Peach Belt Conference

Peach Belt Conference (PBC)
Established	1990
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	14
Sports fielded	13 (men's: 6; women's: 7)
Region	Southeastern United States
Headquarters	Augusta, Georgia
Commissioner	David Brunk (since 2007)
Website	peachbeltconference.org
Locations

The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt has developed a consistent history of excellence which continues to this day with 30 national championships and 27 national finalists. Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men’s and women’s basketball, the conference has expanded to 13 championship sports with the addition of women’s golf in the fall of 2009.

History

The conference traces its roots back to November 1988 when 11 schools first met in Greenville, S.C. to form a Division II conference. Following a second meeting on Dec. 3, 1989, five of those 11 schools, plus two others, formed the Peach Belt and begin play in fall 1990.

The seven charter members of the conference were Armstrong Atlantic State University, Columbus State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Lander University, USC Aiken and USC Upstate. The name Peach Belt Athletic Conference was adopted in January 1990 and modified to Peach Belt Conference in May 2000.

Augusta State University joined the conference in 1991 and UNC Pembroke became the ninth member on July 1, 1992. They were followed by Kennesaw State University on July 1, 1994, Clayton State University on July 1, 1995 and the University of North Florida on July 1, 1997. Kennesaw State and North Florida departed for the Division I ranks in 2005, USC Upstate did the same in 2007, and the conference welcomed in North Georgia College & State University in 2005 and Georgia Southwestern State University in 2006. In 2009-10, the Peach Belt expanded to 13 members, the most the league has ever had, with the additions of the University of Montevallo and Flagler College. The two schools also returned a league presence to Florida and broke new ground in Alabama.

The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing its first of many national championships. The Columbus State golf team took the honor by winning the 1992 national crown, the first of three golf championships the Cougars own. One year later, the Lander men's tennis team began their record-breaking run of eight straight national titles, the first PBC dynasty. Since then, USCA men's golf has won three straight national titles from 2004-06 while AASU women's tennis has captured four titles overall.

The 2010-11 season was one of the most memorable the league has ever had. Clayton State became the first PBC women’s basketball team to capture a national championship. Montevallo watched their men's basketball team reach the Elite Eight, eventually competing in the National Championship Game. Unfortunately, their run came to an end with a loss to Western Washington University. The Columbus State men’s tennis team reached the national semifinals while the Clayton State and Armstrong Atlantic State women’s tennis teams also played in the national semifinals. The North Georgia softball team made an unprecedented third straight appearance in the NCAA Women’s College World Series, while Columbus State’s Meshack Koyiaki registered a runner-up finish at the Men’s Cross Country National Championships. In all, 46 Peach Belt teams made appearances in the NCAA postseason, including seven men’s tennis teams and six each in the sports of men’s golf and women’s tennis.

David Brunk was named the second PBC commissioner in May 2007. Brunk replaced Marvin Vanover, who was the first PBC commissioner from 1991 to 2007. Brunk is charged with continuing the strong growth of the conference as its second era begins.

Dr. Kendall Blanchard, president of Georgia Southwestern State University, began the second of his two-year term as the league president in July 2011.

The conference currently holds championships in 13 sports, six for men and seven for women. They are men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, softball and men’s and women’s golf.

Member schools

Current members

The league currently has 14 full members:

Institution	Location	Nickname	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined
East Division
Armstrong Atlantic State University	Savannah, Georgia	Pirates	1935	Public	6,728	1990
Augusta State University	Augusta, Georgia	Jaguars	1785	Public	6,000	1991
Flagler College	St. Augustine, Florida	Saints	1968	Private	2,046	2009
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	Patriots	1970	Public	4,008	1990
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	Bearcats	1872	Public	3,000	1990
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, North Carolina	Braves	1887	Public	5,827	1992
University of South Carolina Aiken	Aiken, South Carolina	Pacers	1961	Public	3,280	1990
West Division
Clayton State University	Morrow, Georgia	Lakers	1969	Public	7,145	1995
Columbus State University	Columbus, Georgia	Cougars	1958	Public	8,597	1990
Georgia College & State University	Milledgeville, Georgia	Bobcats	1889	Public	6,041	1990
Georgia Southwestern State University	Americus, Georgia	Hurricanes	1906	Public	3,033	2006
University of Montevallo	Montevallo, Alabama	Falcons	1896	Public	3,000	2009
North Georgia College & State University	Dahlonega, Georgia	Saints	1873	Public	4,500	2005
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	Mountain Lions	1886	Private	1,035	2012

Former members

Institution	Location	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw, Georgia	Owls	1994	2005	Atlantic Sun
University of North Florida	Jacksonville, Florida	Ospreys	1997	2005	Atlantic Sun
University of South Carolina Upstate	Spartanburg, South Carolina	Spartans	1990	2007	Atlantic Sun

Membership timeline

External links

• Official website