USA South Athletic Conference
Intercollegiate athletic conference in the southeastern US
USA South Athletic Conference Formerly Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Association NCAA Founded 1963 Commissioner Dr. Tom Hart Sports fielded
Division Division III No. of teams 10 Headquarters Rome, Georgia Region South Official website usasouth.net
The USA South Athletic Conference (formerly the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference or the Dixie Conference ) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA 's Division III . Member schools are located in North Carolina and Virginia .
History
The Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was founded in 1963 as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with the philosophy that participation would be strictly amateur, so no athletic financial aid or scholarships would be awarded by its affiliate institutions. The six charter members were Charlotte College , College of Charleston , Methodist College , North Carolina Wesleyan College , St. Andrews Presbyterian College , and Lynchburg College .[ 1] National Collegiate Athletic Association divided into a three-division format, the Dixie Conference left the NAIA and moved into the non-scholarship NCAA Division III .[ 1]
On June 30, 2003, the conference changed to its name to the USA South Athletic Conference.[ 2]
During the 2010–11 school year, changes to the membership of the USA South were announced. Three colleges announced plans to join the USA South Conference beginning in the 2012–13 season while one departed the league. Piedmont College ,[ 3] LaGrange College ,[ 4] Maryville College joined the Great South Athletic Conference on July 1, 2012.
Shenandoah University left the USA South on the above date, to become a full member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), a league in which it held associate membership in several sports.
Christopher Newport University left the USA South after the 2012–13 season to join the Capital Athletic Conference in all sports except for football which remained a USA South affiliate member through the 2015 season.
On May 10, 2012, Covenant College and Huntingdon College announced plans to leave the Great South and join USA South Athletic Conference beginning in the 2013–14 season.
On May 6, 2015, the USA South announced that Agnes Scott College , Salem College , and Wesleyan College would leave the Great South Athletic Conference and join the USA South beginning in the 2016–17 school year.[ 5] Brevard College , transitioning from the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference to Division III, would join for 2017–18 and beyond.[ 6] Berea College , nearing completion of a transition from the NAIA to Division III, and Pfeiffer University , transitioning from the Division II Conference Carolinas to Division III. Both joined in 2017–18 as well.[ 7]
On June 27, 2017, Ferrum College , a conference member since 1988, announced that it would leave for the Old Dominion Athletic Conference after the 2017–18 school year.[ 8]
On December 11, 2019, the USA South announced the addition of Southern Virginia University who joined in the 2021–22 academic year.[ 9]
Later changes to the USA South membership came on March 8, 2021, when Averett University revealed its intention to leave the USA South and join Ferrum College in the ODAC as a full member in the 2022–23 academic year,[ 10] Belhaven University , then a member of the American Southwest Conference , was at first accepted for membership in the conference also for 2022–23.[ 11]
On February 18, 2022, the USA South Conference presidents announced a restructuring of the conference, resulting in all of its members outside North Carolina and Virginia—Agnes Scott, Berea, Covenant, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Maryville, Piedmont, and Wesleyan—leaving the USA South to form the new Collegiate Conference of the South [ 12]
USA South Athletic Conference
150km
Methodist
Piedmont
Maryville
LaGrange
Huntingdon
Belhaven
Southern Virginia
Pfeiffer
Brevard
Salem
Meredith
Mary Baldwin
William Peace
Greensboro
N.C Wesleyan
Location of USA South members:
Current Members
Associate Members
Departing Associate Members
Chronological timeline
1963 - The USA South was founded as the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. It was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Charter members included Charlotte College (now the University of North Carolina at Charlotte), the College of Charleston , Lynchburg College (now the University of Lynchburg), Methodist College (now Methodist University), North Carolina Wesleyan College (now North Carolina Wesleyan University), and St. Andrews Presbyterian College (now St. Andrews University), effective beginning the 1963-64 academic year.
1966 - Greensboro College joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1966-67 academic year.
1968 - The University of North Carolina at Greensboro joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1968-69 academic year.
1970
UNC Charlotte and the College of Charleston left the Dixie Conference, effective after the 1969-70 academic year.
