lenoir–Rhyne re-joined in 1984.
While Guilford College withdrew in 1988, St. Andrews and Mount Olive were added that same year.
The 1989–90 academic year started a new era as Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate all withdrew to compete in the first year that the South Atlantic Conference provided championships in all sports, not just football.
The Carolinas Conference then added Belmont Abbey in 1989, Coker College (now Coker University) in 1991, and Lees-McRae in 1993. Pembroke State left in 1992.
The 1993–94 academic year brought a change to the conference national affiliation. The conference began the process of transferring membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after years as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member. During the transition, it was a dual member of the NCAA's Division II and the NAIA's Division I.
The 1995–96 year brought dramatic change to the conference. First, full membership into NCAA Division II was acquired and NAIA affiliation dropped. Thus, this was the first official year of full competition and championship play for the conference in NCAA D-II status. Secondly, this was also the same year that Erskine, Longwood, and Queens were accepted as full members of the conference. With Longwood becoming the first Virginia member, another name change occurred and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (known more universally as the 'CVAC') was born.
Following the 1997 academic year High Point resigned to join the NCAA D-I ranks while in 1998 Limestone soon joined and were quickly followed by Anderson in 1999.
In 2003, Longwood University left the conference to explore possibilities in NCAA Division I. Then in 2005 the CVAC added Converse College (becoming Converse University in July 2021) as an affiliate member before becoming a full member starting in the 2007–08 season.
With the lone Virginia school in Longwood leaving, the league decided to go back to its roots and change its name to Conference Carolinas June 1, 2007.
On June 1, 2011, King College and North Greenville University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Tennessee member in King.
In 2014–15, Emmanuel College (Georgia) and Southern Wesleyan University became official members of the conference (under provisional status) and opened the conference to its first Georgia member in Emmanuel. Southern Wesleyan began official full NCAA D-II membership in 2016–17 while Emmanuel started in 2018–19.
After 57 years as a league member Pfeiffer University moved down to the NCAA D-III ranks on June 1, 2017.
Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference entered into a partnership in the 2018–19 school year by which the two leagues would operate as a single conference in field hockey and wrestling, with championships immediately conducted in both sports. The leagues agreed that CC would coordinate the wrestling championship, while the SAC would fill the same role for field hockey. Accordingly, all CC field hockey programs became de facto affiliates of the SAC, while SAC wrestling programs became de facto CC affiliates.[1] The CC–SAC alliance is officially branded as "South Atlantic Conference Carolinas".[2]
After the completion of the 2018–19 athletic year, former Commissioner Alan Patterson retired and was replaced by Chris Colvin. One of the first moves made by Colvin was to move the league headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina to be more centrally located to all member institutions.
The league now has 13 members, with the most recent changes taking place in 2021. Francis Marion University joined for the first time, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke returned after an absence of nearly 30 years.[3] They were the first public schools to join CC since Longwood's 2003 departure. The most recent departure from CC was that of Limestone College (now Limestone University), which moved to the SAC in 2020.[4]
Many institutions have been members of the league during its rich history including Anderson, Appalachian, Barton (formerly Atlantic Christian), Belmont Abbey, Catawba, Coker, Converse, East Carolina, Erskine, Emmanuel, Francis Marion, Guilford, Elon, High Point, King, Lees-McRae, Lenoir–Rhyne, Limestone, Longwood, Mars Hill, Mount Olive, Newberry, North Greenville, Pfeiffer, Presbyterian, Queens, St. Andrews, UNC Pembroke (both as Pembroke State and under its current name), Western Carolina and Wingate.
Barton is the only remaining charter member followed in longevity by Mount Olive's joining in 1988.
For the 2020–21 school year, CC added acrobatics and tumbling, newly added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in that same school year, as its newest sport. Initially, five full members and one associate were to start competition,[5] but two more associates were added before competition began.[6]
The arrival of Francis Marion and return of UNC Pembroke were not the only changes to the conference membership in 2021. Converse admitted men to its residential undergraduate program for the first time, and also added men's sports. Converse initially planned to field seven teams,[7] but did not field the initially announced men's volleyball team.[8] Also in 2021–22, current SAC member Lincoln Memorial University added men's wrestling;[2] Emory & Henry College, which sponsors that sport, started a transition from Division III to Division II, joining the SAC (although it did not start full SAC competition until 2022–23);[9] and Mars Hill University became an associate member in acrobatics & tumbling.[10] Emory & Henry and Lincoln Memorial became de facto CC affiliates as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.
Also for the 2021–22 season, CC announced a partnership with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to conduct joint men's and women's bowling championship events (even though men's bowling is not considered a varsity sport by the NCAA). Each conference organizes its regular season independently, but the postseason is called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships. CC also announced Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum as new affiliate members for bowling.[11][12]
In December 2021, CC and the SAC jointly announced that they would extend their existing partnership to include two women's sports, triathlon and wrestling, with triathlon competition starting in 2022–23 and wrestling in 2023–24. At the same time, both conferences agreed that after the 2021–22 school year, the SAC would become the only one of the two conferences to sponsor field hockey. The joint men's wrestling league continued to operate through the 2022–23 season. Initial plans were for both conferences to establish their own men's wrestling leagues,[13] but this changed in 2023, when the two conferences agreed that only CC would sponsor men's wrestling from 2023–24.[14]
On June 24, 2022, CC added Wingate as an acrobatics and tumbling affiliate starting with that program's first season in 2023–24.[15]
On January 26, 2023, CC announced the addition of Shorter University as its 15th member for 2024–25 school year. The addition of Shorter gave the Conference Carolinas its sixth football sponsoring institution, and accordingly that same day, it was also announced that the Conference Carolinas would begin sponsoring football in 2025. Sponsoring members would include Shorter and North Greenville, whose programs played in the Gulf South Conference, Barton and Erskine, affiliates of the South Atlantic Conference, UNC Pembroke, affiliate of the Mountain East Conference, and Chowan, up until 2022 was an affiliate of the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association. It was also announced that Chowan will begin affiliation with the Gulf South Conference for the 2023 and 2024 seasons and that Shorter will compete as a D-II football independent for the 2024 season, with Erskine switching affiliations from the SAC to the GSC that season only to take their place, in order to accommodate programs until league play can begin.[16][17] On April 5, 2024, Ferrum College was announced as the conference's 16th member, as well as its seventh football program for CC's inaugural football season.[18]
CC announced the addition of women's flag football on July 2, 2024, with the first season to take place in 2025–26. Six schools were announced as the league's inaugural members—Chowan, Emmanuel, incoming member Ferrum, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive.[19] Before the end of 2024, two more full CC members, Barton[20] and Erskine,[21] announced they would also add the sport in 2025–26. Then, on April 2, 2025, three affiliates were announced as joining CC flag football for its inaugural season—Mars Hill and Wingate, already CC affiliates in acrobatics & tumbling, plus Division I member Mount St. Mary's.[22]
Chronological timeline
[edit]- 1930 – Conference Carolinas was founded as the North State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIAC). Charter members included Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), Catawba College, Elon College (now Elon University), Guilford College, High Point College (now High Point University) and Lenoir–Rhyne College (now Lenoir–Rhyne University) beginning the 1930–31 academic year.
- 1933 – Western Carolina Teachers College (now Western Carolina University) joined the NSIAC in the 1933–34 academic year.
- 1947 – East Carolina Teachers College (now East Carolina University) joined the NSIAC in the 1947–48 academic year.
- 1961 – The NSIAC was rebranded as the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) in the 1961–62 academic year.
- 1961 – Pfeiffer College (now Pfeiffer University) and Newberry College joined the CIAC in the 1961–62 academic year.
- 1962 – East Carolina left the CIAC to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1961–62 academic year.
- 1965 – Presbyterian College joined the CIAC in the 1965–66 academic year.
- 1968 – Appalachian State left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1967–68 academic year.
- 1969 – Western Carolina left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1968–69 academic year.
- 1972 – Newberry and Presbyterian left the CIAC to become NAIA Independents after the 1971–72 academic year.
- 1972 – Mars Hill College (now Mars Hill University) joined the CIAC in the 1972–73 academic year.
- 1975 – Lenoir–Rhyne left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1974–75 academic year.
- 1976 – Mars Hill left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1975–76 academic year.
- 1976 – Pembroke State University (now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke) joined the CIAC in the 1976–77 academic year.
- 1979 – Wingate College (now Wingate University) joined the CIAC in the 1979–80 academic year.
- 1984 – Lenoir–Rhyne rejoined the CIAC in the 1984–85 academic year.
