Atlantic Sun Conference

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Atlantic Sun Conference
(A-Sun)
Atlantic Sun Conference logo
Established 1978
Association NCAA
Division Division I non-football
Members 10 (8 in 2014)
Sports fielded 19 (men's: 8; women's: 11)
Region Southeastern United States
Former names Trans America Athletic Conference (1978–2001)
Headquarters Macon, Georgia
Commissioner Ted Gumbart (since 2007)
Website atlanticsun.org
Locations
Atlantic Sun Conference locations

The Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and does not sponsor football. Originally established as the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in 1978,[1] its headquarters are located in Macon, Georgia.

Northern Kentucky University, which is transitioning from NCAA Division II sports to Division I, joined the A-Sun in 2012. The league's newest program replaced Belmont University, which moved to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC),[2] and maintained the membership roster at 10 schools. With the departure of East Tennessee State University and Mercer University to the Southern Conference, the A-Sun will have 8 members in 2014.

Contents

Membership history[edit]

Current members[edit]

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Nickname
East Tennessee State University* Johnson City, Tennessee 1911 Public 15,530 2005 Buccaneers
Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, Florida 1991 Public 11,594 2007 Eagles
Jacksonville University Jacksonville, Florida 1934 Private 3,400 1998 Dolphins
Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia 1963 Public 24,600 2005 Owls
Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee 1891 Private 3,000 2003 Bisons
Mercer University* Macon, Georgia 1833 Private 8,300 1978 Bears
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, Kentucky 1968 Public 15,405 2012 Norse
University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida 1969 Public 16,500 2005 Ospreys
University of South Carolina Upstate Spartanburg, South Carolina 1967 Public 6,000 2007 Spartans
Stetson University DeLand, Florida 1883 Private 2,200 1985 Hatters
Notes
  • Departing members in pink.
  • * - East Tennessee State and Mercer are leaving for the Southern Conference in 2014.
    • * - The ETSU Buccaneers will re-join the SoCon after leaving on July 1, 2005 to join the A-Sun.

Associate members[edit]

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Nickname Primary Conference A-Sun Sports
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, Michigan 1877 Private 5,700 2012–13 Titans Horizon League women's lacrosse
Elon University†* Elon, North Carolina 1889 Private 5,916 2013–14 Phoenix SoCon women's lacrosse
Furman University†^ Greenville, South Carolina 1826 Private 3,121 2013–14 Paladins SoCon men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse
High Point University^ High Point, North Carolina 1924 Private 3,603 2013–14 Panthers Big South men's lacrosse
Howard University Washington, D.C. 1867 Private 10,991 2012–13 Bison MEAC women's lacrosse
University of Richmond^ Richmond, Virginia 1830 Private 4,249 2013–14 Spiders Atlantic 10 men's lacrosse
Virginia Military Institute^ Lexington, Virginia 1839 Public 1,500 2013–14 Keydets Big South men's lacrosse

† - Future member; will join the Atlantic Sun for women's lacrosse for the 2014 women's lacrosse season (2013–14 school year).

^ - Future member; will join the Atlantic Sun for men's lacrosse for the 2014 men's lacrosse season (2013–14 school year), the first year the conference will sponsor the sport.

* - Elon will spend only one season in the Atlantic Sun for women's lacrosse, as they will join the Colonial Athletic Association, which sponsors the sport, on July 1, 2014.

Former members[edit]

School names and nicknames listed here reflect those used during the schools' time in the TAAC/A-Sun. One school has changed both its name and nickname, and three others have changed only their nicknames:

  • Pan American adopted its current name of the University of Texas–Pan American in 1989.
  • Oklahoma City adopted its current nickname of Stars in 1999.
  • Northeast Louisiana adopted its current name of the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1999. The school adopted its current nickname of Warhawks in 2006, when it joined the Sun Belt Conference.
  • FIU dropped the word "Golden" from its nickname in 2010, becoming simply the Panthers.
  • UCF dropped the word "Golden" from its nickname in 2007, becoming simply the Knights.
Institution Location Nickname Joined Left New Conference Classification Current Conference
Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Chiefs 1978 1979 Midwestern City[3] NCAA Division I non-football Sooner (SAC) (NAIA Division I)
University of Texas–Pan American Edinburg, Texas Broncs 1978 1980 NCAA D-I Independent NCAA Division I non-football Great West[4]
Northeast Louisiana University Monroe, Louisiana Indians 1978 1982 Sun Belt NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt
Houston Baptist University Houston, Texas Huskies 1978 1989 NAIA Independent NAIA D-I Great West[5]
Hardin–Simmons University Abilene, Texas Cowboys 1978 1990 American Southwest NCAA Division III American Southwest
Centenary College of Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana Gentlemen (men's)
Ladies (women's)		 1978 1999 NCAA D-I Independent NCAA Division I non-football SCAC (NCAA D-III)
Samford University Homewood, Alabama Bulldogs 1978 2003 OVC NCAA Division I FCS SoCon
Northwestern State University Natchitoches, Louisiana Demons 1979 1984 Southland NCAA Division I FCS Southland
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas Trojans 1979 1991 Sun Belt NCAA Division I FBS[6] Sun Belt
Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia Eagles 1979 1992 SoCon NCAA Division I FCS SoCon[7]
Nicholls State University Thibodaux, Louisiana Colonels 1982 1984 Gulf Star NCAA Division I FCS Southland
Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia Panthers 1983 2005 CAA NCAA Division I FBS[8] CAA[9]
University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Texas Roadrunners 1986 1991 Southland NCAA Division I FCS[10] WAC
Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana Lions 1991 1997 Southland NCAA Division I FCS Southland
Florida International University University Park, Florida Golden Panthers 1990 1998 Sun Belt NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt[11]
College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina Cougars 1991 1998 SoCon NCAA Division I FCS[12] SoCon
University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Golden Knights 1992 2005 C-USA NCAA Division I FBS C-USA[13]
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida Owls 1993 2006 Sun Belt NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt[14]
Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, Alabama Gamecocks 1995 2003 OVC NCAA Division I FCS OVC
Troy University Troy, Alabama Trojans 1997 2005 Sun Belt NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt
Gardner–Webb University Boiling Springs, North Carolina Runnin' Bulldogs 2002 2008 Big South NCAA Division I FCS Big South
Campbell University Buies Creek, North Carolina Fighting Camels 1994 2011 Big South NCAA Division I FCS[15] Big South
Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee Bruins 2001 2012 OVC NCAA Division I FCS[16][17] OVC

Membership timeline[edit]

Northern Kentucky University University of South Carolina Upstate Florida Gulf Coast University University of North Florida Kennesaw State University East Tennessee State University Lipscomb University Gardner-Webb University Belmont University Jacksonville University Troy University Jacksonville State University Campbell University Florida Atlantic University University of Central Florida College of Charleston Southeastern Louisiana University Florida International University The University of Texas at San Antonio Stetson University Georgia State University Nicholls State University Georgia Southern University University of Arkansas at Little Rock Northwestern State University Mercer University Samford University Centenary College of Louisiana Hardin–Simmons University Houston Baptist University University of Louisiana at Monroe The University of Texas–Pan American Oklahoma City University

  • Northeast Louisiana became the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) in 1999.
  • Pan American now brands itself for athletic purposes as UTPA, but media generally refer to the school by its more complete name of Texas–Pan American.

Sports sponsored[edit]

Locations of current Atlantic Sun Conference full member institutions.

The Atlantic Sun Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[18] Howard and Detroit are associate members for lacrosse. For the 2013–14 school year, the A-Sun will add five new associate members, all in lacrosse. High Point, Richmond, and VMI will join in men's lacrosse, Elon in women's lacrosse, and Furman in both.

Teams in Atlantic Sun Conference competition
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
10
-
Basketball
10
10
Cross Country
10
10
Golf
10
10
Lacrosse
-
5
Sand Volleyball
-
5
Soccer
9
10
Softball
-
10
Tennis
9
9
Track and Field (Indoor)
6
7
Track and Field (Outdoor)
6
7
Volleyball
-
10

Facilities[edit]

School Basketball arena Capacity Baseball stadium Capacity Soccer stadium Capacity
East Tennessee State ETSU/Mountain States Health Alliance Athletic Center 6,500 Thomas Stadium 1,200 Summers-Taylor Stadium 1,000
Florida Gulf Coast Alico Arena 4,500 Swanson Stadium 1,500 FGCU Soccer Complex 1,000
Jacksonville Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena (men)
Swisher Gymnasium (women)		 14,091
1,500		 John Sessions Stadium 1,500 Ashley Sports Complex 500
Kennessaw State KSU Convocation Center 4,792 Fred Stillwell Stadium 1,200 KSU Soccer Stadium 8,300
Lipscomb Allen Arena 5,028 Ken Dugan Field at Stephen Lee Marsh Stadium 1,500 Lipscomb Soccer Complex 600
Mercer Hawkins Arena 3,200 Claude Smith Field 500 Bear Field 500
North Florida UNF Arena 5,800 Harmon Stadium 1,000 Hodges Stadium 9,300
Northern Kentucky The Bank of Kentucky Center 9,400 Bill Aker Baseball Complex 500 NKU Soccer Stadium 1,000
Stetson Edmunds Center 5,000 Melching Field at Conrad Park 2,500 Stetson Soccer Complex 500
USC Upstate G. B. Hodge Center 1,535 Cleveland S. Harley Baseball Park 500 County U. Soccer Stadium 300
  • Departing member's facilities are shown in pink.

