Southern Conference

American collegiate athletic conference

Not to be confused with Conference South, Big South Conference, Conference League South, or Southern Conference (NJCAA).

Southern Conference

Association| NCAA
Founded| 1921; 104 years ago (1921)
Commissioner| Michael Cross (since 2023)
Sports fielded|

* 21
* men's: 11
* women's: 9
* coeducational: 1

Division| Division I
Subdivision| FCS
No. of teams| 10
Headquarters| Spartanburg, South Carolina
Region| Southeast
Official website| soconsports.com
Locations

The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA). Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Established in 1921, the Southern Conference ranks as the fifth-oldest major college athletic conference in the United States, and either the third or fourth oldest in continuous operation, depending on definitions.[1][i]

The Southern Conference is considered one of the stronger football conferences in the Football Championship Subdivision and is considered a mid-major conference in basketball. The three-time Division I NCAA Football champion Appalachian State Mountaineers were a member of the conference when they stunned the fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines 34–32 on September 1, 2007.[2] The Davidson Wildcats reached the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament by upsetting power programs Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Wisconsin.[3] More recently, the six-time Division I NCAA football champion Georgia Southern Eagles stunned Southeastern Conference power-house Florida Gators 26–20 in The Swamp on November 23, 2013—the first loss to a lower-division opponent in the Florida program's history.[4] In 2015, Furman defeated UCF 16–15 and The Citadel topped South Carolina 23–22 for their second win over the Gamecocks in the past three meetings. On September 4, 2021, East Tennessee State University stunned Vanderbilt 23–3 in their opening game. The SoCon also frequently sees multiple teams selected to participate in the NCAA Division I baseball championship.[5]

The SoCon was the first conference to use the three-point field goal in basketball in a November 29, 1980, game at Western Carolina against Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where Ronnie Carr shot the historic shot from 22 feet (6.7 m) away and the Catamounts won 77–70.[6][7]

## History

[edit]

Southern Conference

120km
75miles

Chattanooga

Liberty

Presbyterian

North Georgia

Georgia Southern

Gardner-Webb

Davidson

Campbell

Bellarmine

Appalachian
State

Samford

Wofford

Western Carolina

VMI

UNC Greensboro

UAB

Mercer

Furman

East Tennessee State

Citadel

Location of SoCon members:  full member,  associate member,  future associate member

Conference Commissioners  Wallace Wade | 1951–1960

|

Lloyd Jordon  | 1960–1973
Ken Germann | 1974–1986
Dave Hart | 1986–1991
Wright Waters  | 1991–1998
Alfred B. White  | 1998–2001
Danny Morrison  | 2001–2005
John Iamarino  | 2006–2019
Jim Schaus | 2019–2023
Michael Cross  | 2023–present

Further information: 1955 All-Southern Conference football team

Talks of a new conference for Southern athletics had started as early as fall of 1920.[8] The conference was formed on February 25, 1921, in Atlanta as fourteen member institutions split from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.[1] Southern Conference charter members were Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Washington & Lee. In 1922, six more universities—Florida, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tulane, and Vanderbilt joined the conference. The first year of competition for the conference was in 1922, effective January 1.[9][10] The new rules banned freshman play.[11] Later additions included Sewanee (1924), Virginia Military Institute (1924), and Duke (1929).

The SoCon is particularly notable for having spawned two other major conferences. In 1932, the 13 schools located south and west of the Appalachians (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, University of the South (Sewanee), Tennessee, Tulane, and Vanderbilt) all departed the SoCon to form the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In 1953, seven additional schools (Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest) withdrew from the SoCon to form the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[1] The ACC and SEC have gone on to surpass their parent conference in prestige; while the ACC and SEC are considered "power" conferences in Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A), the SoCon dropped to Division I-AA (FCS) in 1982, four years after the top division was split into two levels in 1978.

The SoCon became the first league to hold a post-season basketball tournament to decide a conference champion. Although first played in 1921, it did not become "official" until 1922, and in its first few years included teams which were not conference members.[12] Held at the Municipal Auditorium in Atlanta from February 24 to March 2, 1922, the first meeting was won by North Carolina who defeated non-member Mercer in the Finals 40–25.[13] The SoCon Basketball Tournament continues as the nation's oldest conference tournament. The next-oldest tournament overall is the SEC men's basketball tournament, founded in 1933, but that event was suspended after its 1952 edition and did not resume until 1979. With the demise of the Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2013, whose tournament had been continuously held since 1936, the next-oldest conference tournament in continuous existence is now the ACC men's basketball tournament, first held in 1954.