- 1988 – Guilford left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) after the 1987–88 academic year.
- 1988 – Mount Olive College (now the University of Mount Olive) and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now St. Andrews University) joined the CIAC in the 1988–89 academic year.
- 1989 – Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate left the CIAC to form part of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) after the 1988–89 academic year.
- 1989 – Belmont Abbey College joined the CIAC in the 1989–90 academic year.
- 1991 – Coker College (now Coker University) joined the CIAC in the 1991–92 academic year.
- 1992 – Pembroke State (now UNC Pembroke) left the CIAC to join the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) after the 1991–92 academic year.
- 1993 – The CIAC was granted affiliate membership status within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), while still having membership within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the 1993–94 academic year.
- 1993 – Lees–McRae College joined the CIAC in the 1993–94 academic year.
- 1995 – The CIAC had achieved full membership status within the NCAA Division II ranks, hence leaving the NAIA in the process, beginning the 1995–96 academic year.
- 1995 – The CIAC was rebranded as the Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) in the 1995–96 academic year.
- 1995 – Erskine College, Longwood College (now Longwood University) and Queens College of Charlotte (now Queens University of Charlotte) joined the CVAC in the 1995–96 academic year.
- 1997 – High Point left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent (who would later join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Big South Conference beginning the 1999–2000 school year) after the 1996–97 academic year.
- 1998 – Limestone College (now Limestone University) and Anderson College of South Carolina (now Anderson University of South Carolina) joined the CVAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
- 2003 – Longwood left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2002–03 academic year.
- 2005 – Converse College (now Converse University) joined the CVAC as an affiliate member for women’s cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball in the 2005–06 academic year.
- 2007 – The CVAC was rebranded as the Conference Carolinas (CC) in the 2007–08 academic year.
- 2007 – Converse had upgraded to join the CVAC (now the CC) for all sports as a provisional member in the 2007–08 academic year.
- 2008 – Converse began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and the CC in the 2008–09 academic year.
- 2010 – Anderson (S.C.) left the CC to join the SAC after the 2009–10 academic year.
- 2011 – King College of Tennessee (now King University) and North Greenville University joined the CC in the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2012 – St. Andrews left the CC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) after the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2013 – Coker and Queens (N.C.) left the CC to join the SAC after the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2014 – Emmanuel College (now Emmanuel University) and Southern Wesleyan University joined the CC as provisional members in the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2016 – Southern Wesleyan began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and the CC in the 2016–17 academic year.
- 2016 – Chowan University joined the CC as an affiliate member for women's golf, and men's & women's lacrosse in the 2017 spring season (2016–17 academic year).[23]
- 2017 – Pfeiffer left CC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) after the 2016–17 academic year.
- 2017 – Chowan added men's & women's soccer into its CC affiliate membership in the 2017 fall season (2017–18 academic year).[23]
- 2018 – Emmanuel (Ga.) began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and the CC in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2018 – Coker, Newberry and Queens (N.C.) rejoined the CC as affiliate members for field hockey and men's wrestling in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2019:
- Chowan had upgraded to join the CC for all sports in the 2019–20 academic year.
- Salem University joined the CC as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming & diving in the 2019–20 academic year.
- 2020:
- Limestone left the CC to join the SAC after the 2019–20 academic year; while it would remain in the conference as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling, field hockey and men's wrestling in the 2020–21 school year.
- Two other institutions joined the CC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
- Lander University (with Coker rejoining) for acrobatics and tumbling
- 2021:
- The CC added what it calls "Developmental Championships" for its members in 2021–22. The conference claims to be the first in the NCAA to sponsor sub-varsity championships.[24] According to CC, developmental teams consist of individuals who competed either sparingly or not at all at the varsity level in the season of the championship.[25] The first such championships were held in baseball, men's basketball, and men's & women's soccer.[26]
- Francis Marion University joined and UNC Pembroke (formerly Pembroke State) rejoined the CC in the 2021–22 academic year.
- Converse added men's sports into its athletic program, also effective beginning the 2021–22 academic year.
- Four institutions joined the CC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
- Emory & Henry College (now Emory and Henry University) for men's wrestling, although it would later begin competition in the following school year
- Lincoln Memorial University for men's wrestling and men's & women's bowling
- Mars Hill rejoined for acrobatics and tumbling
- and Tusculum University for men's & women's bowling
- 2022:
- Three institutions left the CC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
- Limestone for field hockey
- Lincoln Memorial for men's bowling
- and Queens started a transition to Division I as a new member of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), thus departing from its affiliate memberships in field hockey and men's wrestling.
- Women's basketball was intended to be added to the CC developmental championships roster for 2022–23,[25] but no competition was held in that season.
- Three institutions left the CC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
- 2023:
- Two institutions left the CC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2022–23 academic year:
- Salem for men's and women's swimming & diving
- and Tusculum for men's and women's bowling
- Young Harris College joined the CC in the 2023–24 academic year.
- Wingate University joined the CC as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling in the 2023–24 academic year:
- The CC and the SAC dissolved their men's wrestling partnership after the 2022–23 season, agreeing that only the CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24. Accordingly, the five full SAC members that sponsor the sport (Coker, Emory & Henry, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, and Newberry) would officially become CC affiliates. Three new associates joined for that sport—Allen University, Bluefield State University, and the University of Montevallo.[14]
- Developmental championships in women's basketball, men's volleyball, and men's wrestling were added for 2023–24. The women's basketball championship was delayed from its originally announced 2022–23 schedule.[27]
- Two institutions left the CC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2022–23 academic year:
- 2024:
- Lincoln Memorial left CC as an affiliate member for women's bowling after the 2023–24 academic year.
- Shorter University joined CC in the 2024–25 academic year.
- CC added women's wrestling as a sponsored sport in collaboration with the SAC. Five new associates joined for that sport—Allen, Bluefield State, Emory and Henry, Lincoln Memorial and Newberry.
- CC announced the addition of women's flag football as a sponsored sport, effective in 2025–26. Initially, then-current members Chowan, Emmanuel, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive, plus incoming member Ferrum, would form the new league. Before the end of the year, two more full members, Barton and Erskine, announced they would add flag football and play in the new CC league in its first season.
- 2025:
- Ferrum College joined CC beginning the 2025–26 academic year.
- CC began sponsoring football again after 50 years, with sponsoring members Barton, Chowan, Erskine, Ferrum, North Greenville, Shorter and UNC Pembroke.
- CC also added women's flag football as a sponsored sport, with sponsoring full members Barton, Chowan, Emmanuel, Erskine, Ferrum, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive. Mars Hill and Wingate added flag football to their CC membership, and Mount St. Mary's also became an affiliate for that sport.
- Limestone left the CC as an affiliate member for acrobatics & tumbling and men's wrestling at the end of the 2024–25 academic year; as the institution announced that it would cease operations.
Member schools
[edit]Current members
[edit]The CC currently has 16 full members; all but two are private schools. Reclassifying members listed in yellow.
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Chowan competed in the CC as an affiliate member for women's golf, and men's & women's lacrosse in the 2017 spring season (2016–17 school year). Later it added men's & women's soccer to its CC affiliate membership in the 2017 fall season (2017–18 school year). Their final season as an affiliate within the CC occurred during the 2018–19 school year.
- ^ Converse, traditionally a women's college, did not field men's sports until 2021–22, when it opened its residential undergraduate program to men for the first time. Converse is initially fielding six men's teams.
- ^ Converse competed in the CC as an affiliate member for its women's sports (cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball) from 2005–06 to 2006–07; before upgrading to join as a women's sports-based provisional member in the 2007–08 school year; before the school later began full NCAA D-II and CC competition for all sponsored sports in 2008–09.
- ^ Emmanuel (Ga.) joined the CC as a provisional member in the 2014–15 school year; before the school later began full NCAA D-II and CC competition for all sponsored sports in 2018–19.
- ^ Southern Wesleyan joined the CC as a provisional member in the 2014–15 school year; before the school later began full NCAA D-II and CC competition for all sponsored sports in 2016–17.
- ^ Part of the University of North Carolina System.
- ^ UNC Pembroke had been a full conference member of the CC (then known as the CIAC) from 1976–77 to 1991–92 under its previous name of Pembroke State University.
