The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is a collegiate athletic league in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The 16 member universities

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 compete in 13 sports in the NAIA

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

. Basketball teams compete in Division I of the NAIA.

History

The Southern States Athletic Conference was established as the Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference was March 16, 1999. On June 27, 2005, the conference changed its name to the Southern States Athletic Conference.

Sports

The SSAC holds championships in the following 13 sports:

• Women: cross country
  Cross country running
  Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
  
  , soccer, volleyball
  Volleyball
  Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
  
  , basketball
  Basketball
  Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
  
  , softball
  Softball
  Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
  
  , golf
  Golf
  Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
  
  , and tennis
  Tennis
  Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
  
  .

• Men: cross-country, soccer, basketball, baseball
  Baseball
  Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
  
  , golf, and tennis.

Current members

Institution	Location	Mascot	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Joined
East Division
Brenau University Brenau University Brenau University is a private university in Gainesville, Georgia, USA, that was founded in 1878 as Georgia Baptist Female Seminary, though it has never been affiliated with the Baptist Church. The total enrollment of Brenau University tops 2,500 students in its four schools... †	Gainesville, GA Gainesville, Georgia -Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...	Golden Tigers	1878	Private (Baptist)	2,000	1999
Brewton-Parker College Brewton-Parker College Brewton–Parker College is a private, Christian, coeducational college whose main campus is located in Mount Vernon, Georgia, USA. Brewton-Parker is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention and celebrated their centennial in 2004.-Organization:...	Mount Vernon, GA Mount Vernon, Georgia Mount Vernon is a city in Montgomery County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,082 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Baptist-affiliated Brewton-Parker College.Mount Vernon is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...	Barons	1904	Private (Southern Baptist Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... )	1,050	1999
Emmanuel College	Franklin Springs, GA Franklin Springs, Georgia Franklin Springs is a city in Franklin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 762 at the 2000 census. Emmanuel College is located here.-Geography:Franklin Springs is located at ....	Lions	1919	Private (Pentecostal International Pentecostal Holiness Church The International Pentecostal Holiness Church or simply Pentecostal Holiness Church is a Pentecostal Christian denomination founded in 1911 with the merger of two older denominations. Traditionally centered in the Southeastern United States, particularly the Carolinas and Georgia, the Pentecostal... )	800	1999
Lee University Lee University Lee University is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Cleveland, Tennessee, United States. It is historically affiliated with the Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination, and was the denomination's Bible Training School from 1918 until 1947, when the name...	Cleveland, TN Cleveland, Tennessee Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...	Flames	1918	Private (Church of God Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. With over seven million members in over 170 countries, it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world... )	4,012	2004
Shorter College	Rome, GA Rome, Georgia Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...	Hawks	1873	Private (Southern Baptist Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... )	2,843	1999
Southern Polytechnic State University Southern Polytechnic State University Southern Polytechnic State University is a public, co-educational state university located in Marietta, Georgia, USA just northwest of Atlanta...	Marietta, GA Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...	Runnin' Hornets	1948	Public (University System of GA University System of Georgia The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering... )	4,800	1999
Southern Wesleyan University Southern Wesleyan University Southern Wesleyan University is a four-year and graduate Christian college, with its main campus in the town of Central, South Carolina. The university was founded in 1906 by what is now the Wesleyan Church....	Central, SC Central, South Carolina Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States, along SC Highway 93. Contrary to its name, it is not near the central area of South Carolina...	Warriors	1906	Private (Wesleyan Wesleyan Church "Wesleyan" has been used in the title of a number of historic and current denominations, although the subject of this article is the only denomination to use that specific title... )	2,700	1999
Truett-McConnell College Truett-McConnell College Truett-McConnell College is a private, Christian, coeducational liberal arts college in Cleveland, Georgia, United States. It is operated under the auspices of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and controlled by a Board of Trustees elected by the Convention. The college was named to honor George W....	Cleveland, GA Cleveland, Georgia Cleveland is a city in White County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,907 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of White County....	Bears	1946	Private (Southern Baptist Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... )	409	2010
West Division
Auburn Montgomery	Montgomery, AL Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...	Warhawks	1967	Public (Auburn University Auburn University Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts... )	5,275	1999
Belhaven University	Jackson, MS Jackson, Mississippi Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...	Blazers	1883	Private (Presbyterian Presbyterian Church in the United States The Presbyterian Church in the United States was a Protestant Christian denomination in the Southern and border states of the United States that existed from 1861 to 1983... )	1,428	2010
Faulkner University Faulkner University Faulkner University is a private Christian university, located in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, and affiliated with the Church of Christ. The University was founded in 1942 as Montgomery Bible School. In 1953 the school's name was changed to Alabama Christian College . In 1965, the college was moved to...	Montgomery, AL Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...	Eagles	1942	Private (Churches of Christ)	2,703	1999
Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...	New Orleans, LA New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...	Wolfpack	1904	Private (Catholic)	4,858	2010
Spring Hill College Spring Hill College Spring Hill College is a private, Roman Catholic Jesuit liberal arts college in the United States. It was founded in 1830 on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama, by Most Rev. Michael Portier, Bishop of Mobile, Alabama...	Mobile, AL Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...	Badgers	1830	Private (Catholic)	1,756	2010
University of Mobile University of Mobile The University of Mobile is an American four-year, private, Baptist-affiliated university in Mobile, Alabama. The master's-level university has an enrollment of 1,577.-History:...	Mobile, AL Mobile, Alabama Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...	Rams	1961	Private (Southern Baptist Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... )	1,577	2010
William Carey University	Hattiesburg, MS Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 44,779 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Forrest County...	Crusaders	1906	Private (Southern Baptist Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members... )	3,250	2010