Virginia Wesleyan College (now Virginia Wesleyan University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1970-71 academic year.
1972 - Christopher Newport College (now Christopher Newport University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1972-73 academic year.
1973 - The Dixie Conference left the NAIA to join the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), effective in the 1973-74 academic year.
1976 - Lynchburg left the Dixie Conference to join the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), effective after the 1975-76 academic year.
1978 - Averett College (now Averett University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1978-79 academic year.
1988
UNC Greensboro and St. Andrews Presbyterian left the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1987-88 academic year.
Ferrum College joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1988-89 academic year.
1989 - Virginia Wesleyan left the Dixie Conference to join the ODAC, effective after the 1988-89 academic year.
1992 - Shenandoah College (now Shenandoah University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 1992-93 academic year.
2000 - Chowan College (now Chowan University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 2000-01 academic year.
2003
Peace College (now William Peace University) joined the Dixie Conference, effective in the 2003-04 academic year.The Dixie Conference was rebranded as the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South), effective in the 2003-04 academic year.
2004 - Chowan left the USA South to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent , effective after the 2003-04 academic year. (Chowan would eventually join the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 2009.)
2005 - Maryville College joined the USA South as an associate member for football, effective in the 2005 fall season (2005-06 academic year).
2007 - Mary Baldwin College (now Mary Baldwin University) and Meredith College joined the USA South, effective in the 2007-08 academic year.
2009 - Agnes Scott College and LaGrange College joined the USA South as associate members for women's lacrosse, effective in the 2010 spring season (2009-10 academic year).
2012
Shenandoah left the USA South to join the ODAC, effective after the 2011-12 academic year.
Piedmont College joined the USA South (with LaGrange and Maryville adding the rest of their sports for full member status), effective in the 2012-13 academic year.
2013
2014 - Agnes Scott left the USA South as an associate member for women's lacrosse, effective after the 2014 spring season (2013-14 academic year).
2016
Christopher Newport left the USA South as an associate member for football, effective after the 2015 fall season (2015-16 academic year).
Salem College and Wesleyan College joined the USA South (with Agnes Scott re-joining, but for all sports), effective in the 2016-17 academic year.
2017 - Berea College , Brevard College and Pfeiffer University joined the USA South, effective in the 2017-18 academic year.
2018 - Ferrum left the USA South to join the ODAC, effective after the 2017-18 academic year.
2021 - Southern Virginia University joined the USA South, effective in the 2021-22 academic year.
2022
In an amicable conference split, Agnes Scott, Berea, Covenant, Huntingdon, LaGrange, Maryville, Piedmont, and Wesleyan left the USA South at the end of the 2021–22 academic year to form the new Collegiate Conference of the South
At the same time, Averett left the USA South to join the ODAC.
Also at that time, Belhaven University joined the USA South as an associate member for football. Belhaven was initially slated to join for all sports, but was admitted to the CCS as a full member instead. The three other CCS members that sponsor football (Huntingdon, LaGrange, and Maryville) became USA South football associates. Huntingdon and non-football Piedmont also became associates in women's golf and men's and women's lacrosse; LaGrange also became an associate in men's lacrosse; and Maryville became an associate in women's golf.
2025 - Maryville will leave the USA South as an associate member for football and women's golf, effective after the 2024-25 academic year.
Member schools
Current members
The USA South currently has 10 full members, all private schools, with Meredith as the league's only secular institution.
Institution
Location
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
Football?
Brevard College Brevard, North Carolina
1853
United Methodist
708
Tornados
2017
Yes
Greensboro College Greensboro, North Carolina
1838
United Methodist
1,233
Pride
1966
Yes
Mary Baldwin University [ a] Staunton, Virginia
1842
Presbyterian 2,242
Fighting Squirrels
2007
No
Meredith College [ b] Raleigh, North Carolina
1891
Nonsectarian
1,990
Avenging Angels
2007
No
Methodist University Fayetteville, North Carolina
1956
United Methodist
2,215
Monarchs
1963
Yes
North Carolina Wesleyan University Rocky Mount, North Carolina
1956
United Methodist
900
Battling Bishops
1963
Yes
Pfeiffer University Misenheimer, North Carolina
1885
United Methodist
1,200
Falcons
2017
No
Salem College [ b] Winston-Salem, North Carolina
1772
Moravian
565
Spirits
2016
No
Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, Virginia
1867
LDS Church
1,053
Knights
2021
Yes
William Peace University [ a] Raleigh, North Carolina
1857
Presbyterian
950
Pacers
2003
No
Notes
^ a b This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (William Peace since 2012–13, Mary Baldwin since 2017–18).