All sports championships[edit]

The Jesse C. Fletcher and Sherman Day Trophies are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference. The Bill Bibb Trophy, combining the men's and women's results for the best overall program, was first awarded in 2006-07; East Tennessee State has won all six years it has been awarded.[19]

Men's All Sports: Jesse C. Fletcher Trophy[edit]

Year Champion
1978-79 Oklahoma City
1979-80 Northeast Louisiana
1980-81 Northeast Louisiana
1981-82 Northeast Louisiana
1982-83 Georgia Southern
1983-84 Centenary
1984-85 Georgia Southern
1985-86 Houston Baptist
1986-87 Georgia Southern
1987-88 Georgia Southern
1988-89 Georgia Southern
1989-90 Georgia Southern
1990-91 Georgia Southern
1991-92 Florida International
1992-93 Florida International
1993-94 Florida International
1994-95 Central Florida
1995-96 Central Florida
1996-97 Florida International
1997-98 Georgia State
1998-99 Central Florida
1999-00 Georgia State
2000-01 Georgia State
2001-02 Georgia State
2002-03 Central Florida
2003-04 Central Florida
2004-05 Central Florida
2005-06 East Tennessee State
2006-07 East Tennessee State
2007-08 East Tennessee State
2008-09 East Tennessee State
2009-10 East Tennessee State
2010-11 East Tennessee State
2011-12 East Tennessee State

Women's All Sport: Sherman Day Trophy[edit]

Year Champion
1978-79 None
1979-80 None
1980-81 None
1981-82 None
1982-83 None
1983-84 None
1984-85 None
1985-86 Stetson, Georgia State
1986-87 Stetson
1987-88 Georgia State
1988-89 Georgia State
1989-90 Georgia State
1990-91 Florida International
1991-92 Florida International
1992-93 Georgia State
1993-94 Florida International
1994-95 Campbell
1995-96 Central Florida
1996-97 Central Florida
1997-98 Georgia State
1998-99 Central Florida
1999-00 Georgia State
2000-01 Georgia State
2001-02 Central Florida
2002-03 Central Florida
2003-04 Central Florida
2004-05 Central Florida
2005-06 Florida Atlantic
2006-07 East Tennessee State
2007-08 Jacksonville
2008-09 Jacksonville
2009-10 Kennesaw State
2010-11 Jacksonville
2011-12 Kennesaw State

Championships[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "Northern Kentucky to Join Atlantic Sun" (Press release). Atlantic Sun Conference. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011. 
  3. ^ The Midwestern City Conference is now known as the Horizon League.
  4. ^ UTPA joined the Great West, previously a football-only conference, when it became an all-sports conference in 2008. However, UTPA has not sponsored football since the 1940s, when it was a junior college, and the Great West dropped the sport after the 2011 season. UTPA has announced it will leave the Great West for the Western Athletic Conference in 2013.
  5. ^ Houston Baptist has announced that it will leave the Great West for the Southland Conference in 2013.
  6. ^ Although the Sun Belt Conference competes in football at the Division I FBS level, Arkansas-Little Rock does not sponsor the sport.
  7. ^ Georgia Southern will join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. As part of this move, it will begin a transition to FBS football in 2013.
  8. ^ Georgia State did not start its football program until 2010.
  9. ^ Georgia State will join the Sun Belt in 2013.
  10. ^ Although the Southland Conference competes in football at the Division I FCS level, UTSA did not sponsor the sport until 2011. It never competed in the Southland Conference in football; it started a two-year transition to FBS in 2011, joined the WAC in 2012, and will join Conference USA (C-USA) in 2013.
  11. ^ FIU will join C-USA in 2013.
  12. ^ Although the Southern Conference competes in football at the Division I FCS level, Charleston does not sponsor the sport. It has announced it will join the Colonial Athletic Association in 2013.
  13. ^ UCF has announced it will join the American Athletic Conference in 2013.
  14. ^ Florida Atlantic will join C-USA in 2013.
  15. ^ Campbell is a full member of the Big South, but does not participate in the Big South football conference. The school operates a non-scholarship FCS program in the Pioneer Football League.
  16. ^ "Belmont moving to Ohio Valley Conference in 2012-13". USA Today. December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011. 
  17. ^ Although the OVC sponsors Division I FCS football, Belmont has no football program.
  18. ^ http://www.atlanticsun.org/
  19. ^ Atlantic Sun: All Sports Race

External links[edit]

Atlantic Sun Conference
Full members
Associate members
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