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current full members

[edit]

The all-sports membership changed to 10 schools in 2014 following the departure of Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, and Georgia Southern, plus the arrival of East Tennessee State (ETSU), Mercer, and VMI. The current football membership stands at nine. UNC Greensboro does not sponsor football, while ETSU relaunched its previously dormant football program in 2015 and rejoined SoCon football in 2016 after one season as an independent.[14]

The 10 members of the Southern Conference are:

Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Type | Enrollment | Endowment
(millions) | Nickname | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga, Tennessee | 1886  | 1976  | Public  | 11,728  | $195  | Mocs |
The Citadel | Charleston, South Carolina | 1842  | 1936  | Senior Military College | 3,693  | $423.6  | Bulldogs |
East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, Tennessee | 1911  | 2014[a] | Public  | 9,151  | $87.8  | Buccaneers |
Furman University | Greenville, South Carolina | 1826  | 1936  | Private | 2,629  | $812  | Paladins |
Mercer University | Macon, Georgia | 1833  | 2014  | 9,026  | $502  | Bears |
Samford University | Homewood, Alabama | 1841  | 2008  | 5,729  | $403.5  | Bulldogs |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, North Carolina | 1891  | 1997  | Public  | 19,764  | $368.6  | Spartans |
Virginia Military Institute
(VMI)  | Lexington, Virginia | 1839  | 2014[b] | Senior Military College | 1,772  | $703.1  | Keydets |
Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, North Carolina | 1889  | 1976  | Public  | 12,243  | $130  | Catamounts |
Wofford College | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1854  | 1997  | Private  | 1,773  | $417.4  | Terriers |

Notes

1. ^ ETSU was previously a Southern Conference member from 1978 to 2005.[14]
2. ^ VMI was previously a Southern Conference member from 1924 to 2003.[14]

### Associate members

[edit]

On January 9, 2014, the SoCon and Atlantic Sun Conference, now known as the ASUN Conference, announced a new alliance in lacrosse that took effect with the 2015 spring season (2014–15 school year). Under its terms, sponsorship of men's lacrosse shifted from the ASUN to the SoCon, while women's lacrosse sponsorship remained with the ASUN. Bellarmine, which had announced it would join the ASUN for men's lacrosse for the 2015 spring season, instead joined the SoCon.[15] The alliance remains in effect in men's lacrosse, but the leagues amicably ended their full alliance in women's lacrosse once the SoCon began sponsoring that sport in the 2018 spring season (2017–18 school year).[16] However, the conferences maintained their working relationship in women's lacrosse, with the SoCon adding Coastal Carolina as an associate member effective with the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year) in order to keep both conferences at five women's lacrosse members for 2021.[17] Coastal was intended to play in SoCon women's lacrosse in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 school year) as well, but the SoCon decided to drop the sport after the 2021 spring season (2020–21 school year). While no formal announcement was made, the SoCon–ASUN women's lacrosse partnership definitively ended at that time, as the three full SoCon members who sponsored women's lacrosse moved that sport to the Big South Conference. Coastal and Delaware State both returned women's lacrosse to the ASUN Conference.[18]

The men's lacrosse partnership took a slightly different form from the 2022 spring season (2021–22 school year) forward, as the ASUN reinstated its men's lacrosse league. The two full ASUN members with men's lacrosse programs separated, with Jacksonville remaining in SoCon men's lacrosse while Bellarmine joined the ASUN men's lacrosse league. SoCon associate Air Force also left for ASUN men's lacrosse.[19] The SoCon maintained its automatic NCAA tournament berth with the addition of Hampton.[20]

Before the addition of Hampton men's lacrosse, the most recent addition to the associate membership was Presbyterian wrestling, which joined during summer 2019.[21] Two women's lacrosse members, Central Michigan and Detroit Mercy, left after the 2020 season (2019–20 school year) to join the new women's lacrosse league of Central's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference;[22] this move contributed to the eventual demise of the SoCon women's lacrosse league.

