Appalachian Athletic Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded2000
CommissionerBill Popp[1]
Sports fielded
  • 24
    • men's: 13
    • women's: 11
No. of teams16
HeadquartersAsheville, North Carolina
RegionSoutheastern United States
Official websiteaacsports.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

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

History

Appalachian Athletic Conference
Location of AAC members: current, departing, and future

The conference is the successor to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), which began in the 1940s;[2] and later the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) that operated during the 1980s and 1990s.[2] The Appalachian Athletic Conference was formed in 2000 with the additions of members from Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.[2] In 2019 the conference added Kentucky Christian University as a full member and Savannah College of Art and Design as an associate member in men's and women's lacrosse.[3]

Bluefield College was a member of the AAC from 2000 until 2012 when it left to join the Mid-South Conference. On March 3, 2014, Bluefield announced that it would return to the AAC in fall 2014.[4]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The AAC currently has 16 full members, all are private schools. It is the largest conference in the NAIA:[3]

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Basketball?
Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Baptist 965 Rams 2000;
2014[lower-alpha 2]
both
Brenau University[lower-alpha 3] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Nonsectarian 2,551 Golden Tigers 2017 women's
Bryan College Dayton, Tennessee 1930 Nondenominational 1,587 Lions 2000 both
Columbia College[lower-alpha 4] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,376 Koalas 2011 women's
Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina 1923 Christian 2,338 Rams 2018 both
Johnson University Kimberlin Heights and
Knoxville, Tennessee
1893 Christian 1,077 Royals 2021 both
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian 689 Knights 2019 both
Milligan University Elizabethton, Tennessee 1866 Restoration
Movement
1,162 Buffaloes 2000 both
Montreat College Montreat, North Carolina 1916 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
950 Cavaliers 2000 both
University of Pikeville Pikeville, Kentucky 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
2,268 Bears 2023 both
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883 United Methodist 1,217 Eagles 2009 both
St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1958 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
887 Knights 2012 both
Savannah College of Art and Design at Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 2005 Non-profit art school 2,000 Bees 2012 none
Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee 1857 United Methodist 1,108 Bulldogs 2000 both
Truett McConnell University Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Baptist 2,710 Bears 2013 both
Union College Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United Methodist 1,179 Bulldogs 2002 both
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Bluefield left the AAC after the 2011–12 school year to join the Mid-South Conference; before re-joining the AAC in the 2014–15 school year.
  3. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  4. This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports (Columbia (S.C.) since 2020–21).


Affiliate members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] AAC
sport
Primary
conference
Brewton–Parker College[5] Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Baptist 893 Barons 2022m.wr. men's wrestling Southern States (SSAC)
Keiser University[5] West Palm Beach, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 19,861 Seahawks 2021m.lax.;
2022m.wr.
men's lacrosse;
men's wrestling
The Sun
Life University[5] Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,786 Running Eagles 2022m.vb.;
2022m.wr.
men's volleyball;
men's wrestling
Southern States (SSAC)
Point University[lower-alpha 2] West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 1,946 Skyhawks 2023fb football Southern States (SSAC)
Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah Savannah, Georgia 1978 Non-profit art school 15,704 Bees 2019m.lax.;
2019w.lax.
men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse
The Sun
St. Thomas University[5] Miami Gardens, Florida 1961 Catholic
(Archdiocese
of Miami
)
5,888 Bobcats 2022m.wr. men's wrestling The Sun
Southeastern University[5][6] Lakeland, Florida 1935 Assemblies of God 9,365 Fire 2022m.wr. men's wrestling The Sun
University of the Cumberlands[lower-alpha 3] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 19,272 Patriots 2015m.lax. men's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Warner University[5] Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 978 Royals 2022m.vb. men's volleyball The Sun
Webber International University[5] Babson Park, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 857 Warriors 2020m.lax.;
2022m.vb.
men's lacrosse;
men's volleyball
The Sun
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia 1895 Public 1,645 Golden Bears 2016m.sw.;
2016w.sw.;
2017m.wr.
men's swimming;
women's swimming;
men's wrestling
River States (RSC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Point was a full member of the AAC from 2011-2023.
  3. Cumberlands (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse from 2015–16 to 2017–18.


