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TranSouth Athletic Conference

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TranSouth Athletic Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded1996
Ceased2013
Sports fielded
  • 13
    • men's: 6
    • women's: 7
No. of teams6
RegionSoutheastern United States
Region XI of the NAIA
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) was a college athletic conference for smaller colleges and universities located in the Southern United States. It was affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in that organization's Region XI.

History

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On August 9, 2012 it was announced that Mid-Continent University had accepted an invitation to join the American Midwest Conference, starting with the 2013-14 season.[1] Later, Bethel, Blue Mountain, and Martin Methodist were announced to be moving to the Southern States Athletic Conference starting with the 2013-14 season.[2]

Chronological timeline

[edit]

Member schools

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Final members

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On its final season, the TSAC had six member schools, which most were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference
Current
conference
Bethel University McKenzie, Tennessee 1842 Cumberland
Presbyterian
2,975 Wildcats 1996;
2006[a]
2013 Southern States (SSAC)
(2013–20)
Mid-South (MSC)
(2020–present)
Blue Mountain College[b][c] Blue Mountain, Mississippi 1873 Baptist 505 Toppers 1996 2013 Southern States (SSAC)
(2013–present)
Freed–Hardeman University Henderson, Tennessee 1869 Churches
of Christ
2,027 Lions 1996 2013 American Midwest
(2013–20)
Mid-South (MSC)
(2020–present)
Life University Marietta, Georgia 1974 Nonsectarian 3,100 Running Eagles 2012 2013 NAIA Independent
(2013–14)
Mid-South (MSC)
(2014–22)
Southern States (SSAC)
(2022–present)
Martin Methodist College[d] Pulaski, Tennessee 1870 United Methodist 1,001 RedHawks[e] 1996 2013 Southern States (SSAC)
(2013–20)
Mid-South (MSC)
(2020–23)
Southern States (SSAC)
(2023–present)
Mid-Continent University Mayfield, Kentucky 1949 Baptist 1,823 Cougars 2006 2013 American Midwest
(2013–14)
Closed in 2014
Notes
  1. ^ Bethel (Tenn.) left the TSAC after the 1997–98 season; before re-joining in the 2006–07 school year.
  2. ^ This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (Blue Mountain since 2007–08).
  3. ^ Currently known as Blue Mountain Christian University since November 2022.
  4. ^ Martin Methodist joined the University of Tennessee system in July 2021 to become the University of Tennessee Southern. Before that it was a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
  5. ^ The former Martin Methodist is now competing as the UT Southern FireHawks.

Former members

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The TSAC had 12 former full member schools, which most were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Athens State University Athens, Alabama 1822 Public 3,200 Bears 2003 2004 Discontinued athletics
Berry College Mount Berry, Georgia 1902 Nondenominational 1,937 Vikings 1996 2004 Southern States (SSAC)
(2004–10)
D-III Independent
(2010–13)
Southern (SAA)[a]
(2013–present)
Birmingham–Southern College Birmingham, Alabama 1856 United
Methodist
1,400 Panthers 1996 2001 Big South[b]
(2001–07)
Southern (SCAC)[a]
(2007–13)
Southern (SAA)[a]
(2013–present)
Cumberland University Lebanon, Tennessee 1842 Nonsectarian 1,500 Bulldogs[c] 2002 2012 Mid-South (MSC)
(2012–present)
Lambuth University Jackson, Tennessee 1843 United
Methodist
800 Eagles 2006 2008 NAIA Independent
(2008–09)
D-II Independent
(2009–11)
Closed in 2011
Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee 1891 Churches
of Christ
4,278 Bisons 1996 2001 D-I Independent
(2001–03)
Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[b]
(2003–present)
Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee 1918 Church
of God
4,954 Flames 1996 2004 Southern States (SSAC)
(2004–13)
Gulf South (GSC)[d]
(2013–present)
Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas 1872 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
600 Scots 1997 2012 American Midwest
(2012–2023)
St. Louis (SLIAC)[a]
(2023–present)
Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, Tennessee 1901 Nazarene 2,345 Trojans 1996 2012 Great Midwest (G-MAC)[d]
(2012–present)
Union University Jackson, Tennessee 1823 Baptist 4,259 Bulldogs 1996 2012 Gulf South (GSC)[d]
(2012–present)
Victory University[e] Memphis, Tennessee 1941 Nondenominational 1,970 Eagles 2005 2008 various[f] Closed in 2014
Williams Baptist University[g] Walnut Ridge, Arkansas 1941 Baptist 700 Eagles 1996 2000 NAIA Independent
(2000–01)
American Midwest
(2001–present)
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  2. ^ a b Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  3. ^ Cumberland (Tenn.) changed its nickname from Bulldogs to Phoenix in 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  5. ^ Formerly known as Crichton College until 2010.
  6. ^ Victory (formerly Crichton) had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NAIA Independent during the 2008–09 school year (before discontinuing athletics); and as an Independent within the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) from 2010–11 to 2013–14.
  7. ^ Formerly known as Williams Baptist College until 2018.

Membership timeline

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Southern States Athletic ConferenceMid-South ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsLife UniversityAmerican Midwest ConferenceMid-Continent UniversityNAIA independent schoolsLambuth UniversityNational Christian College Athletic AssociationNAIA independent schoolsVictory UniversityAthens State UniversityMid-South ConferenceCumberland UniversitySt. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceNCAA Division III independent schoolsAmerican Midwest ConferenceLyon CollegeAmerican Midwest ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsWilliams Baptist UniversityGulf South ConferenceUnion UniversityGulf South ConferenceGreat Midwest Athletic ConferenceTrevecca Nazarene UniversitySouthern States Athletic ConferenceMid-South ConferenceSouthern States Athletic ConferenceUniversity of Tennessee SouthernAtlantic Sun ConferenceNCAA Division I independent schoolsLipscomb UniversityGulf South ConferenceSouthern States Athletic ConferenceLee UniversityMid-South ConferenceAmerican Midwest ConferenceFreed–Hardeman UniversitySouthern States Athletic ConferenceBlue Mountain Christian UniversitySouthern Athletic AssociationSouthern Collegiate Athletic ConferenceBig South ConferenceBirmingham–Southern CollegeMid-South ConferenceSouthern States Athletic ConferenceRiver States ConferenceBethel University (Tennessee)Southern Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsSouthern States Athletic ConferenceBerry College

 Full member (non-football) 

[edit]

Men's sponsored sports were baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's sports sponsored were basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

References

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  1. ^ "Mid-Continent Accepts Invitation to American Midwest Conference". Mid-Continent University. August 9, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  2. ^ "SSAC Announces Bethel, Blue Mountain, and Martin Methodist as Newest Members". Southern States Athletic Conference. November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.