Men's soccer member Belmont left the SoCon after the 2021–22 school year when it joined the Missouri Valley Conference, which sponsors that sport.[23] At the same time, Hampton moved men's lacrosse to its new full-time home of the Colonial Athletic Association, now known as the Coastal Athletic Association.[24]

The addition of men's lacrosse by the Atlantic 10 Conference, announced on May 23, 2022,[25] led to the demise of the SoCon men's lacrosse league after the 2022 season. In addition to Hampton joining the CAA, SoCon associate members High Point and Richmond (the latter a full A-10 member) moved to the A-10, and Jacksonville returned to ASUN men's lacrosse.

In the table below, the "Joined" column denotes the start of the school year in which the institution became an associate member, which for spring sports differs from the first season of competition.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Colors  | Sport  | Primary conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)  | Birmingham, Alabama | 1969  | 2016  | Public  | 18,568  | Blazers |  | rifle[26] | The American
Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | 1899  | 2014[a] | 20,641  | Mountaineers |  | wrestling  | Sun Belt
Bellarmine University | Louisville, Kentucky | 1950  | 2020  | Private  | 3,846  | Knights |  | wrestling  | ASUN
Campbell University | Buies Creek, North Carolina | 1887  | 2011  | 11,241  | Fighting Camels |  | wrestling  | CAA
Davidson College | Davidson, North Carolina | 1837  | 2014[b] | 1,850  | Wildcats |  | wrestling  | Atlantic 10
Gardner–Webb University | Boiling Springs, North Carolina | 1905  | 2011  | 5,000  | Runnin' Bulldogs |  | wrestling  | Big South
Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906  | 2016  | Public  | 20,517  | Eagles |  | rifle[26] | Sun Belt
University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Georgia | 1873[c] | 2016  | Public  | 16,064  | Nighthawks |  | rifle[26] | Peach Belt[d]
Presbyterian College | Clinton, South Carolina | 1880  | 2019  | Private  | 1,403  | Blue Hose |  | wrestling  | Big South

Notes

1. ^ The 2014 date reflects the departure of Appalachian State from the SoCon to join the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers have competed in SoCon wrestling continuously since the league first sponsored the sport in 1993–94.
2. ^ The 2014 date reflects the departure of Davidson from the SoCon to join the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Wildcats have competed in SoCon wrestling continuously since the league first sponsored the sport in 1993–94.
3. ^ On January 10, 2012, the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of North Georgia College and State University and Gainesville State College to form a new institution, the University of North Georgia in January 2013.
4. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

### Future associate members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joins  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Colors  | Sport  | Primary Conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Liberty University | Lynchburg, Virginia | 1971  | 2026  | Private  | 16,000[a] | Flames |  | men's soccer  | CUSA

Notes

1. ^ Approximate on-campus enrollment. Including online students, Liberty claims an enrollment of over 130,000.

### Former full members

[edit]

Most former members are currently members of either the Southeastern Conference or the Atlantic Coast Conference. Two of the former full members, Appalachian State and Davidson, maintain SoCon associate membership in wrestling. A third former full member, Georgia Southern, became an associate member in rifle when the SoCon added the sport for the 2016–17 school year.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Nickname  | Colors  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 1831  | 1921  | 1932  | Crimson Tide |  | SEC
Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | 1899  | 1971  | 2014  | Mountaineers |  | Sun Belt
Auburn University | Auburn, Alabama | 1856  | 1921  | 1932  | Tigers |  | SEC
College of Charleston | Charleston, South Carolina | 1770  | 1998  | 2013  | Cougars |  | CAA
Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina | 1889  | 1921  | 1953  | Tigers |  | ACC
Davidson College | Davidson, North Carolina | 1837  | 1936  | 1988  | Wildcats |  | Atlantic 10
1992  | 2014
Duke University | Durham, North Carolina | 1838  | 1928  | 1953  | Blue Devils |  | ACC
East Carolina University | Greenville, North Carolina | 1907  | 1964  | 1976  | Pirates |  | The American
Elon University | Elon, North Carolina | 1889  | 2003  | 2014  | Phoenix |  | CAA
University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida | 1853  | 1922  | 1932  | Gators |  | SEC
George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | 1821  | 1941  | 1970  | Colonials[a] |  | Atlantic 10
University of Georgia | Athens, Georgia | 1785  | 1921  | 1932  | Bulldogs |  | SEC
Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | 1906  | 1992  | 2014  | Eagles |  | Sun Belt
Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Georgia | 1885  | 1921  | 1932  | Yellow Jackets |  | ACC
University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | 1865  | Wildcats |  | SEC
Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | 1860  | 1922  | Tigers |
Marshall University | Huntington, West Virginia | 1837  | 1976  | 1997  | Thundering Herd |  | Sun Belt
University of Maryland, College Park | College Park, Maryland | 1856  | 1923  | 1953  | Terrapins |  | Big Ten
University of Mississippi | Oxford, Mississippi | 1848  | 1922  | 1932  | Rebels |  | SEC
Mississippi State University | Starkville, Mississippi | 1878  | 1921  | Bulldogs |
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | 1789  | 1953  | Tar Heels |  | ACC
North Carolina State University | Raleigh, North Carolina | 1887  | Wolfpack |
University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | 1830  | 1936  | 1976  | Spiders |  | Atlantic 10
Sewanee: The University
of the South | Sewanee, Tennessee | 1857  | 1923  | 1932  | Tigers |  | SAA[b]
University of South Carolina | Columbia, South Carolina | 1801  | 1922  | 1953  | Gamecocks |  | SEC
University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Tennessee | 1794  | 1921  | 1932  | Volunteers |
Tulane University | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1834  | 1922  | Green Wave |  | The American
Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1873  | Commodores |  | SEC
University of Virginia | Charlottesville, Virginia | 1819  | 1921  | 1937  | Cavaliers |  | ACC
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University | Blacksburg, Virginia | 1872  | 1965  | Hokies |
Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 1834  | 1936  | 1953  | Demon Deacons |
Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | 1749  | 1921  | 1958  | Generals |  | ODAC[b]
West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | 1867  | 1950  | 1968  | Mountaineers |  | Big 12
College of William & Mary | Williamsburg, Virginia | 1693  | 1936  | 1977  | Tribe |  | CAA