^ a b This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
Associate members
The USA South has five associate members, all private and faith-based schools that are full CCS members. All became charter CCS members in the 2022 conference split. Belhaven had been originally announced as an incoming USA South member for 2022, but instead opted to join the CCS for that school year.
Institution
Location
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
USA South
Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi
1883
Presbyterian (PCUSA)
3,245
Blazers
2022
football
Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama
1854
United Methodist
900
Hawks
2022
football,
LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia
1831
United Methodist
1,137
Panthers
2022
football,
Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee
1819
Presbyterian(PCUSA)
1,103
Scots
2022
football,
Piedmont University Demorest, Georgia
1897
United Church of Christ &Congregationalist
2,640
Lions
2022
men's lacrosse,
The USA South has twenty former full members, all but four were private schools:
Institution
Location
Founded
Affiliation
Enrollment
Nickname
Joined
Left
Current
Agnes Scott College Decatur, Georgia
1889
Presbyterian(PCUSA)
914
Scotties
2016
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Averett University Danville, Virginia
1859
Baptist
2,719
Cougars
1978
2022
Old Dominion (ODAC)
Berea College Berea, Kentucky
1855
Christian(unaffiliated)
1,613
Mountaineers
2017
2022
Heartland (HCAC)
Chowan College [ a] Murfreesboro, North Carolina
1848
Baptist
1,260
Hawks
2000
2004
Carolinas (CC) [ b]
Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia
1960
Public
4,793
Captains
1972
2013
Coast to Coast (C2C)
College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina
1770
Public
11,320
Cougars
1963
1970
Coastal (CAA) [ c]
Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia
1955
Presbyterian (PCA)
1,282
Scots &Lady Scots
2013
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Ferrum College Ferrum, Virginia
1913
United Methodist
1,100
Panthers
1988
2018
Old Dominion (ODAC)
Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama
1854
United Methodist
900
Hawks
2013
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia
1831
United Methodist
1,137
Panthers
2012
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Lynchburg College [ d] Lynchburg, Virginia
1903
Disciples of Christ
2,500
Fighting Hornets
1963
1976
Old Dominion (ODAC)
Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee
1819
Presbyterian(PCUSA)
1,103
Scots
2012
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Piedmont University Demorest, Georgia
1897
United Church of Christ &Congregationalist
2,640
Lions
2012
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Shenandoah University Winchester, Virginia
1875
United Methodist
1,767
Hornets
1992
2012
Old Dominion (ODAC)
St. Andrews Presbyterian University [ e] Laurinburg, North Carolina
1958
Presbyterian (PCUSA)
600
Knights
1963
1988
Appalachian (AAC) [ f]
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina
1961
Public
25,227
49ers
1963
1970
The American (AAC) [ c]
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina
1891
Public
18,502
Spartans
1968
1988
Southern (SoCon) [ c]
Virginia Wesleyan College [ g] Norfolk, Virginia
1961
United Methodist
1,446
Marlins
1970
1989
Old Dominion (ODAC)
Wesleyan College Macon, Georgia
1836
United Methodist
550
Wolves
2016
2022
C.C. of the South (CCS)
Notes
^ Currently known as Chowan University since 2006.
^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
^ Currently known as the University of Lynchburg since 2018.
^ Currently known as St. Andrews University since 2011.
^ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
^ Currently known as Virginia Wesleyan University since 2017.
Membership timeline
Sports
The conference sponsors championships in the following sports:
Departing members are displayed in red.
