Big South Conference

Big South Conference. The Big South Conference is an athletic conference operating in the NCAA's Division I, with its football-playing members competing at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Founded in 1983, the conference is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and is currently led by Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. The league sponsors championships in nineteen sports and has a history of sending teams to national postseason tournaments, including the NCAA basketball tournament and the NCAA baseball tournament.

History

The conference was founded on August 21, 1983, by charter members Augusta College, Campbell University, Coastal Carolina University, Davidson College, Radford University, and Winthrop University. Its creation was driven by a desire to establish a competitive Division I league focused on the southeastern United States. The league began competition in the 1983–84 academic year. A significant early milestone was achieved in 1991 when the conference earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The conference's footprint and membership have evolved considerably, with notable departures including Coastal Carolina University to the Sun Belt Conference and the more recent exit of founding member Winthrop University. In 2022, the Big South entered into a football partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference, creating the jointly administered Big South–OVC Football Association.

Member institutions

The Big South Conference currently comprises ten full member institutions and two football-only associate members. The full members are UNC Asheville, Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Gardner–Webb University, High Point University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, USC Upstate, and Winthrop University. The football-playing members within the conference are Bryant University, Charleston Southern University, Gardner–Webb University, and Robert Morris University. The conference's geographic scope stretches from Virginia to South Carolina. Associate members, such as Bryant University and Robert Morris University, participate primarily in football, while other schools like Presbyterian College compete in a full suite of league sports.

Sports sponsored

The Big South Conference sponsors championship competition in ten men's and nine women's NCAA sports. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and track and field (both indoor and outdoor). Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. The conference does not sponsor ice hockey, wrestling, or field hockey. Several member institutions, such as Campbell University and Liberty University, have historically fielded strong programs in baseball and football, respectively, enhancing the league's competitive profile.

Conference champions

The conference crowns annual champions in each sponsored sport, with tournament champions typically receiving the automatic bid to NCAA postseason play. In basketball, programs like Winthrop University and Liberty University have been frequent champions and have represented the league in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, with Winthrop appearing under coach Gregg Marshall. In football, the Big South–OVC Football Association now determines the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. Coastal Carolina University won multiple football titles before its departure. In baseball, teams such as Coastal Carolina University—which won the 2016 College World Series—and Campbell University have been dominant forces, regularly advancing to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

Facilities

Member institutions feature a variety of on-campus athletic venues that host Big South Conference championships and events. Notable basketball arenas include the Winthrop Coliseum on the campus of Winthrop University and the Dedmon Center at Radford University. For football, key stadiums include Ernest W. Spangler Stadium at Gardner–Webb University and Buccaneer Field at Charleston Southern University. Significant baseball venues include Jim Perry Stadium at Campbell University and the former Charles Watson Stadium at Coastal Carolina University. The conference also utilizes neutral sites for some championship events, such as hosting the basketball tournament at the BoJangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Category:NCAA conferences Category:Big South Conference Category:Sports leagues established in 1983 Category:1983 establishments in the United States