1. ^ George Washington's nickname throughout its SoCon tenure was Colonials. The current nickname of Revolutionaries was adopted in 2023.
2. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

#### Former associate members

[edit]

In the table below, the "Joined" and "Left" columns denotes the calendar year in which each school joined and left the SoCon. For fall sports, the year of departure differs from the final year of competition. For spring sports, the year of arrival differs from the first season of competition.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Joined  | Left  | Type  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Colors  | SoCon
sport  | Primary
conference
during SoCon
associate membership  | Current
conference
in former
SoCon sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

United States Air Force Academy | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 1954  | 2015  | 2021  | Federal
(Military) | 4,417  | Falcons |  | lacrosse (m)  | Mountain West | ASUN
Bellarmine University | Louisville, Kentucky | 1950  | 2014  | 2021  | Private  | 3,369  | Knights |  | lacrosse (m)  | GLVC[a],
ASUN[b] | ASUN
Belmont University | Nashville, Tennessee | 1890  | 2018  | 2022  | Private  | 8,080  | Bruins |  | soccer (m)  | OVC | MVC
Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 1892  | 2017  | 2020  | Public  | 21,705  | Chippewas |  | lacrosse (w)  | MAC
Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | 1954  | 2020  | 2021  | Public  | 10,484  | Chanticleers |  | lacrosse (w)  | Sun Belt | ASUN
Delaware State University | Dover, Delaware | 1891  | 2017  | 2021  | Public
(HBCU) | 5,054  | Hornets |  | lacrosse (w)  | MEAC | Northeast
University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | 1870  | 2017  | 2020  | Private  | 5,700  | Titans |  | lacrosse (w)  | Horizon | MAC
Hampton University | Hampton, Virginia | 1868  | 2021  | 2022  | Private  | 4,321  | Pirates |  | lacrosse (m)  | Big South | CAA
High Point University | High Point, North Carolina | 1924  | 2014  | 2022  | Private  | 4,500  | Panthers |  | lacrosse (m)[15] | Big South | Atlantic 10
Jacksonville University | Jacksonville, Florida | 1934  | 2014  | 2022  | Private  | 3,741  | Dolphins |  | lacrosse (m)[15] | ASUN
University of Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | 1830  | 2014  | 2022  | Private  | 4,361  | Spiders |  | lacrosse (m)[15] | Atlantic 10

1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
2. ^ Bellarmine had been a member of the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference from that league's formation in 1978 until moving to Division I in 2020 as a new member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

### SoCon membership timeline

[edit]

Full members Full members (except football) Other Conference Other Conference

* Due to space limitations, one portion of Washington and Lee's affiliation history is not indicated in the table. In 1958, W&L stopped awarding athletic scholarships; from then until 1962, it was an independent in what was then the NCAA College Division (which was split in 1973 to form today's Divisions II and III).