School
Baseball
Basketball
Cross country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track & field
Total USA
Brevard
Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y 8
Greensboro
Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y N 7
Mary Baldwin
Y Y Y N N N Y Y Y 6
Methodist
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
North Carolina Wesleyan
Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y 8
Pfeiffer
Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y 8
Southern Virginia
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
William Peace
Y Y Y N N Y Y Y Y 7
Totals
8
8
7
5+4
5
6+3
8
8
7
63+7
Affiliate members
Belhaven
Y 1
Huntingdon
Y Y 2
LaGrange
Y Y 2
Maryville
Y 1
Piedmont
Y 1
Departing members are displayed in red.
School
Basketball
Cross country
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track & field
Volleyball
Total USA
Brevard
Y Y N
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
8
Greensboro
Y N N
N
Y
Y
Y N
Y
5
Mary Baldwin
Y Y N
N
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
7
Meredith
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
9
Methodist
Y Y Y
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
9
North Carolina Wesleyan
Y Y N
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
8
Pfeiffer
Y Y Y
Y
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
9
Salem
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
4
Southern Virginia
Y Y Y
Y Y
Y
Y Y
Y
9
William Peace
Y Y N
N
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
7
Totals
10
8
4+3
6+2
10
9
10
8
10
75+5
Affiliate Members
Huntingdon
Y Y 2
Maryville
Y 1
Piedmont
Y Y 2
Conference facilities
School
Football
Basketball
Stadium
Capacity
Arena
Capacity
Belhaven
Belhaven Bowl
1,200
Football-only school
—
Brevard
Brevard Memorial Stadium
5,000
Boshamer Gymnasium
1,000
Greensboro
Jamieson Stadium
10,000
Hanes Gymnasium
850
Huntingdon
Charles Lee Field at Samford Stadium
2,500
Football-only school
—
LaGrange
Callaway Stadium
5,000
Football-only school
—
Maryville
Lloyd L. Thornton Stadium
3,000
Football-only school
—
Mary Baldwin
Non-football school
—
MBU Physical Activities Center
—
Meredith
Non-football school
—
Weatherspoon Gymnasium
500
Methodist
Monarch Stadium
1,500
March F. Riddle Center
1,200
North Carolina Wesleyan
Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium[ 13]
5,000
Everett Gymnasium
800
Pfeiffer
Non-football school
—
Merner Gymnasium
1,500
Salem
Non-football school
—
Spirit Center
—
Southern Virginia
Knight Stadium
1,000
Knight Arena
525
William Peace
Non-football school
—
Hermann Center
1,000
References
^ a b 2007 Football Media Guide (PDF) , USA South Athletic Conference, archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2008, retrieved April 28, 2008 ^ "Dixie Conference Chooses New Name", Greensboro News Record , p. C1, February 3, 2003 ^ McCormack, Timmy (April 11, 2011). "Piedmont College Announces Plan To Join USA South Athletic Conference" . Piedmont College Athletics . Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011 . ^ "LaGrange College accepts invitation to join USA South Athletic Conference" . LaGrange Panthers . April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011 .^ "Agnes Scott, Salem and Wesleyan Set to Join USA South" . May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015 .^ "Brevard College Set to Join USA South" (Press release). USA South Athletic Conference. December 9, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2016 .^ "Berea College and Pfeiffer University Set to Join USA South" (Press release). USA South Athletic Conference. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016 .^ "ODAC Membership Set to Expand with Inclusion of Ferrum College" (Press release). Old Dominion Athletic Conference. June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017 .^ "Southern Virginia Set to Join USA South" (Press release). Southern Virginia University Athletics. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019 .^ "Averett University to Join the ODAC as a Full-Time Member" . ODAC . March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021 .^ "Belhaven University Set to Join USA South" . USA South Athletic Conference . November 22, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021 .^ "USA South Announces Conference Restructuring" . USA South Athletic Conference. February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022 .^ "Bishops to Return to Rocky Mount Athletic Stadium" . NC Wesleyan Battling Bishops. July 31, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013 .
External links
Full members with football Full, non-football members Football associate members † Women's sports only