† Brenau University participates in women's sports only

Former members

Institution	Location	Affiliation	Years	New Conference	Classification
North Georgia College & State University	Dahlonega, GA Dahlonega, Georgia Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242....	Charter Member	1999–2004	Peach Belt Peach Belt Conference The Peach Belt Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. The PBC was formed in 1990 with seven charter universities as the Peach Belt Athletic Conference, and took its current name in 2000.-Current members:The league currently has 13 full...	NCAA Division II
Georgia Southwestern State University Georgia Southwestern State University Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...	Americus, GA Americus, Georgia -Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...	Charter Member	1999–2006	Peach Belt Peach Belt Conference The Peach Belt Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. The PBC was formed in 1990 with seven charter universities as the Peach Belt Athletic Conference, and took its current name in 2000.-Current members:The league currently has 13 full...	NCAA Division II
Reinhardt University	Waleska, GA Waleska, Georgia Waleska is a city in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 616 at the 2000 census.-History:The first white settlement in the Waleska area began in the early 1830s. Among these first pioneer settlers were the Reinhardt, Heard and Rhyne families, who moved into the region...	Charter Member	1999–2008	Appalachian Athletic Appalachian Athletic Conference (NAIA) The Appalachian Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that competes in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II competition. Members of the conference are located in the Southeast United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia...	NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...  Division II
Berry College Berry College Berry College is an American accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Mount Berry, unincorporated Floyd County, Georgia, north of Rome. It was founded in 1902 by Martha Berry.-Location:Berry College is located on U.S...	Mount Berry, GA Mount Berry, Georgia Mount Berry is an unincorporated community contiguous with the main campus of Berry College in Floyd County, Georgia, United States, bordering the city of Rome. Mount Berry was named after Berry College founder Martha Berry...	Full Member	2004–2010	Independent NCAA Division III independent schools NCAA Division III independents are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the NCAA’s Division III level, but do so independently of an established athletic conference. These same institutions often compete as members of an intercollegiate athletic conference in some sports...	NCAA Division III

Future member

Institution	Location	Previous Conference	Classification	Joins
College of Coastal Georgia	Brunswick, GA Brunswick, Georgia Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...	Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association	NJCAA National Junior College Athletic Association The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was... Division I	2012