## Sports

[edit]

The Southern Conference sponsors championship competition in 11 men's, 9 women's, and one co-educational NCAA-sanctioned sports.[27][better source needed] Five schools are associate members for wrestling. Under a cooperative agreement with the ASUN Conference, the SoCon began sponsoring men's lacrosse in the 2014–15 school year (2015 season) with three full members (Furman, Mercer, VMI) and four associates (Bellarmine, High Point, Jacksonville, Richmond). SoCon men's lacrosse has since added Air Force. Women's lacrosse was sponsored by the ASUN through the 2017 season,[15] after which the SoCon launched its own women's lacrosse league.[16] Beginning in the 2016–17 academic year, after a 30-year hiatus, the SoCon resumed rifle as its 21st sport. Members for conference competition are full members The Citadel, VMI, and Wofford as well as associate members UAB, Georgia Southern, and North Georgia. The SoCon is one of only two all-sports conferences to sponsor rifle, joining the Ohio Valley Conference. Rifle is technically a men's sport for NCAA purposes, but men's, women's, and co-ed teams all compete against each other.[28] Women's lacrosse was added as the 22nd sport for 2017–18, but was dropped after the 2020–21 school year.[29]

The SoCon dropped men's lacrosse after the 2022 season. Affiliate member Hampton joined the Colonial Athletic Association, which sponsors that sport, and the Atlantic 10 Conference, full-time home to men's lacrosse affiliate Richmond, launched a men's lacrosse league in the 2023 season, also taking in another SoCon affiliate in High Point.[25] With SoCon men's lacrosse being gutted by these changes, VMI moved that sport to its former men's lacrosse home of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and the two remaining men's lacrosse members, Jacksonville and Mercer, moved that sport to the ASUN.[25][30][31]

Teams in Southern Conference competition Sport | Men's | Women's | Co-ed

|
|
|

Baseball | 8 | – | –
Basketball | 10 | 8 | –
Cross Country | 10 | 10 | –
Football | 9 | – | –
Golf | 8 | 9 | –
Rifle | 2 | 3 | 3
Soccer | 6 | 10 | –
Softball | – | 8 | –
Tennis | 8 | 8 | –
Track and Field (Indoor) | 9 | 9 | –
Track and Field (Outdoor) | 9 | 10 | –
Volleyball | – | 9 | –
Wrestling | 9 | – | –

### Men's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Football | Golf | Rifle[a] | Soccer | Tennis | Track & field
(indoor) | Track & field
(outdoor) | Wrestling | Total SoCon sports

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chattanooga | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | 6
The Citadel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[b] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
East Tennessee State | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 8
Furman | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 8
Mercer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 8
Samford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 8
UNC Greensboro | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 8
VMI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes[b] | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Western Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 7
Wofford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[c] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 10
Totals | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 3+2[d] | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 3+6[e] | 82+8

Notes

1. ^ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and co-ed teams all compete against each other.
2. ^ a b Men's rifle team; school also fields a women's team.
3. ^ Co-ed rifle team
4. ^ Associates North Georgia and UAB, both with co-ed teams
5. ^ Associates Appalachian State, Bellarmine, Campbell, Davidson, Gardner–Webb, and Presbyterian

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southern Conference which are played by SoCon schools:

School | Lacrosse | Swimming &
diving

|
|

Mercer | ASUN | No
VMI | NEC | America East

### Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]

School | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Rifle[a] | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & field
(indoor) | Track & field
(outdoor) | Volleyball | Total SoCon teams

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chattanooga | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
The Citadel | No | Yes | Yes | Yes[b] | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7
East Tennessee State | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Furman | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Mercer | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | 9
Samford | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
UNC Greensboro | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
VMI | No | Yes | No | Yes[b] | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 5
Western Carolina | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9
Wofford | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[c] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10
Totals | 8 | 10 | 9 | 3+3[d] | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 87+4

Notes

1. ^ Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and co-ed teams all compete against each other.
2. ^ a b Women's rifle team; school also fields a men's team.
3. ^ Co-ed rifle team
4. ^ Associate members Georgia Southern (women-only team), North Georgia (co-ed team), and UAB (co-ed team)

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Southern Conference which are played by SoCon schools:

