 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1990 |
| Commissioner | Diana Kling (since 2025) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division II |
| No. of teams | 11 |
| Headquarters | Augusta, Georgia |
| Region | Southeastern United States |
| Official website | peachbeltconference.org |
| Locations | |
 | |
ThePeach Belt Conference (PBC) is acollege athletic conference affiliated with theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at theDivision II level. The 11 member institutions are located in theSouth Atlantic states ofSouth Carolina,Georgia, andFlorida. In addition, seven affiliate members participate in one sport each; namely sports not sponsored by their home conferences.
Since its inception came in the 1990–91 school year, the Peach Belt has, across all sanctioned sports, produced 30 national champions and an additional 27 national finalists. Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men's and women's basketball, the conference has expanded to 18 championship sports with the addition of men's lacrosse in the summer of 2020 and men's and women's indoor track and field in 2023.
The conference traces its roots 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 Athletic Conference and began play in the fall of 1990.
The seven charter members of the conference wereArmstrong Atlantic State University (later Armstrong State University),Columbus State University,Francis Marion University,Georgia College (now Georgia College & State University),Lander University,USC Aiken, andUSC Spartanburg (now 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 as the eighth member in 1991 andUNC Pembroke became the ninth member on July 1, 1992. They were followed byKennesaw State University on July 1, 1994,Clayton State University on July 1, 1995 and theUniversity 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 inNorth Georgia College & State University in 2005 andGeorgia Southwestern State University in 2006. In 2009–10, theUniversity of Montevallo andFlagler College were added, returning a league presence to Florida and breaking new ground in Alabama. In 2012–13, the Peach Belt expanded to 14 members, the most the league has ever had, with the addition ofYoung Harris College. On January 8, 2013, theUniversity System of Georgia finalized the mergers of two conference members into new institutions. Augusta State was merged into Georgia Regents University, which was renamed in 2015 asAugusta University, and NGCSU was merged into theUniversity of North Georgia.[1][2] In both cases, the new institutions inherited the Peach Belt memberships of the older schools.
The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing its first of many national championships. The Columbus State men's 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 won three straight national titles from 2004 to 2006 while AASU women's tennis 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 toWestern 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, replacing Marvin Vanover, who was the first PBC commissioner from 1991 to 2007.
Dr. Kendall Blanchard, president of Georgia Southwestern State University, began the second of his two-year term as the league president in July 2011.
In April 2020, Francis Marion University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced that they would leave the Peach Belt Conference starting in 2021–22, both joiningConference Carolinas.[3]
On April 14, 2021, the conference invited theNAIA'sUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort to join in 2022–23 after applying for membership in Division II and gaining acceptance into the NCAA.[4] By July 14, 2022, USCB was accepted into the NAIA'sContinental Athletic Conference for its first year of provisional membership while still playing a Peach Belt schedule as part of the Sand Sharks' dual NAIA-NCAA membership. USCB is ineligible for a Peach Belt or NCAA postseason during the three-year transition.[5]
The conference currently holds championships in 16 sports, eight for men and eight for women. The championship sports are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, baseball, softball, men's and women's track & field, and men's and women's golf.[6] Men's lacrosse was added on July 10, 2020, with its first season was in spring 2021, and men's and women's indoor track and field was added on August 11, 2023.[7][8]
On December 13, 2023, theSunshine State Conference, primary home of PBC track affiliateEmbry–Riddle Aeronautical University (and former affiliateNova Southeastern University), announced it would start sponsoring men's and women's outdoor track & field in the 2025 spring season (2024–25 school year), and accordingly, both schools moved their respective programs to the SSC. Embry–Riddle would remain a PBC affiliate in men's and women's indoor track.[9]
On January 10, 2024,Middle Georgia State University announced that it had received an invitation by the PBC and would join the conference, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.[10]
On July 1, 2025, longtime PBC deputy commissioner Diana Kling succeeded David Brunk, becoming the conference's third commissioner.[11] Brunk had served as commissioner from 2007 to 2025.
The PBC currently has 11 full members, with all but one beingpublic schools. Reclassifying members listed in yellow.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta University | Augusta, Georgia | 1828 | Public | 11,584 | Jaguars | 1991 | |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, Georgia | 1969 | Public | 6,172 | Lakers | 1995 | |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, Georgia | 1958 | Public | 7,937 | Cougars | 1990 | |
| Flagler College | St. Augustine, Florida | 1968 | Nonsectarian | 2,530 | Saints | 2009 | |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, Georgia | 1889 | Public | 7,097 | Bobcats | 1990 | |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, Georgia | 1906 | Public | 3,704 | Hurricanes | 2006 | |
| Lander University | Greenwood, South Carolina | 1872 | Public | 4,423 | Bearcats | 1990 | |
| Middle Georgia State University | Cochran, Georgia[b] | 2013 | Public | 8,409 | Knights | 2025 | |
| University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Georgia | 1873 | Public | 19,298 | Nighthawks | 2005 | |
| University of South Carolina Aiken | Aiken, South Carolina | 1961 | Public | 3,855 | Pacers | 1990 | |
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton, South Carolina | 1959 | Public | 2,204 | Sand Sharks | 2022 |
The PBC currently has ten affiliate members, four beingprivate schools and six being public.