Former members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Left[lower-alpha 2] Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, Kentucky 1925 Nondenominational 613 Eagles 2000 2005 River States (RSC)
(2005–present)
Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 A.M.E. Church 621 Yellow Jackets 2016 2020 Southern (SIAC)[lower-alpha 3]
(2020–present)
Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina 1853 United Methodist 779 Tornados 2000 2006 D-II Independent
(2006–07)
South Atlantic (SAC)[lower-alpha 3]
(2007–17)
USA South[lower-alpha 4]
(2017–present)
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian
(PCA)
914 Scots 2000 2009 various[lower-alpha 5] C.C. of the South (CCS)[lower-alpha 4]
(2022–present)
King College[lower-alpha 6] Bristol, Tennessee 1867 Presbyterian
(Evangelical
Presbyterian
/
PCUSA)
1,658 Tornados 2000 2009 NAIA Independent
(2009–10)
D-II Independent
(2010–11)
Carolinas (CC)[lower-alpha 3]
(2011–present)
Point University[lower-alpha 7] West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian 1,946 Skyhawks 2011 2023 Southern States (SSAC)
(2023–present)
Virginia Intermont College Bristol, Virginia 1884 Baptist N/A Cobras 2000 2014 Closed in 2014
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 1,844 Highland
Cavaliers
[lower-alpha 8]
2000 2010 various[lower-alpha 10] South Atlantic (SAC)[lower-alpha 3]
(2019–present)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  5. Covenant had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-III Independent during the 2009–10 and 2012–13 school years; the Great South Athletic Conference[lower-alpha 4] (GSAC) from 2010–11 to 2011–12; and the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South)[lower-alpha 4] from 2013–14 to 2021–22.
  6. Currently known as King University since 2013.
  7. Point remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for football.
  8. UVA Wise dropped "Highland" from its athletic nickname in 2017.
  9. 1 2 UVA Wise left the Mid-South after the 2012–13 school year. Originally it joined the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) as a charter member for most sports as a transitional NCAA Division II member school during the 2012–13 school year, but was fulfilling its commitments to the final year of competition in the Mid-South and in the NAIA. However it never began competition as a full G-MAC member, as it would later announce that it would join the Mountain East Conference (MEC), beginning the 2013–14 school year.
  10. UVa Wise had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Mid-South Conference (MSC)[lower-alpha 9] from 2010–11 to 2012–13; the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 9] during the 2012–13 school year; and the Mountain East Conference[lower-alpha 3] (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19.

Former affiliate members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Left[lower-alpha 2] AAC
sport
Primary
conference
Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,720 Eagles 2015m.lax.;
2015w.lax.;
2016m.sw.;
2016w.sw.
2019m.lax.;
2021w.lax.;
2021m.sw.;
2021w.sw.
men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse;
men's swimming;
women's swimming
D-III Independent
University of the Cumberlands[lower-alpha 3] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 19,272 Patriots 2015 2018 women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky 1829 Baptist 1,625 Tigers 2017 2018 women's lacrosse Mid-South (MSC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Cumberlands (Ky.) remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Membership timeline

University of PikevilleWarner UniversitySoutheastern UniversitySt. Thomas University (Florida)Life UniversityBrewton–Parker CollegeKeiser UniversityJohnson UniversityWebber International UniversitySavannah College of Art and DesignKentucky Christian UniversityColumbia International UniversityGeorgetown CollegeBrenau UniversityWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologySouthern Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceAllen UniversityUniversity of the CumberlandsAsbury UniversityTruett McConnell CollegeSavannah College of Art and DesignSt. Andrews University (North Carolina)Point UniversityColumbia College (South Carolina)Reinhardt UniversityUnion College (Kentucky)South Atlantic ConferenceMountain East ConferenceGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceMid-South ConferenceUniversity of Virginia's College at WiseVirginia Intermont CollegeTennessee Wesleyan UniversityMontreat CollegeMilligan UniversityConference CarolinasNCAA Division II independent schoolsNAIA independent schoolsKing UniversityCollegiate Conference of the SouthUSA South Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsGreat South Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsCovenant CollegeUSA South Athletic ConferenceSouth Atlantic ConferenceNCAA Division II independent schoolsBrevard CollegeBryan CollegeMid-South ConferenceBluefield UniversityRiver States ConferenceAlice Lloyd College

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

Conference sports

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

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballGreen tick
BasketballGreen tickGreen tick
Cross countryGreen tickGreen tick
FootballGreen tick
GolfGreen tickGreen tick
LacrosseGreen tickGreen tick
SoccerGreen tickGreen tick
SoftballGreen tick
SwimmingGreen tickGreen tick
TennisGreen tickGreen tick
Track & field outdoorGreen tickGreen tick
Track & field indoorGreen tickGreen tick
VolleyballGreen tickGreen tick
WrestlingGreen tick

Notes

    References

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