School | Beach volleyball | Lacrosse | Swimming &
diving | Water polo

|
|
|
|

Chattanooga | OVC | No | No | No
Furman | No | Big South | No | No
Mercer | Sun Belt | Big South | No | No
VMI | No | No | America East | MAAC
Wofford | No | Big South | No | No

## Facilities

[edit]

School  | Football stadium  | Capacity  | Basketball arena  | Capacity  | Baseball stadium  | Capacity  | Softball stadium  | Capacity  | Soccer field  | Capacity

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Chattanooga | Finley Stadium | 20,668  | McKenzie Arena | 10,928  | Non-baseball school | Jim Frost Stadium | 3,000  | Finley Stadium | 20,668
Citadel | Johnson Hagood Stadium | 11,500  | McAlister Field House | 6,000  | Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park | 6,000  | Non-softball school | Non-soccer school
East Tennessee State | William B. Greene Jr. Stadium | 7,694[a] | Freedom Hall Civic Center | 8,500  | Thomas Stadium | 1,200  | Betty Basler Field | 500+  | Summers-Taylor Stadium | 2,000+
Furman | Paladin Stadium | 16,000  | Timmons Arena | 5,000  | Non-baseball school | Pepsi Softball Stadium | 300  | Eugene E. Stone III Stadium | 3,000
Mercer | Five Star Stadium | 10,200  | Hawkins Arena | 3,500  | Claude Smith Field | 500  | Sikes Field | 300  | Betts Stadium | 500
Samford | Pete Hanna Stadium | 6,700  | Pete Hanna Center | 4,974  | Joe Lee Griffin Stadium | 1,000  | J.T. Haywood Field House | 200  | Samford Track and Soccer Complex | 1,200
UNC Greensboro | Non-football school | First Horizon Coliseum (men's)
Fleming Gymnasium (women's)  | 7,617
2,320  | UNCG Baseball Stadium | 3,500  | UNCG Softball Stadium | 500+  | UNCG Soccer Stadium | 3,540
VMI | Alumni Memorial Field | 10,000  | Cameron Hall | 5,020  | Gray–Minor Stadium | 1,400  | Non-softball school | Patchin Field | 1,000
Western Carolina | E. J. Whitmire Stadium | 13,742  | Ramsey Center | 7,826  | Hennon Stadium | 1,500  | Catamount Softball Complex | 250+  | Catamount Athletic Complex | 1,000
Wofford | Gibbs Stadium | 13,000  | Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium | 3,400  | Russell C. King Field | 2,500  | Non-softball school | Snyder Field | 2,250

Notes

1. ^ Seated capacity; 10,000+ with standing room

## Conference champions

[edit]

### Football

[edit]

See also: College Football All-Southern Team

This is a list of recent champions. For the full history, see List of Southern Conference football champions.

Year  | Champion  | Record

|
|

2014 | Chattanooga | 7–0
2015 | Chattanooga†
The Citadel | 6–1
2016 | The Citadel†  | 8–0
2017 | Wofford†  | 7–1
2018 | East Tennessee State
Furman
Wofford†  | 6–2
2019 | Wofford†  | 7–1
2020 | VMI†  | 6–1
2021 | East Tennessee State†  | 7–1
2022 | Samford†  | 8–0
2023 | Furman†  | 7–1
2024 | Mercer†  | 10–2

† Automatic bid to NCAA Division I Football Championship

### Men's basketball

[edit]

This is a partial list of the last 10 regular-season and tournament champions. For the full history, see List of Southern Conference men's basketball champions.

Year  | Regular season champion  | Record  | Tournament champion

|
|
|

2015–16 | Chattanooga | 15–3  | Chattanooga
2016–17 | East Tennessee State[a]
UNC Greensboro
Furman | 14–4  | East Tennessee State
2017–18 | UNC Greensboro | 15–3  | UNC Greensboro
2018–19 | Wofford | 18–0  | Wofford
2019–20 | East Tennessee State | 16–2  | East Tennessee State
2020–21 | UNC Greensboro | 13–5  | UNC Greensboro
2021–22 | Chattanooga | 14–4  | Chattanooga
2022–23 | Furman[a]
Samford | 15–3  | Furman
2023–24 | Samford | 15–3  | Samford
2024–25 | Chattanooga | 15–3  | Wofford

1. ^ a b Listed in order of seeding in the conference tournament

### Women's basketball

[edit]

This is a partial list of the last 10 tournament champions. For the full history, see Southern Conference women's basketball tournament

Year  | Champion

|

2016  | Chattanooga
2017  | Chattanooga
2018  | Mercer
2019  | Mercer
2020  | Samford
2021  | Mercer
2022  | Mercer
2023  | Chattanooga
2024  | Chattanooga
2025  | UNC Greensboro

### Baseball

[edit]

This is a partial list of the last 10 champions. For the full history, see Southern Conference baseball tournament.