Affiliate members
[edit]The CC currently has 12 affiliate members, with all but three being private schools, and two being historically African-American institutions.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Colors | CC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen University | Columbia, South Carolina | 1870 | Nonsectarian[b] | 657 | Yellow Jackets | 2023 | Men's wrestling | Southern (SIAC) | |
| 2024 | Women's wrestling | ||||||||
| Bluefield State University | Bluefield, West Virginia | 1895 | Public[b] | 1,313 | Big Blue | 2023 | Men's wrestling | Central (CIAA) | |
| 2024 | Women's wrestling | ||||||||
| Coker University[c] | Hartsville, South Carolina | 1908 | Nonsectarian | 1,263 | Cobras | 2018 | Men's wrestling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2020 | Acrobatics and tumbling | ||||||||
| Emory & Henry University | Emory, Virginia | 1836 | Methodist | 1,292 | Wasps | 2022[d] | Men's wrestling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2024 | Women's wrestling | ||||||||
| Lander University | Greenwood, South Carolina | 1872 | Public | 4,423 | Bearcats | 2020 | Acrobatics and tumbling | Peach Belt (PBC) | |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, Tennessee | 1897 | Nonsectarian | 6,081 | Railsplitters | 2021 | Men's wrestling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2024 | Women's wrestling | ||||||||
| Mars Hill University[e] | Mars Hill, North Carolina | 1856 | Baptist | 1,049 | Lions | 2021 | Acrobatics and tumbling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2025 | Women's flag football | ||||||||
| University of Montevallo | Montevallo, Alabama | 1896 | Public | 3,142 | Falcons | 2023 | Men's wrestling | Gulf South (GSC) | |
| 2024 | Men's swimming & diving | ||||||||
| Women's swimming & diving | |||||||||
| 2025 | Acrobatics & tumbling | ||||||||
| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg, Maryland[f] | 1808 | Catholic | 1,869 | Mountaineers | 2025 | Women's flag football | MAAC[g] | |
| Newberry College[h] | Newberry, South Carolina | 1856 | Lutheran ELCA | 1,521 | Wolves | 2018 | Men's wrestling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2024 | Women's wrestling | ||||||||
| Wingate University[i] | Wingate, North Carolina | 1896 | Baptist | 3,424 | Bulldogs | 2023 | Acrobatics and tumbling | South Atlantic (SAC) | |
| 2025 | Women's flag football |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ a b Also a historically black college or university (HBCU).
- ^ Coker was a full member of CC from 1991–92 to 2012–13.
- ^ Emory & Henry started Division II transition in 2021, but started South Atlantic Conference (SAC) competition in 2022.[9]
- ^ Mars Hill was a full member of CC from 1972–73 to 1975–76.
- ^ The Mount St. Mary's campus has an Emmitsburg mailing address but is in unincorporated Frederick County.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division I conference.
- ^ Newberry was a full member of CC from 1961–62 to 1971–72.
- ^ Wingate was a full member of CC from 1979–80 to 1988–89.
Former members
[edit]A total of 19 schools are former CC members, with 15 of them being private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those in use during the final year each institution was a member.
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ a b c Appalachian State, East Carolina, and Western Carolina did not become part of the University of North Carolina system until 1972, after all had left the conference.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
- ^ Currently known as Coker University since 2019.
- ^ Currently known as East Carolina University since 1967.
- ^ Currently known as Elon University since 2001. The "Elon College" name is now applied to the university's college of arts and sciences.
- ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
- ^ Currently known as Lenoir–Rhyne University since 2008.
- ^ Lenoir–Rhyne previously withdrew from the CC from 1975–76 to 1983–84.
- ^ Currently known as Limestone University since 2020.
- ^ Limestone closed at the end of the 2024–25 academic year.
- ^ Currently known as Mars Hill University since 2013.
- ^ Pfeiffer began athletic competition in the CIAC in the 1961–62 academic year.
- ^ Presbyterian began athletic competition in the CIAC in the 1965–66 academic year.
- ^ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
- ^ Currently known as Wingate University since 1995.
Former affiliate members
[edit]The CC had five former affiliate members; all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | CC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone University[c] | Gaffney, South Carolina | 1845 | Christian | 1,840 | Saints | 2020 | 2022 | Field hockey | N/A[d] |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, Tennessee | 1897 | Nonsectarian | 5,118 | Railsplitters | 2021 | 2022 | Men's bowling | South Atlantic (SAC) |
| 2024 | Women's bowling | ||||||||
| Queens University of Charlotte[e] | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1857 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
2,063 | Royals | 2018 | 2022 | Field hockey | Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[f] |
| Men's wrestling | |||||||||
| Salem University | Salem, West Virginia | 1888 | Private for-profit | 870 | Tigers | 2019 | 2023 | Men's swimming & diving | Independent |
| Women's swimming & diving | |||||||||
| Tusculum University | Tusculum, Tennessee | 1794 | Presbyterian | 1,494 | Pioneers | 2021 | 2023 | Men's bowling | South Atlantic (SAC) |
| Women's bowling |
- Notes
- ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ^ Limestone was a full member of CC from 1998–99 to 2019–20.
- ^ Limestone closed at the end of the 2024–25 academic year.
- ^ Queens (N.C.) was a full member of the CC from 1995–96 to 2012–13.
- ^ Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
Membership timeline
[edit]
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
Sports
[edit]When Barton became the sixth member to sponsor men's volleyball in 2011–12, Conference Carolinas became the fourth official scholarship-granting conference in NCAA men's volleyball. It also became the first all-sports conference (i.e., one that sponsors men's and women's basketball) ever to sponsor men's volleyball as a scholarship sport,[43] and is also the first men's volleyball conference to consist solely of Division II members. No D-I all-sports conference sponsored the sport until the Big West Conference launched a men's volleyball league in the 2018 season (2017–18 school year).
Conference Carolinas sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:
| A divisional format is used for men's & women's soccer, men's & women's basketball, softball and women's volleyball. | ||
East
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Northwest
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Southwest
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| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatics & tumbling | 
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| Baseball | |
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| Basketball | |
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| Bowling |
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| Cross country | |
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| Flag football |
| |
| Football | |
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| Golf | |
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| Lacrosse | |
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| Soccer | |
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| Softball |
| |
| Swimming & Diving | |
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| Tennis | |
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| Track & field indoor | |
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| Track & field outdoor | |
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| Volleyball | |
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| Wrestling | |
|
In men's wrestling and women's triathlon, Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference have operated as a single league known as South Atlantic Conference Carolinas (SACC), holding joint conference tournaments in each sport. SACC will start sponsoring women's wrestling in 2023–24. SACC also operated in field hockey until the two conferences agreed that only the SAC would sponsor that sport starting in 2022–23. As noted previously, the men's wrestling championship was operated by CC through 2022–23; initially, the SAC was to establish its own men's wrestling league, but the two conferences later agreed that only CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24.
In bowling, Conferences Carolinas and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference made a partnership to make a men's and women's bowling championship (even though men's bowling is not considered a varsity sport by the NCAA). Each conference will organize its regular season independently but the postseason will be called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships.
Men's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & Diving |
Tennis | Track & Field Indoor |
Track & Field Outdoor |
Volleyball[a] | Wrestling | Total CC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |
| Belmont Abbey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||
| Chowan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 | ||||
| Converse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 | |||||||
| Emmanuel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |
| Erskine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 | ||||
| Ferrum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||
| Francis Marion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 | ||||||
| King |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||
| Lees–McRae |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 | ||||
| Mount Olive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||
| North Greenville |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||
| Shorter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 | |||
| Southern Wesleyan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 | ||||||
| UNC Pembroke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 | ||||||
| Young Harris |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 | ||||||
| Totals | 13 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 5+1 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 6+8 | 136 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||||||
| Allen |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Bluefield State |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Coker |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Emory & Henry |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Limestone |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Lincoln Memorial |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
| Montevallo |
|
|
2 | |||||||||||
| Newberry |
|
1 | ||||||||||||
- ^ De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates a combined Division I/II championship in men's volleyball, and scholarship limits in that sport are the same for members of both divisions.
Women's sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Acrobatics & Tumbling[a] |
Basketball | Bowling[b] | Cross Country |
Flag football[c] |
Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving |
Tennis | Track & Field Indoor |
Track & Field Outdoor |
Volleyball | Wrestling[b] | Total CC Sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| Belmont Abbey |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| Chowan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| Converse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| Emmanuel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14 | |
| Erskine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | ||||
| Ferrum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| Francis Marion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 | |||||||
| King |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 | ||
| Lees–McRae |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 | ||||
| Mount Olive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 | |||
| North Greenville |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 | |||||
| Shorter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 | |||||
| Southern Wesleyan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 | ||||||
| UNC Pembroke |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 | ||||||
| Young Harris |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 | |||||||
| Totals | 5+5 | 15 | 3+2 | 15 | 8+3 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 7+1 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 4+5 | 170 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||||||||
| Allen |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Bluefield State |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Coker |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Emory & Henry |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Lander |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Lincoln Memorial |
|
|
2 | |||||||||||||
| Mars Hill |
|
|
2 | |||||||||||||
| Montevallo |
|
|
2 | |||||||||||||
| Mount St. Mary's |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Newberry |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Tusculum |
|
1 | ||||||||||||||
| Wingate |
|
|
2 | |||||||||||||
- ^ Currently part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, but expected to become an official NCAA championship sport in 2026–27. It will become a de facto Division I sport at that time, with the championship open to members of all three divisions.
