Appalachian Athletic Conference

The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference that competes in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics competition.[1] Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.[1]

For the North Carolina high school association formerly known as the "Appalachian Athletic Conference", see Western North Carolina Athletic Conference.
Appalachian Athletic Conference
AAC
Established2001
AssociationNAIA
Members16
Sports fielded
  • 20
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 10
RegionSoutheastern United States
HeadquartersAsheville, North Carolina
CommissionerCol. John Sullivan
Websiteaacsports.com
Locations

History

The conference is the successor to the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), which began in the 1940s;[1] and later the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) that operated during the 1980s and 1990s.[1] The Appalachian Athletic Conference was formed in 2001 with the additions of members from Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.[1] 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.[2]

Bluefield College was a member of the AAC from 2001 until 2012 when it left to join the Mid-South Conference. On March 3, 2014, Bluefield College announced that it would return to the AAC effective fall 2014.[3]

Chronological timeline
  • 2009 - King (Tenn.) left the AAC to become an NAIA Independent (to later join the NCAA Division II ranks as an Division II Independent during the 2010-11 academic year; before join Conference Carolinas, effective beginning the 2011-12 academic year), effective after the 2008-09 academic year.
  • 2009 - Reinhardt College (now Reinhardt University) joined the AAC, effective the 2009-10 academic year.
  • 2010 - Virginia–Wise left the AAC to join the Mid-South Conference, effective after the 2009-10 academic year.
  • 2012 - Bluefield left the AAC to join the Mid-South, effective after the 2011-12 academic year.
  • 2014 - Virginia Intermont left the AAC when the school announced its closure, effective after the 2013-14 academic year.
  • 2014 - Bluefield re-joined the AAC, effective the 2014-15 academic year.
  • 2017 - West Virginia Tech added men's wrestling to its AAC affiliate membership, effective the 2017-18 academic year.
  • 2018 - Cumberlands (Ky.) left the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse to compete in their primary home conference in the Mid-South (where they began sponsoring that sport), effective after the 2017-18 academic year.
  • 2019 - Asbury left the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse as the school announced to discontinue the sport in mid-season, effective after the 2019 spring season (2018-19 academic year).
  • 2021 - Asbury left the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse, men's and women's swimming, effective after the 2020-21 academic year.
  • 2021 - The Tennessee campus of Johnson University joined the AAC, effective the 2021-22 academic year.
  • 2021 - Keiser University joined the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse, effective the 2022 spring season (2021-22 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The AAC currently has 16 full members, all are private schools. It is the largest conference in the NAIA:[2]

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Basketball?
Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia 1922 Virginia Baptist 793 Rams 2001;
2014[lower-alpha 1]		 both
Brenau University[lower-alpha 2] Gainesville, Georgia 1878 Nonsectarian 3,500 Golden Tigers 2017 women's
Bryan College Dayton, Tennessee 1930 Christian 1,044 Lions 2001 both
Columbia College[lower-alpha 3] Columbia, South Carolina 1854 United Methodist 1,200 Koalas 2011 women's
Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina 1923 Christian 1,250 Rams 2018 both
Johnson University Kimberlin Heights and
Knoxville, Tennessee		 1893 Christian
Churches and
Churches of
Christ		 800 Royals 2021 both
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, Kentucky 1919 Christian
Churches and
Churches of
Christ		 550 Knights 2019 both
Milligan University Elizabethton, Tennessee 1866 Restoration
Movement		 1,006 Buffaloes 2001 both
Montreat College Montreat, North Carolina 1916 Presbyterian – PCUSA 1,145 Cavaliers 2001 both
Point University West Point, Georgia 1937 Christian
Churches and
Churches of
Christ		 1,000 Skyhawks 2011 both
Reinhardt University Waleska, Georgia 1883 United Methodist 1,057 Eagles 2009 both
St. Andrews University Laurinburg, North Carolina 1958 Presbyterian – PCUSA 800 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 1,103 Bulldogs 2001 both
Truett McConnell University Cleveland, Georgia 1946 Georgia Baptist 1,600 Bears 2013 both
Union College Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United Methodist 1,368 Bulldogs 2001 both
Notes
  1. Bluefield left the AAC after the 2011–12 school year to join the Mid-South Conference; before re-joining the AAC, effective the 2014–15 school year.
  2. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  3. 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 five affiliate members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined AAC
sport		 Primary
conference
Keiser University West Palm Beach, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 19,510 Seahawks 2021–22m.lax. men's lacrosse The Sun
Savannah College of Art and Design at Savannah Savannah, Georgia 1978 Non-profit
art school		 10,584 Bees 2019–20m.lax.;
2019–20w.lax.		 men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse		 The Sun
University of the Cumberlands[lower-alpha 1] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Christian 1,743 Patriots 2015–16m.lax. men's lacrosse Mid-South
Webber International University Babson Park, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 616 Warriors 2020–21m.lax. men's lacrosse The Sun
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia 1895 Public 2,252 Golden Bears 2016–17m.sw.;
2016–17w.sw.;
2017–18m.wr.		 men's swimming;
women's swimming;
men's wrestling		 River States
Notes
  1. Cumberlands (Ky.) competed in the AAC as an affiliate member for women's lacrosse from 2015–16 to 2017–18.