Year  | Reg. season champion  | Tournament champion

|
|

2014 | Western Carolina | Georgia Southern
2015 | Mercer | Mercer
2016 | Mercer | Western Carolina
2017 | Mercer | UNC Greensboro
2018 | UNC Greensboro | Samford
2019 | Samford | Mercer
2020  | Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 | Wofford | Samford
2022 | Wofford | UNC Greensboro
2023 | Samford | Samford
2024 | UNC Greensboro | Wofford

### Rifle

[edit]

Year  | Air rifle champion  | Smallbore champion  | Overall champion

|
|
|

2017  | Georgia Southern | North Georgia | North Georgia
2018  | North Georgia | North Georgia | North Georgia
2019  | Georgia Southern | UAB | UAB
2020  | North Georgia | UAB | UAB
2021  | North Georgia | Georgia Southern | North Georgia
2022  | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | North Georgia
2023  | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | The Citadel
2024  | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern
2025  | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern | Georgia Southern

### Men's Lacrosse

[edit]

Year  | Champion

|

2015  | High Point
2016  | Air Force
2017  | Air Force
2018  | Richmond
2019  | Richmond
2020  | Not Held
2021  | High Point

## Commissioner's and Germann Cups

[edit]

The Commissioner's and Germann Cups are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference.[32] The Commissioner's Cup was inaugurated in 1970. The Germann Cup, named for former Southern Conference Commissioner Ken Germann, was first awarded in 1987. The completion of the 2013–2014 athletics season saw Appalachian State winning its 33rd Commissioner's Cup and Furman its 13th Germann Cup.[33]

Year | Commissioner's Cup | Germann Cup

|
|

1969–70 | East Carolina
William & Mary | —
1970–71 | William & Mary | —
1971–72 | William & Mary | —
1972–73 | William & Mary | —
1973–74 | East Carolina | —
1974–75 | East Carolina | —
1975–76 | William & Mary | —
1976–77 | East Carolina | —
1977–78 | Appalachian State | —
1978–79 | Appalachian State | —
1979–80 | Appalachian State | —
1980–81 | Appalachian State | —
1981–82 | Appalachian State | —
1982–83 | East Tennessee State | —
1983–84 | Appalachian State | —
1984–85 | Appalachian State | —
1985–86 | Appalachian State | —
1986–87 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
1987–88 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
1988–89 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
1989–90 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
1990–91 | Furman | Appalachian State
1991–92 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
1992–93 | Appalachian State | Furman
1993–94 | Appalachian State | Furman
1994–95 | Appalachian State | Furman
1995–96 | Appalachian State | Furman
1996–97 | Appalachian State | Furman
1997–98 | Appalachian State | Furman
1998–99 | Appalachian State | Furman
1999–00  | Appalachian State | Furman
2000–01 | Appalachian State | Furman
2001–02 | Appalachian State | Furman
2002–03 | Appalachian State | Furman
2003–04 | Appalachian State | Furman
2004–05  | Chattanooga | College of Charleston
2005–06 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
2006–07 | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
2007–08  | Appalachian State | Chattanooga
2008–09  | Appalachian State | College of Charleston
2009–10  | Appalachian State | Samford
2010–11  | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
2011–12  | Appalachian State | College of Charleston
2012–13  | Appalachian State | Appalachian State
2013–14  | Appalachian State | Furman
2014–15  | Chattanooga | Samford
2015–16  | East Tennessee State | Furman
2016–17  | East Tennessee State | Furman
2017–18  | East Tennessee State | Furman
2018–19  | East Tennessee State | Furman
2020–21  | Furman | Samford
2021–22  | East Tennessee State | Samford
2022–23  | Samford | Samford
2023–24  | Samford | Samford

## See also

[edit]

* Southern Conference Hall of Fame

## Relevant literature

[edit]