- ^ a b De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates single championship events in bowling and women's wrestling that are open to members of all three divisions.
- ^ Not currently an NCAA sport, but expected to become part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in 2026–27.
Other sponsored sports by school
[edit]| School | Men | Women | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | Beach volleyball[a] |
Equestrian[b] | Field Hockey |
Triathlon[b] | |||||
| Barton | SAC | ||||||||
| Belmont Abbey | SAC | IND | |||||||
| Converse | IND | SAC | |||||||
| Emmanuel | SAC[c] | ||||||||
| Erskine | SAC[c] | ||||||||
| Francis Marion | Big Sky[d] | ||||||||
| Ferrum | IND | ||||||||
| King | IND | ||||||||
| Mount Olive | SAC | ||||||||
- ^ De facto Division I sport. The NCAA operates a single championship event in beach volleyball that is open to members of all three divisions. Schools in Divisions I and II operate under the same scholarship limits in both sports. Will be a part of Conference Carolinas as a joint conference with SAC in 2024.
- ^ a b Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
- ^ a b De facto South Atlantic Conference affiliate as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.
- ^ Francis Marion men's golf currently plays in Division I.
In addition to the above:
- Belmont Abbey fields varsity teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling (coeducational with men's and women's squads), men's bowling, and men's triathlon. It also considers its band, cheerleaders (male and female), and dance team (all-female) to be varsity athletes.
- Chowan fields a coeducational esports team, and also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes.
- Converse fields a coeducational esports team, and its equestrian program is also coeducational, although only women compete in NCAA-recognized events.
- Emmanuel fields teams in four non-NCAA sports. Three teams are coeducational: archery (with men's and women's squads), bass fishing, and clay target shooting. The fourth is in men's bowling. It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes.
- Erskine fields a men's beach volleyball team, as well as coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of bass fishing and rodeo.
- King fields a coeducational esports team, plus coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling (men's and women's squads) and bass fishing. It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) and dance team (all-female, though listed on its athletics website as coeducational) to be varsity athletes.
- Lees–McRae fields a varsity team in the non-NCAA sport of cycling (coeducational with men's and women's squads). It also considers its cheerleaders (male and female) to be varsity athletes. Unlike other CC members that field esports teams, Lees–McRae treats its esports program as a club sport.
See also
[edit]- NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship, in which the CC champion receives an automatic berth
References
[edit]- ^ "Conference Carolinas and The South Atlantic Conference Partner to Sponsor Field Hockey and Wrestling". South Atlantic Conference. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "Lincoln Memorial University to Add Field Hockey and Men's and Women's Wrestling" (Press release). Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ "Limestone College to Join South Atlantic Conference in 2020-21" (Press release). South Atlantic Conference. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas to Sponsor Acrobatics and Tumbling in 2020-21 Athletic Year; Coker Joins as Affiliate Member in NCAA Emerging Sport" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 25, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Lander and Limestone as Associate Members in Acrobatics and Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 25, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Converse Announces Inaugural Men's NCAA Division II Athletic Teams for 2021-2022" (Press release). Converse College. April 8, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Mount Olive Picked to Defend Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Title" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ a b "Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23" (Press release). South Atlantic Conference. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Mars Hill as Associate Member in Acrobatics & Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Tusculum as Associate Member in Men's and Women's Bowling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Great Midwest Collaborates With Conference Carolinas For 2021-22 Bowling Championships" (Press release). Great Midwest Athletic Conference. March 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Extends Collaboration With South Atlantic Conference Into Women's Triathlon and Women's Wrestling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. December 16, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Eight Associate Members as Part of Sponsorship of Men's Wrestling in 2023-24" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Welcomes Wingate As Associate Member in Acrobatics & Tumbling" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Shorter University and Return of Football in 2025" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Gulf South Conference Adds Two Football Affiliate Members" (Press release). Gulf South Conference. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of 16th Member in Ferrum College" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas announces the addition of women's flag football for 2025-26" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. July 2, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ "Barton announces the addition of women's flag football" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. October 17, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ "Erskine announces the addition of women's flag football" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. November 18, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas adds three associate members in women's flag football" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. April 2, 2025. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
- ^ a b "Chowan to Gain Associate Membership in Conference Carolinas". Chowan University. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Narrative". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Conference Carolinas Announces 2022-23 Developmental Championship Slate" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "2021–22 Conference Carolinas Championships". Conference Carolinas. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ "Conference Carolinas Announces 2023-24 Developmental Championship Slate" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. September 14, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "College Navigator".
- ^ "Barton College Quick Facts". Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE". Retrieved October 31, 2021.
- ^ "CHOWAN UNIVERSITY". Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "CONVERSE UNIVERSITY". Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "EMMANUEL COLLEGE". Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Erskine Flying Fleet Brand Guidelines" (PDF). July 1, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ "FERRUM COLLEGE". Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ "Marion University - News: Colors". Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "Quick Facts". Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Sports Info - Logos". Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "GRAPHIC STANDARDS GUIDE" (PDF). Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "North Greenville University Brand & Style Guide". Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ "COLOR PALETTE". Retrieved December 1, 2023.
- ^ UNC Pembroke Style Guide (PDF). February 18, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- ^ Lopes, Vinnie (April 4, 2014). "The Little Conference That Could". Volleyball Magazine. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Conference Carolinas.
| Full members |
| |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate members | ||
| ||
| Super Region 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Super Region 2 | ||
| Super Region 3 | ||
| Super Region 4 | ||
| Division II | ||
| NCAA | ||
Conference Carolinas
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Conference Carolinas is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, comprising 16 member institutions primarily located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.[1][2] It sponsors 30 sports for men and women, including the resumption of football competition in the 2025–26 academic year, and emphasizes holistic development of student-athletes in mind, body, and soul.[1]
Founded on December 6, 1930, as the North State Intercollegiate Conference (informally known as the Old North State Conference) by a group of small North Carolina colleges meeting at the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, the conference initially focused on intercollegiate athletics for its members.[3] Over the decades, it underwent several name changes to reflect its expanding geographic scope: becoming the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) in 1961, the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) in 1995, and adopting its current name, Conference Carolinas, in 2007.[1][3] The conference transitioned from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to full NCAA Division II membership starting in the 1995–96 academic year, marking a significant milestone in its alignment with NCAA governance and competition standards.[1]
As of the 2025–26 academic year, Conference Carolinas' member institutions include Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Chowan University, Converse University, Emmanuel University, Erskine College, Ferrum College, Francis Marion University, King University, Lees-McRae College, University of Mount Olive, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, North Greenville University, Shorter University, Southern Wesleyan University, and Young Harris College, representing the largest membership in the conference's history.[1][2] The conference has a storied tradition of competitive success, with member teams securing multiple NCAA Division II national championships, particularly in men's lacrosse—where Limestone University (now a former member) won titles in 2014, 2015, and 2017—and other sports such as men's soccer and women's volleyball.[4] Beyond athletics, Conference Carolinas is recognized for innovative initiatives, including being the first NCAA conference to offer sub-varsity championships and recent collaborations, such as a football scheduling partnership with the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced in 2024 to enhance competition opportunities.[5][6]
