ATLANTA, Ga. (July 1, 2024) - The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is announcing changes in its membership, including the addition of Asbury University, which has recently been accepted as a full member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the departure of Berea College.
Addition of Asbury University
The CCS is thrilled to welcome Asbury University as a new member, effective July 1. Asbury's acceptance as a full member of the NCAA reflects their dedication to maintaining high standards in both academics and athletics. This acceptance also triggers the Eagles’ conference affiliation with the CCS, set to begin in the fall of 2024.
“Asbury University is honored and excited to join the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS),” said Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury University. “We are proud to join a conference whose schools strive for academic rigor, student development, and high-level athletic performance that prioritizes effort, excellence, hospitality, and character. We are excited for the days ahead!”
“This is a monumental step in the growth of Asbury Athletics. We are deeply grateful for the opportunities membership in the CCS will provide our student-athletes and coaches,” said Mark Whitworth, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics & University Communications. “We will work diligently to represent the CCS in a way that reflects positively on the member institutions and fulfills our mission.”
In the CCS, team championships are sponsored in women's cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, and track and field. Men's championship sports include cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and track and field.
With the addition of Asbury beginning in 2024-25, the CCS will be composed of nine institutions in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The current eight members are:
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Ga.
- Belhaven University, Jackson, Miss.
- Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
- Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Ala.
- LaGrange College, LaGrange, Ga.
- Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn.
- Piedmont University, Demorest, Ga.
- Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.
Asbury’s acceptance into the NCAA comes as Division III concludes its year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. Established on August 6, 1973, with 240 member schools and conferences, Division III has grown to include over 475 active schools and voting conferences today.
Departure of Berea College
After two years of collaboration and competition, Berea College will be departing the CCS to join the Heartland Athletic Conference. The conference and its member institutions express gratitude for the institution's contributions and achievements, as they have been instrumental in forming the conference.
“We are grateful for our time in the CCS and the many great relationships formed with conference leadership and the tremendous group of institutions, their athletic departments and teams,” said Ryan Hess, Berea College’s Athletic Director. “The conference’s unwavering commitment to student-athletes and the student-athlete experience is truly commendable, and we eagerly anticipate the continued growth of the conference, and the impact they will continue to make in the lives of student-athletes for years to come.”
In their two years with the league, the Mountaineers achieved remarkable success, securing five championship titles in men’s and women’s cross country, back-to-back women’s basketball championships, and the women’s track and field title this past season. Additionally, they earned four runner-up titles in women’s cross country, men’s track and field, and women’s track and field.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Berea for their commitment to academic and athletic excellence. Their departure marks the end of a successful chapter in our conference's history, and we wish them continued success in their future endeavors," said CCS Commissioner Beth Vansant.
ABOUT ASBURY UNIVERSITY
Asbury University is a nationally ranked Christian liberal arts institution in Wilmore, Ky., with 15 academic departments offering more than 130 undergraduate areas of study, along with graduate degrees and online programs in business administration, media communication and education and an online bachelor’s degree program. More than 22,000 living alumni surround the globe, leading and serving in all 50 states and at least 80 nations.
asbury.edu
Asbury sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, as well as cheerleading, representing more than 350 student-athletes. Men's sports include: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Women's sports
include: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
asburyeagles.com
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
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