* Iamarino, John. 2020. A Proud History of Athletic History. Mercer University Press.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Among conferences currently in operation, the Big Ten (1896) and Missouri Valley (1907) are indisputably older. The Pac-12 Conference did not operate under its current charter until 1959 but claims the history of the Pacific Coast Conference, founded in 1915, as its own. The Southwest Conference (SWC) was founded in 1914 but ceased operation in 1996. The Big Eight Conference claimed the same history as the Missouri Valley from 1907 to 1928 during its existence; though it essentially merged with four SWC members to form the Big 12 Conference in 1996, the Big 12 does not claim the Big Eight's legacy. The Ivy League was formally organized in 1954 with athletic competition starting in 1955, but claims the history of the Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League, which competed from 1901 to 1955, as its own.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "The History of the Southern Conference". Southern Conference. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
2. ^ Stewart Mandel (2007-09-01). "The Mother of All Upsets". CNNSI. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007.
3. ^ "Curry's sweet touch continues as Davidson eludes Wisconsin". ESPN. Associated Press. 2008-03-28. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017.
4. ^ David Jones. "Florida falls to FCS opponent, won't be bowl eligible". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
5. ^ "Preseason Projected Field Of 64". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
6. ^ "A First in NCAA Basketball". catamountsports.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
7. ^ "Rivals.com". Collegebasketball.rivals.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
8. ^ "Southern Conference Talked By College Men". The Charlotte Observer. February 28, 1921. p. 8. Retrieved August 16, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Southern Conference, With 15 Colleges as Members, Is Formed At Atlanta Meeting". The Charlotte Observer. February 27, 1921. p. 24. Retrieved August 16, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ Fuzzy Woodruff (October 16, 1921). "Too Many Practice Games And Too Few Real Battles". News and Observer. p. 15. Retrieved August 16, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Drastic Rules Are Adopted By New Southern Conference To Keep College Sports Clean". The Atlanta Constitution. February 27, 1921. p. 2. Retrieved August 16, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "2014-15 Southern Conference men's basketball media guide". Issuu. Southern Conference. Dec 17, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
13. ^ "Southern Conference Tournament Results" (PDF). Southern Conference.
14. ^ a b c "SoCon Welcomes ETSU, Mercer and VMI" (Press release). Southern Conference. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
15. ^ a b c d e "SoCon, A-Sun Partner to Enhance Lacrosse" (Press release). Southern Conference. January 9, 2014. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
16. ^ a b "SoCon to Add Women's Lacrosse as 22nd Sport" (Press release). Southern Conference. January 31, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
17. ^ "Women's Lacrosse to Move to SoCon Beginning in 2021" (Press release). Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. February 7, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
18. ^ "Coastal Carolina and Delaware State Set to Rejoin ASUN Conference Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). ASUN Conference. July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
19. ^ "ASUN Conference Announces Formation of Men's Lacrosse League" (Press release). ASUN Conference. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
20. ^ "Hampton joining SoCon as associate member for men's lacrosse" (Press release). Southern Conference. February 5, 2021. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
21. ^ "PC Adds Men's and Women's Wrestling; Men to Join Southern Conference" (Press release). Presbyterian Blue Hose. December 7, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
22. ^ "Women's Lacrosse Coming in 2020-21; Detroit Mercy & Youngstown State As Affiliates" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. November 6, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
23. ^ "Belmont to Join MVC in 2022–23" (Press release). Missouri Valley Conference. September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
24. ^ "CAA Welcomes Hampton University, Monmouth University and Stony Brook University as New Members" (Press release). Colonial Athletic Association. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
25. ^ a b c "Atlantic 10 Conference Adds Men's Lacrosse as 22nd Championship Sport" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference !date=May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
26. ^ a b c "Southern Conference to Add Rifle as 21st Sport". Southern Conference. December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
27. ^ "Southern Conference". Southern Conference.
28. ^ "Southern Conference to add rifle as 21st sport". University of North Georgia. December 9, 2015. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
29. ^ "Big South Adds Three Associate Members in Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Big South Conference. June 7, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
30. ^ "Virginia Military Institute Rejoins MAAC Men's Lacrosse League" (Press release). Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. April 4, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
31. ^ "Jacksonville, Lindenwood & Mercer Joining #ASUNMLAX for 2023 Season" (Press release). ASUN Conference. March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
32. ^ "Southern Conference Commissioner's & Germann Cups". Southern Conference. 2007-06-04.
33. ^ "Southern Conference".

## External links

[edit]

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