These affiliations have notably elevated niche sports; for example, the wrestling program, bolstered by the 2023 additions, qualified 30 individuals for the 2025 NCAA Championships, underscoring the affiliates' role in driving high-impact participation. Limestone's closure disrupted its women's wrestling involvement, prompting Conference Carolinas to adjust divisions and scheduling for the 2025-26 season to maintain competitive integrity.[37][33]
Significant milestones include reaching 10 members by 1960 amid post-World War II expansion, peaking at 18 in 2019 before Division I realignments reduced numbers, and steady growth to 16 by 2025 through targeted recruitment of regional Division II institutions.[1] Departures often stemmed from schools seeking NCAA Division I opportunities, such as the 1989 exodus of four members to the South Atlantic Conference, while additions like those in the 2010s emphasized geographic cohesion in the Southeast.[1] As of November 2025, with Ferrum's arrival, the conference maintains 16 full members.[2]
These tables highlight the conference's emphasis on gender equity, with women's sports generally seeing higher participation rates than men's equivalents in non-revenue categories like lacrosse and track & field. Full non-participation is common in resource-heavy sports such as wrestling (three teams each for men and women as of 2025) and swimming (three to five teams), allowing focused development where sponsored.[2][32][53]
Overview
Establishment and Name Changes
Conference Carolinas traces its origins to December 6, 1930, when it was established as the North State Intercollegiate Conference at the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina.[7] The conference was formed as an athletic association for small colleges in North Carolina, with an initial focus on promoting intercollegiate athletics among its members.[1] Its seven charter members included Appalachian State, Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), Catawba College, Elon University, Guilford College, High Point University, and Lenoir-Rhyne University.[3] The conference underwent its first name change on May 20, 1961, becoming the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) to better reflect the inclusion of institutions from South Carolina.[1] This rebranding marked a shift from its original North Carolina-centric identity, informally known as the Old North State Conference, to a broader regional scope. In 1995, coinciding with the conference's transition to full NCAA Division II membership, it was renamed the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) to accommodate the addition of member schools from Virginia.[1][1] The final rebranding occurred in 2007, when the CVAC adopted the name Conference Carolinas to project a more modern and streamlined identity while preserving its historical ties to the Carolinas region.[8] In 2019, under the leadership of Commissioner Chris Colvin, the conference relocated its headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina, to achieve a more central location relative to its member institutions.[9]Organizational Structure and Headquarters
Conference Carolinas functions as a governing body for intercollegiate athletics within NCAA Division II, adhering to the association's bylaws and strategic priorities while maintaining autonomy in conference-specific operations. The conference's leadership is headed by Commissioner Chris Colvin, who assumed the role on June 1, 2019, overseeing daily administration, strategic planning, and compliance with NCAA regulations.[10] Supporting the commissioner is a Board of Directors comprising the chief executive officers (CEOs) of all member institutions, responsible for major policy decisions, approvals of expansions, and alignment with the conference's mission to foster holistic student-athlete development.[11] The administrative staff includes associate commissioners handling championships, internal relations, and sport administration; an assistant commissioner for communications; and specialized roles in governance and officiating across sports, ensuring coordinated efforts in compliance, marketing, and event management.[12] The conference headquarters are located at 1200 Woodruff Road, Suite H-2, in Greenville, South Carolina 29607, with a mailing address at PMB #203, 1754 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607; this central location facilitates proximity to member institutions across the Carolinas and beyond.[12] The office relocated to Greenville in 2019 from its previous site in High Point, North Carolina, to better serve the geographic footprint of the membership. Operations are supported by an annual budget derived primarily from membership dues assessed on institutions, corporate sponsorships from partners like Builder Services of North Carolina, and distributions from the NCAA's Conference Sports Sponsorship Fund and Institutional Equal Distribution Fund, which allocate resources based on sports sponsorship and membership size.[13][14] Conference Carolinas enforces NCAA eligibility standards, requiring student-athletes to meet minimum GPA, core course, and standardized test benchmarks for initial participation, while ongoing academic progress is monitored through the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Academic Success Rate (ASR) metrics.[15] The conference has achieved notably high ASR figures, with 75 percent of student-athletes graduating within six years as of the 2024 NCAA report, reflecting a commitment to academic integrity beyond NCAA minimums.[16] On diversity, the conference promotes inclusive environments through initiatives like the 2022 "A Better We Forward" training session on diversity and inclusion, and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) emphasizes principles of respect for diversity in policy input and campus life.[17][18]History
Founding and Early Development (1930–1960)
The North State Intercollegiate Conference was established on December 6, 1930, at the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, as an athletic association for small colleges in the state seeking mutual advantages in intercollegiate competition.[1] The seven charter members, all located in North Carolina, included Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, Catawba College in Salisbury, Elon College in Elon, Guilford College in Greensboro, High Point College in High Point, and Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory.[1] This formation followed the separation of these institutions from the broader North Carolina Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, allowing for more focused regional rivalries and standardized competition.[19] From its inception, the conference sponsored primarily men's sports, with basketball, baseball, and track and field serving as foundational offerings that emphasized amateur ideals and student-athlete development.[20] The inaugural basketball season in 1930–31 concluded with co-champions Appalachian State and Catawba, each posting a 7–2 conference record, marking the first official title in conference history.[21] These early competitions fostered intense rivalries, as seen in Elon's capture of basketball and baseball titles during the 1933–34 academic year.[20] Membership grew modestly in the ensuing decades, with Western Carolina Teachers College in Cullowhee joining in 1933 to bring the total to eight institutions.[1] The conference navigated the economic strains of the Great Depression while maintaining operational stability, continuing to host championships across its core sports.[22] By the late 1940s, post-World War II recovery efforts supported further expansion, as East Carolina College in Greenville became the ninth member in 1947.[1] Throughout the 1950s, the conference solidified its regional identity amid growing interest in broader Carolinas-based athletics, setting the stage for the addition of Newberry College from South Carolina in 1961 and the subsequent name change to reflect this interstate expansion.[1]Expansion, Rebranding, and NCAA Affiliation (1961–2006)
In 1961, the conference underwent its first significant rebranding to reflect geographic expansion beyond North Carolina, changing its name to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) on May 20 of that year following the addition of Newberry College as its inaugural South Carolina member.[1] This shift marked a departure from its North State origins, accommodating broader regional representation while maintaining a focus on intercollegiate athletics among small private institutions. Membership fluctuations soon followed, exemplified by the 1962 departure of East Carolina University to the NCAA Division I Southern Conference, which prompted Appalachian State and Western Carolina to exit as well, temporarily reducing the league's footprint but setting the stage for selective growth.[1] The 1970s brought transformative changes driven by federal legislation, as the passage of Title IX in 1972 spurred the introduction of women's sports programs across member institutions to promote gender equity in education and athletics.[23] Influenced by this mandate, the conference began sponsoring women's championships in 1975, with Elon University claiming the inaugural regular-season women's basketball title (3-0 record) and High Point University winning the first women's volleyball championship.[21] These milestones represented a pivotal expansion, aligning the CIAC with national trends toward inclusive athletics and laying the groundwork for balanced gender participation in subsequent decades. By the mid-1990s, the conference pursued further evolution through NCAA affiliation and rebranding to enhance competitive stature. Beginning with dual membership in the NAIA and NCAA Division II in 1993–94, it achieved full NCAA Division II status in the 1995–96 academic year, dropping NAIA ties and enabling access to NCAA postseason opportunities.[1] This transition coincided with membership growth, including the additions of Erskine College, Longwood College (a Virginia institution), and Queens College in 1995, which prompted a name change to the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) to acknowledge the expanded footprint.[1] Additional fluctuations included the 1997 resignation of High Point University to NCAA Division I and the 2003 departure of Longwood for Division I exploration, alongside the 2005 addition of Converse College as an associate member for select women's sports, reflecting ongoing adaptation to institutional ambitions.[1]Recent Growth and Innovations (2007–Present)