Future affiliate members

The AAC will have seven future affiliate members, all will be private school:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined AAC
sport		 Primary
conference
Brewton–Parker College[4] Mount Vernon, Georgia 1904 Southern Baptist 1,050 Barons 2022–23m.wr. men's wrestling Southern States
Keiser University[4] West Palm Beach, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 19,510 Seahawks 2022–23m.wr. men's wrestling The Sun
Life University[4] Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 2,692 Running Eagles 2022–23m.vb.;
2022–23m.wr.		 men's volleyball;
men's wrestling		 Mid-South
(Southern States in 2022–23)
St. Thomas University[4] Miami Gardens, Florida 1961 Catholic 1,750 Bobcats 2022–23m.wr. men's wrestling The Sun
Southeastern University[4][5] Lakeland, Florida 1935 Assemblies of God 3,850 Fire 2022–23m.wr. men's wrestling The Sun
Warner University[4] Lake Wales, Florida 1968 Church of God 1,037 Royals 2022–23m.vb. men's volleyball The Sun
Webber International University[4] Babson Park, Florida 1927 Nonsectarian 616 Warriors 2022–23m.vb. men's volleyball The Sun

Former members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference(s)		 Current
conference
Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, Kentucky 1925 Christian 600 Eagles 2001–02 2004–05 River States
(2005–06 to present)
Allen University Columbia, South Carolina 1870 A.M.E. Church 600 Yellow Jackets 2016–17 2019–20 Southern (SIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2020–21 to present)
Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina 1853 United Methodist 708 Tornados 2001–02 2005–06 D-II Independent
(2006–07 to 2007–08)
South Atlantic (SAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2008–09 to 2016–17)		 USA South (NCAA D-III)
(2017–18 to present)
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian – PCA 1,282 Scots 2001–02 2008–09 D-III Independent
(2009–10; 2012–13)
Great South (GSAC) (NCAA D-III)
(2010–11 to 2011–12)		 USA South (NCAA D-III)
(2013–14 to present)
King College[lower-alpha 1] Bristol, Tennessee 1867 Presbyterian 1,800 Tornados 2001–02 2008–09 NAIA Independent
(2009–10)
D-II Independent
(2010–11)		 Carolinas (NCAA D-II)
(2011–12 to present)
Virginia Intermont College Bristol, Virginia 1884 Baptist N/A Cobras 2001–02 2013–14 Closed in 2014
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 2,000 Highland Cavaliers[lower-alpha 2] 2001–02 2009–10 Mid-South[lower-alpha 3]
(2010–11 to 2012–13)
Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)[lower-alpha 3]
(2012–13)
Mountain East (NCAA D-II)
(2013–14 to 2018–19)		 South Atlantic (NCAA D-II)
(2019–20 to present)
Notes
  1. Currently known as King University since 2013.
  2. UVA Wise dropped "Highland" from its athletic nickname in 2017.
  3. 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 has never began competition as a full G-MAC member, as it would later announce that it would join the Mountain East Conference, effective beginning the 2013–14 school year.

Former affiliate member

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left AAC
sport		 Primary
conference
Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,300 Eagles 2015–16m.lax.;
2015–16w.lax.;
2016–17m.sw.;
2016–17w.sw.		 2018–19m.lax.;
2020–21w.lax.;
2020–21m.sw.;
2020–21w.sw.		 men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse;
men's swimming;
women's swimming		 D-III Independent
University of the Cumberlands[lower-alpha 1] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Christian 1,743 Patriots 2015–16w.lax. 2017–18w.lax. women's lacrosse Mid-South
Notes
  1. Cumberlands (Ky.) remains in the AAC as an affiliate member for men's lacrosse.

Membership timeline
Warner UniversitySoutheastern UniversitySt. Thomas University (Florida)Life UniversityBrewton–Parker CollegeKeiser UniversityJohnson UniversityWebber International UniversitySavannah College of Art and DesignKentucky Christian UniversityColumbia International UniversityBrenau UniversityWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologyAllen UniversityUniversity of the CumberlandsAsbury UniversitySavannah College of Art and DesignSt. Andrews University (North Carolina)Point UniversityColumbia College (South Carolina)Reinhardt UniversityUniversity of Virginia's College at WiseVirginia Intermont CollegeUnion College (Kentucky)Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityMontreat CollegeMilligan UniversityKing UniversityCovenant CollegeBrevard CollegeBryan CollegeAlice Lloyd College

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

Conference sports

The Appalachian Athletic Conference currently fields 20 sports (10 men's and 10 women's):

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross CountryYY
GolfYY
LacrosseYY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
TennisYY
Track & Field OutdoorYY
Track & Field IndoorYY
VolleyballY
WrestlingY

Notes

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