The PBC has eight former full members, all but one arepublic schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong State University | Savannah, Georgia | 1935 | Public | N/A | Pirates & Lady Pirates | 1990 | 2017 | N/A[c] |
| Francis Marion University | Florence, South Carolina | 1970 | 3,923 | Patriots | 1990 | 2021 | Carolinas (CC) | |
| Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia | 1963 | 42,983 | Owls | 1994 | 2005 | Conf. USA (CUSA)[d] | |
| University of Montevallo[e] | Montevallo, Alabama | 1896 | 2,625 | Falcons | 2009 | 2017 | Gulf South (GSC) | |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke, North Carolina | 1887 | 8,318 | Braves | 1992 | 2021 | Carolinas (CC) | |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville, Florida | 1969 | 16,594 | Ospreys | 1997 | 2005 | Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[d] | |
| University of South Carolina Upstate | Spartanburg, South Carolina | 1967 | 5,405 | Spartans | 1990 | 2007 | Big South[d] | |
| Young Harris College | Young Harris, Georgia | 1886 | United Methodist | 1,408 | Mountain Lions | 2012 | 2023 | Carolinas (CC) |
The PBC has five former affiliate members, one was apublic school, while four wereprivate schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Colors | PBC sport(s) | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville[c] | Huntsville, Alabama | 1969 | Public | 9,636 | Chargers | 2012 | 2016 | men's outdoor track & field | Gulf South (GSC) | |
| women's outdoor track & field | ||||||||||
| Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach, Florida | 1926 | Nonsectarian | 7,603 | Eagles | 2017 | 2024 | men's outdoor track & field | Sunshine State (SSC) | |
| women's outdoor track & field | ||||||||||
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, Florida | 1958 | Nonsectarian | 7,855 | Panthers | 2014 | 2018 | men's outdoor track & field | Sunshine State (SSC) | |
| women's outdoor track & field | ||||||||||
| Nova Southeastern University | Davie, Florida | 1964 | Nonsectarian | 20,898 | Sharks | 2012 | 2021 | men's outdoor track & field | Sunshine State (SSC) | |
| women's outdoor track & field | ||||||||||
| Shorter University | Rome, Georgia | 1873 | Baptist | 1,482 | Hawks | 2012 | 2016 | men's outdoor track & field | Carolinas (CC) | |
| women's outdoor track & field | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2024 | men's lacrosse |
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football-only) Associate member (other sports)
| A divisional format was used for men's and women's basketball until the 2020–21 school year. | |
East
| West
|
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  Y | |
| Basketball | Y | Y |
| Cross country | Y | Y |
| Golf | Y | Y |
| Lacrosse | Y | |
| Soccer | Y | Y |
| Softball | Y | |
| Tennis | Y | Y |
| Track & field indoor | Y | Y |
| Track & field outdoor | Y | Y |
| Volleyball | Y |
Departing members/teams in pink.
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Tennis | Track & field indoor | Track & field outdoor | Total PBC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| Clayton State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| Columbus State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| Flagler | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | |
| Georgia College | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| Georgia Southwestern State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | ||||
| Lander | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | |
| Middle Georgia State | Y | Y | Y | Y | 4 | |||||
| North Georgia | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| USC Aiken | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| USC Beaufort | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| Totals | 10+1 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 2+3 | 7 | 7 | 4+2 | 4 | 59+4 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||
| Alabama–Huntsville | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Claflin | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Central State | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Embry–Riddle | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Montevallo | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Virginia State | Y | 1 | ||||||||
Departing members/teams in pink.
| School | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Soccer | Softball | Tennis | Track & field indoor | Track & field outdoor | Volleyball | Total PBC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| Clayton State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| Columbus State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 7 | ||
| Flagler | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | |
| Georgia College | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| Georgia Southwestern State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| Lander | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 | |
| Middle Georgia State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6 | |||
| North Georgia | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 7 | ||
| USC Aiken | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5 | ||||
| USC Beaufort | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 7 | ||
| Totals | 11 | 11 | 5+2 | 10+1 | 10 | 8 | 4+2 | 5 | 6+1 | 66+6 |
| Affiliate members | ||||||||||
| Albany State | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Central State | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Edward Waters | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Embry–Riddle | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Salem | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| Savannah State | Y | 1 | ||||||||
| School | Men | Women | Co-ed | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | Wrestling | Field hockey | Golf | Lacrosse | Rifle[a] | ||||
| Augusta | WCC[b] | WCC[b] | |||||||
| Flagler | GSC | ||||||||
| Lander | CC | SAC | GSC | ||||||
| North Georgia | SoCon | ||||||||