In 2007, the conference underwent a significant rebranding from the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) to Conference Carolinas, effective June 1, to emphasize its regional identity centered on institutions from the Carolinas following the departure of Longwood University, its sole Virginia member, in 2003. This shift highlighted the league's historical roots dating back to 1930 and aimed to strengthen ties among its predominantly North and South Carolina-based members. Concurrently, Converse College transitioned to full membership in the 2007–08 academic year, bolstering the conference's competitive landscape across multiple sports.[1][8] Membership expanded steadily in the ensuing years, reaching 12 full members by 2015 through strategic additions that enhanced geographic and competitive diversity. Notable among these was the inclusion of King College (now King University) and North Greenville University as full members on June 1, 2011, introducing the first Tennessee institution and opening the conference to broader Southeastern representation. This growth supported increased participation in NCAA Division II championships and fostered rivalries within a cohesive regional framework. To further innovate, Conference Carolinas formed partnerships with the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) starting in the 2018–19 academic year, jointly administering championships in field hockey and men's wrestling to optimize resources and elevate competition levels for smaller programs. These collaborations were later extended to include women's triathlon and women's wrestling, demonstrating adaptive strategies for sport sponsorship.[1][24][25] The COVID-19 pandemic prompted swift operational adjustments in 2020, with the Conference Carolinas Board of Directors postponing all fall sports championships to the spring of 2021 on August 15, 2020, in alignment with NCAA guidelines to prioritize health and safety amid widespread disruptions. This decision affected sports such as soccer, volleyball, and cross country, leading to rescheduled competitions and modified seasons that tested the conference's resilience. Building on this adaptability, the league introduced emerging sports to diversify offerings and align with NCAA initiatives for gender equity. Acrobatics and tumbling, recognized as an emerging sport, saw dedicated conference championships by 2025, while women's flag football was officially added as a sponsored sport for the 2025–26 academic year, with associate members like Mars Hill University, Mount St. Mary's University, and Wingate University joining to launch the program.[26][27] A landmark innovation came with the reintroduction of football as a conference-sponsored sport in the 2025–26 academic year, marking the first such sponsorship since the 1974–75 season after a 50-year hiatus. Seven institutions—Barton College, Chowan University, Erskine College, Ferrum College, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, North Greenville University, and Shorter University—committed to the program, enabling a full conference schedule and postseason opportunities while revitalizing a historic sport for Division II competition. This expansion coincided with the addition of Ferrum College as the 16th full member effective July 1, 2025, achieving the largest membership in the conference's history and supporting a total of 30 sponsored sports. These developments underscored Conference Carolinas' commitment to growth, innovation, and regional athletic prominence through 2025. In the inaugural 2025 football season, North Greenville University defeated UNC Pembroke 27–21 in the Conference Carolinas Bowl on November 15, 2025, earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs.[28][2][29][30]Membership
Current Full Members
Conference Carolinas consists of 16 full member institutions for the 2025–26 academic year, all of which are NCAA Division II schools primarily located in the southeastern United States.[2] These members sponsor a wide range of the conference's 23 sports, with varying levels of participation across men's and women's programs. Ferrum College joined as the newest full member in July 2025, bringing the conference to its largest size in history.[2] Queens University of Charlotte transitioned to NCAA Division I and the ASUN Conference effective for the 2025–26 school year, but this departure was offset by Ferrum's addition, maintaining the full membership at 16. The following table provides key details for each current full member, including location, founding year, estimated enrollment for fall 2025, athletic nickname, colors, and primary arena or stadium used for major sports.| Institution | Location | Founded | Enrollment (2025 est.) | Nickname | Colors | Primary Arena/Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton College | Wilson, NC | 1902 | 1,200 | Bulldogs | Purple, white | Wilson Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball); Bulldog Park (baseball) |
| Belmont Abbey College | Belmont, NC | 1876 | 1,600 | Crusaders | Crimson, white | Wheeler Center (basketball, volleyball); Alumni Field (soccer) |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro, NC | 1848 | 1,100 | Braves | Red, white | Hawks Stadium (football, soccer); Turner Gym (basketball) |
| Converse University | Spartanburg, SC | 1889 | 1,200 | Valkyries (women), Bulldogs (men) | Purple, white | Jeffries Center (basketball, volleyball) |
| Emmanuel University | Franklin Springs, GA | 1919 | 900 | Lions | Blue, gold | Lions Den (basketball); Walker Track (multi-sport) |
| Erskine College | Due West, SC | 1839 | 1,000 | Flying Fleet | Black, orange | Belk Arena (basketball); J. Oliver Brooks Field (baseball) |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum, VA | 1913 | 1,000 | Panthers | Navy blue, Columbia blue, white | Fuller Activity Center (basketball); W.B. Adams Stadium (football) |
| Francis Marion University | Florence, SC | 1970 | 4,200 | Patriots | Red, white, blue | Stewart Gym (basketball); Francis Marion Baseball Field |
| King University | Bristol, TN | 1867 | 1,800 | Tornado | Navy blue, scarlet | Student Center Complex (basketball); J.E. Martin Stadium (football) |
| Lees-McRae College | Banner Elk, NC | 1900 | 900 | Bobcats | Purple, gold | Williams Gymnasium (basketball); Tate Field (baseball) |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive, NC | 1951 | 2,800 | Trojans | Blue, gold | Kornegay Arena (basketball); Scarborough Field (baseball) |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, NC | 1887 | 8,000 | Braves | Black, gold, red | Givens Gym (basketball); Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium (football) |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville, SC | 1891 | 2,500 | Crusaders | Red, black | Younts Stadium (basketball); Timmon Field (baseball) |
| Shorter University | Rome, GA | 1873 | 1,400 | Hawks | Blue, white | Alumni Arena (basketball); Ben Ingram Park (baseball) |
| Southern Wesleyan University | Central, SC | 1906 | 1,500 | Warriors | Red, black | T. Ed Garrison Arena (basketball); Childs Field (baseball) |
| Young Harris College | Young Harris, GA | 1886 | 1,300 | Mountain Lions | Blue, gold | Gillis Gymnasium (basketball); Wilson Strand Field (baseball) |
Affiliate Members
Conference Carolinas features affiliate members—also referred to as associate members—that participate solely in designated sports, contributing to the league's depth in targeted disciplines such as wrestling, field hockey, bowling, swimming, acrobatics and tumbling, and women's flag football. These affiliations, often forged through partnerships like the ongoing collaboration with the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) for field hockey and wrestling, enable institutions from other conferences to compete regionally without pursuing full membership. This model supports program growth for affiliates while enhancing competitive balance and postseason opportunities within Conference Carolinas. As of the 2025-26 academic year, the league has 12 active affiliates across these sports, following the closure of Limestone University after the 2024-25 season, which ended its participation in women's wrestling and other programs.[31][32][33] The affiliates join for reasons including proximity to Conference Carolinas' core footprint in the Carolinas and bordering states, alignment with emerging NCAA Division II sports, and access to conference championships and NCAA postseason berths. For instance, many hail from the SAC or Gulf South Conference, leveraging the joint SAC-Conference Carolinas league for field hockey and wrestling to foster rivalries and talent development. Below is a summary of the current affiliates, their affiliated sports, affiliation start dates, locations, and primary rationale for partial membership.| Institution | Affiliated Sport(s) | Start Date | Location | Reason for Partial Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen University | Men's wrestling | 2023-24 | Columbia, SC | As an HBCU transitioning to full NCAA Division II status, affiliation provides competitive scheduling and championship access in a growing sport without full conference commitment.[31] |
| Bluefield State University | Men's wrestling | 2023-24 | Bluefield, WV | New wrestling program launch aligns with regional DII opportunities via the SAC-Conference Carolinas partnership, emphasizing geographic accessibility for a public institution.[31] |
| Emory & Henry College | Men's wrestling, field hockey | 2023-24 (wrestling); 2022-23 (field hockey) | Emory, VA | Full SAC member seeking expanded competition in border-state sports; field hockey affiliation stems from the SAC-Conference Carolinas collaboration to boost regional play.[31][34] |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Men's wrestling, field hockey | 2023-24 (wrestling); 2018-19 (field hockey) | Hickory, NC | SAC full member utilizing the joint league for field hockey and wrestling to enhance in-state and regional matchups, focusing on program strength in these niches.[31][34] |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Men's wrestling, men's/women's bowling | 2023-24 (wrestling); 2021-22 (bowling) | Harrogate, TN | SAC full member prioritizing bowling and wrestling development through Conference Carolinas' sponsorship and GMAC partnership for bowling championships.[31][35] |
| Lander University | Men's wrestling | 2023-24 | Greenwood, SC | Peach Belt Conference full member joining for wrestling to leverage proximity and the SAC-Conference Carolinas structure for Southeast competition.[31] |
| Reinhardt University | Men's wrestling | 2023-24 | Waleska, GA | NAIA Appalachian Athletic Conference member affiliating to compete at DII level in wrestling, capitalizing on southern regional ties.[31] |
| Mars Hill University | Women's flag football | 2025-26 | Mars Hill, NC | SAC full member expanding into the emerging sport for women's athletics, drawn by Conference Carolinas' innovative sponsorship starting in 2025-26.[32] |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Women's flag football | 2025-26 | Emmitsburg, MD | Northeast Conference full member seeking broader East Coast competition in flag football, aligning with Conference Carolinas' growth in non-traditional sports.[32] |
| University of Montevallo | Men's/women's swimming, acrobatics & tumbling | 2024-25 | Montevallo, AL | Gulf South Conference full member affiliating to strengthen aquatic and acrobatics programs through established Conference Carolinas infrastructure.[36] |
| Tusculum University | Men's/women's bowling | 2021-22 | Greeneville, TN | SAC full member focusing on bowling excellence, partnering with Conference Carolinas and GMAC for joint championships to maximize competitive exposure.[35] |
| Wingate University | Women's flag football | 2025-26 | Wingate, NC | SAC full member integrating flag football to diversify women's sports offerings, benefiting from Conference Carolinas' regional leadership in the discipline.[32] |
Former Members
Conference Carolinas has experienced several membership changes over its nearly century-long history, with 19 institutions serving as full members before departing for various reasons, including transitions to NCAA Division I, realignments to other Division II conferences like the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), shifts to Division III, or institutional closures. These departures often reflected broader trends in collegiate athletics, such as the pursuit of higher competitive levels or regional alignments. The following details each former full member's tenure, departure circumstances, and select notable achievements during their time in the conference, drawn from official records.| Institution | Years of Membership | Reason for Departure | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | 1930–31 to 1967–68 | Transitioned to NCAA Division I and joined the Southern Conference in 1968. | Won multiple football conference championships in the 1940s and 1950s, contributing to the league's early competitive foundation.[1][21] |
| Catawba College | 1930–31 to 1988–89 | Realigned to the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) in 1989 to pursue NCAA Division II competition in a regional league. | Captured nine football titles (e.g., 1935, 1940) and multiple baseball championships (e.g., 1931, 1936–38, 1944–48), establishing dominance in early decades.[1][19][21] |
| East Carolina University | 1947–48 to 1961–62 | Resigned to join the NCAA Division I Southern Conference in 1962 amid growing program ambitions. | Secured several football conference titles in the 1950s, helping elevate the league's profile during post-World War II expansion.[1][21] |
| Elon University | 1930–31 to 1988–89 | Moved to the SAC in 1989 alongside other members seeking NCAA Division II regional stability. | Claimed 13 football championships (e.g., 1936, 1941) and numerous baseball titles (e.g., 1932–35, 1940, 1949–51), including a 1973 national runner-up in football.[1][38][21] |
| Greensboro College | Never a full member | N/A | N/A |
| Guilford College | 1930–31 to 1987–88 | Withdrew in 1988 to align with Division III affiliations, eventually joining the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). | Earned multiple football conference championships in the 1930s and 1940s, supporting the league's foundational years as a charter member.[1][21] |
| High Point University | 1930–31 to 1996–97 | Transitioned to NCAA Division I and the Big South Conference in 1997 to expand athletic opportunities. | Dominated baseball with titles in 1964–66, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1975, 1977–80, 1982, and 1987; also won men's basketball championships in 1987–89 and 1997.[1][21] |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | 1930–31 to 1974–75; rejoined 1984–85 to 1988–89 | Departed initially in 1975 due to conference realignments; left again in 1989 for the SAC to consolidate in NCAA Division II. | Secured 15 football championships (e.g., 1951–52), the most in league history, and contributed to baseball success during both tenures.[1][21] |
| Western Carolina University | 1932–33 to 1968–69 | Moved to NCAA Division I and the Southern Conference in 1969 following program growth. | Won several football titles in the 1950s and 1960s, aiding the conference's transition toward broader NCAA involvement.[1][21] |
| Anderson University | 1998–99 to 2009–10 | Realigned to the SAC in 2010 for enhanced regional competition in NCAA Division II. | Achieved success in men's basketball and baseball during the early 2000s, including multiple postseason appearances.[1][39][21] |
| Coker University | 1991–92 to 2013 | Joined the SAC in 2013 to pursue stronger Division II rivalries in the Southeast. | Won baseball championships in 1998, 2002, and 2013; captured the 2012 men's golf title and earned an NCAA tournament berth in men's soccer that year.[1][40][41][21] |
| Limestone University | 1998–99 to 2019–20 | Transitioned to the SAC as a full member in 2020; the institution ceased operations in 2025 due to financial challenges. | Dominated men's lacrosse with NCAA Division II national championships in 2014, 2015, and 2017, plus multiple conference titles.[1][38][42][21] |
| Longwood University | 1995–96 to 2002–03 | Moved to NCAA Division I and the Big South Conference in 2003 to align with institutional growth. | Competed successfully in men's and women's basketball, contributing to the conference's expansion era in the late 1990s.[1][21] |
| Mars Hill University | 1972–73 to 1975–76 | Joined the SAC in 1976 for regional Division II alignment. | Supported football program development during a period of league restructuring in the 1970s.[1][21] |
| Newberry College | 1961–62 to 1971–72 | Realigned to the SAC in 1972 amid conference shifts. | Won football titles in the late 1960s, bolstering the league during its NAIA-to-NCAA transition.[1][21] |
| Pfeiffer University | 1961–62 to 2016–17 | Transitioned to NCAA Division III and the USA South Athletic Conference in 2017 due to strategic institutional changes. | Excelled in men's basketball with titles in 1991–95 and 2004–05; won the 2015 NCAA Division II men's soccer national championship and multiple baseball championships (e.g., 1962–63, 1964–68).[1][43][21] |
| Presbyterian College | 1965–66 to 1971–72 | Moved to the SAC in 1972 for closer regional competition. | Contributed to football and basketball success in the late 1960s, during the conference's expansion phase.[1][21] |
| Queens University of Charlotte | 1995–96 to 2024–25 | Joined the SAC in 2013; transitioned to NCAA Division I and the ASUN Conference in 2022, completing move effective 2025-26. | Secured men's basketball championships in 1996 and 1998–99, highlighting the conference's growth in the 1990s and 2000s.[1][40][21][44] |
| St. Andrews University | 1988–89 to 2011–12 | Departed in 2012 to join the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and NAIA affiliations; the institution closed in 2025 due to financial difficulties. | Participated in emerging sports like men's volleyball, adding diversity to the conference's offerings in the late 1980s and 1990s.[1][45][21] |
| Wingate University | 1979–80 to 1988–89 | Realigned to the SAC in 1989 for sustained NCAA Division II competition. | Won multiple titles in baseball and men's soccer during the 1980s, supporting the league's shift toward NCAA governance.[1][21] |
Membership Timeline
Conference Carolinas was established in 1930 as the North State Intercollegiate Conference with seven charter members, and its membership has evolved through periodic expansions and contractions influenced by institutional realignments to NCAA Division I, regional growth to strengthen competitive balance, and occasional returns of former members.[1] These changes reflect broader trends in collegiate athletics, including the pursuit of higher division status by larger institutions and the conference's efforts to maintain a core of Division II schools in the Carolinas and surrounding regions.[1] The following table outlines key membership changes chronologically, highlighting additions, departures, and resulting conference size where documented:| Year | Event | Membership Size After Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Founding as North State Intercollegiate Conference; charter members: Appalachian State, Atlantic Christian (now Barton), Catawba, Elon, Guilford, High Point, Lenoir-Rhyne.[1] | 7 |
| 1933 | Western Carolina joins.[1] | 8 |
| 1947 | East Carolina joins.[1] | 9 |
| 1960 | Pfeiffer joins.[1] | 10 |
| 1961 | Newberry joins; conference renamed Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.[1] | 11 |
| 1962 | East Carolina departs for NCAA Division I (Southern Conference).[1] | 10 |
| 1964 | Presbyterian joins.[1] | 11 |
| 1967–1968 | Appalachian State departs for NCAA Division I.[1] | 10 |
| 1968–1969 | Western Carolina departs for NCAA Division I.[1] | 9 |
| 1972–1973 | Mars Hill joins.[1] | 10 |
| 1976 | Pembroke State (now UNC Pembroke) joins.[1] | 11 |
| 1979 | Wingate joins.[1] | 12 |
| 1984 | Lenoir-Rhyne rejoins after prior withdrawal.[1] | 13 |
| 1988 | Guilford withdraws; St. Andrews and Mount Olive join.[1] | 13 |
| 1989 | Catawba, Elon, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Wingate withdraw for South Atlantic Conference; Belmont Abbey joins.[1] | 10 |
| 1991 | Coker joins.[1] | 11 |
| 1993 | Lees–McRae joins.[1] | 12 |
| 1995 | Erskine, Longwood, and Queens join; conference renamed Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference.[1] | 15 |
| 1997 | High Point departs for NCAA Division I (Big South Conference).[1] | 14 |
| 1998 | Limestone joins.[1] | 15 |
| 1999 | Anderson joins.[1] | 16 |
| 2003 | Longwood departs for NCAA Division I (independent, later Big South).[1] | 15 |
| 2005 | Converse joins as associate member in select sports.[1] | 15 full + 1 associate |
| 2007 | Converse becomes full member; conference renamed Conference Carolinas.[1] | 16 |
| 2009 | Queens departs for South Atlantic Conference (precursor to its NCAA Division I transition).[1] | 15 |
| 2011 | King and North Greenville join.[1] | 17 |
| 2013 | Coker and Queens rejoin then depart for South Atlantic Conference.[41] | 15 |
| 2016 | Southern Wesleyan joins.[1] | 16 |
| 2018 | Emmanuel joins.[1] | 17 |
| 2019 | Chowan joins.[1] | 18 |
| 2021 | Francis Marion joins; UNC Pembroke rejoins. | 18 |
| 2022 | Queens begins D1 transition to ASUN. | 17 |
| 2023 | Young Harris joins. | 15 (after adjustments including Queens' full departure) |
| 2024 | Shorter joins effective 2024–25.[46] | 15 |
| 2025 | Ferrum joins effective 2025–26.[2] | 16 |
Sports
Sponsored Sports Overview
Conference Carolinas serves as the primary sponsor for 26 intercollegiate sports, comprising 13 for men and 15 for women, while offering competition opportunities in additional sports through collaborative partnerships. The men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. The women's sports encompass acrobatics and tumbling, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cross country, flag football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. These programs enable over 4,000 student-athletes across member institutions to compete at the NCAA Division II level.[5] Football marks a significant reintroduction to the conference's sponsored lineup in the 2025-26 academic year, featuring seven teams—Barton, Chowan, Erskine, Ferrum, North Greenville, Shorter, and UNC Pembroke—in its inaugural season after a 50-year hiatus since the 1974-75 campaign. This revival establishes football as a full conference sport with a focus on regional competition and NCAA postseason eligibility. Among emerging disciplines, women's flag football achieves full sponsorship status beginning in the 2025-26 year, with 11 full member institutions participating (Barton, Chowan, Emmanuel, Erskine, Ferrum, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, North Greenville, Shorter, Southern Wesleyan) and coordination alongside the NFL and RCX Sports, positioning Conference Carolinas as the first NCAA Division II league to endorse the sport. Acrobatics and tumbling, introduced as a women's championship sport in the 2020-21 academic year, has since expanded to include 12 programs and emphasizes skills in tumbling, tosses, and pyramid formations.[47][2][27][48][49] Competition across sponsored sports typically follows round-robin scheduling within divisions, with Conference Carolinas realigning into three geographic divisions—East, Northwest, and Southwest—starting in the 2023-24 academic year to enhance travel efficiency and competitive balance. Divisional champions are determined by conference records, feeding into postseason tournaments that qualify top performers for NCAA Championships, such as automatic bids in basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Football operates on a full conference schedule without initial divisional splits, emphasizing head-to-head matchups among its core members.[50][51] Through partnerships, Conference Carolinas extends opportunities in affiliate sports, notably women's field hockey and expanded wrestling programs in collaboration with the South Atlantic Conference since 2018-19, and additional wrestling affiliates via the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. These arrangements allow non-full members to compete for conference titles and NCAA berths, broadening the athletic footprint without sole sponsorship.[25][52]Participation by Institution
Conference Carolinas institutions vary in their athletic offerings, with full members sponsoring a core set of sports while selectively participating in others based on institutional resources and priorities. As of the 2025-26 academic year, the conference has 16 full members, all of which compete in at least 10 sports, though participation is not uniform across all sponsored disciplines. Football is limited to seven full members, reflecting its resource-intensive nature, while sports like men's soccer draw broader involvement with 14 teams. Affiliates contribute to niche areas, such as Allen University solely in men's volleyball and the addition of Mars Hill University, Mount St. Mary's University, and Wingate University in women's flag football starting in 2025-26.[2][32][47] Notable variations include Converse University, which emphasizes women's programs with full sponsorship in 12 of 15 women's sports but limited men's offerings, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which fields a robust football program alongside competitive teams in basketball and track & field. Men's volleyball sees limited full member participation, with only eight institutions sponsoring it fully, supplemented by affiliates like Allen University. Overall, these patterns allow for balanced competition while accommodating diverse institutional profiles.[2][53] The following tables summarize participation across sponsored sports for full and affiliate members as of 2025. "X" indicates full sponsorship and competition; "A" denotes affiliate-only participation; blank cells indicate non-participation. Data reflects primary conference alignment, excluding occasional exhibitions or developmental squads. Note: Columns for all sponsored sports are included; participation for added sports (e.g., men's bowling, women's acrobatics & tumbling, beach volleyball, golf) is based on available data, with totals recalculated.Men's Sports Participation
| Institution | Baseball | Basketball | Bowling | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming | Tennis | Track & Field | Volleyball | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Belmont Abbey College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Chowan University | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Converse University | X | X | |||||||||||
| Emmanuel University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Erskine College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Ferrum College | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Francis Marion University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| King University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Lees-McRae College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Mount Olive | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| North Greenville University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Shorter University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Southern Wesleyan University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| UNC Pembroke | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Young Harris College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Allen University (A) | A | ||||||||||||
| Total Teams | 14 | 16 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 3 |
Women's Sports Participation
| Institution | Acrobatics & Tumbling | Basketball | Beach Volleyball | Bowling | Cross Country | Flag Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Track & Field | Volleyball | Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barton College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Belmont Abbey College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Chowan University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Converse University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Emmanuel University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Erskine College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Ferrum College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Francis Marion University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| King University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Lees-McRae College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Mount Olive | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| North Greenville University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Shorter University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Southern Wesleyan University | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| UNC Pembroke | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Young Harris College | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Mars Hill University (A) | A | ||||||||||||||
| Mount St. Mary's University (A) | A | ||||||||||||||
| Wingate University (A) | A | ||||||||||||||
| Total Teams | 12 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 3 |
Championships and Postseason Play
Conference Carolinas organizes annual championship tournaments in all of its sponsored sports, providing member institutions with opportunities for postseason competition and recognition. These events typically follow single-elimination formats for team-based sports such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball, where the top-seeded teams advance through quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.[54] For instance, the men's and women's basketball tournaments involve eight teams, with initial rounds hosted at the campuses of the fourth, fifth, and sixth seeds, followed by semifinals and finals at a predetermined neutral site to enhance fan accessibility and excitement.[55] Baseball championships employ a double-elimination structure, where seeds five through eight compete in play-in games before joining the top four in a six-team bracket.[56] In contrast, swimming and diving championships are conducted as multi-day meets featuring preliminaries in the morning and finals in the evening, culminating in team and individual honors over four days.[57] The 2025 football championship, marking the conference's inaugural sponsorship of the sport since 1975, was a single-game matchup hosted by the regular-season winner on November 15, with North Greenville defeating UNC Pembroke.[58][30] The champions of these conference tournaments earn automatic bids to the NCAA Division II postseason championships in their respective sports, ensuring representation at the national level.[59] If the tournament winner is ineligible for NCAA competition, the runner-up receives the automatic qualification. At-large selections to NCAA regionals are also possible for other qualified teams based on national polls and performance metrics, allowing multiple Conference Carolinas programs to advance in sports like men's lacrosse and baseball.[56] Postseason venues rotate among member campuses, neutral sites, or regional facilities to promote broad participation and attendance. For the 2024-25 academic year, the baseball finals took place at CaroMont Health Park and Sims Legion Park in Gastonia, North Carolina, from April 30 to May 5, while basketball semifinals and finals were held at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina, from March 7 to 9.[60] This rotating approach helps distribute economic benefits across host institutions and fosters a sense of shared conference identity. In addition to team titles, Conference Carolinas bestows individual and coaching accolades through all-conference awards, selected annually by the league's head coaches. These honors include Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and positional standouts for each sport, highlighting standout performances during the regular season and tournament. A notable example from the 2024-25 men's basketball season is Daylan Askew of Chowan University, who was named Player of the Year for his leading scoring average and defensive contributions.[61] Similar awards were distributed in baseball, with Francis Marion claiming three of four major honors in 2025, including Player of the Year to their standout pitcher.[62] Historically, certain institutions have achieved notable dominance in conference championships, contributing to the league's competitive legacy. Limestone University leads in men's lacrosse with multiple tournament victories and three NCAA Division II national titles (2014, 2015, 2017), underscoring their program-building success.[4] UNC Pembroke has emerged as a recent powerhouse, securing the Joby Hawn Cup—awarded for overall athletic excellence—six times, including three consecutive years through 2025, based on a composite ranking across all sports.[63] Former member Wingate University amassed titles in basketball and other sports during its tenure from 1979 to 1989, setting early benchmarks for conference play. Records for all-time tournament wins vary by sport; for example, in women's basketball, Mount Olive holds six appearances in the championship game, reflecting sustained excellence.[4] The conference has also produced several NCAA national champions, demonstrating the quality of its postseason pathways:| Sport | School | National Title Years |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Lacrosse | Limestone | 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| Men's Basketball | Barton | 2007 |
| Men's Soccer | Pfeiffer | 2015 |
| Baseball | North Greenville | 2022 |
| Baseball | Mount Olive | 2008 |