Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Founded in 1962, it is one of the oldest athletic conferences in the Southeastern United States dedicated to the NCAA Division III philosophy, which emphasizes the primacy of the academic experience. The conference currently comprises ten private institutions across several states, sponsoring championships in 20 sports.

History

The conference was originally founded in 1962 as the College Athletic Conference, with charter members including Birmingham–Southern College, Millsaps College, and Sewanee. A significant early milestone was its instrumental role in the formation of NCAA Division III in 1973, advocating for a division focused on broad-based participation and academic integration. The conference adopted its current name in 1991 to better reflect its geographic footprint. Throughout its history, the SCAC has experienced notable membership changes, including the departure of several schools to the Atlantic Sun Conference and the USA South Athletic Conference, and the more recent additions of institutions like University of St. Thomas (Texas) and Texas Lutheran University. The league office is currently based in Suwanee, Georgia.

Member institutions

The SCAC currently has ten full member institutions, all of which are private colleges and universities. The members are Austin College, Centenary College of Louisiana, Colorado College, University of Dallas, Southwestern University, Trinity University, Texas Lutheran University, Schreiner University, University of St. Thomas (Texas), and Johnson & Wales University. Geographically, the conference spans from Colorado to Louisiana, with a significant concentration of members in Texas. Each institution maintains a strong academic reputation, with several, like Trinity University and Colorado College, consistently ranked among the top national liberal arts colleges by publications like U.S. News & World Report.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in ten men's and ten women's sports. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Not all member institutions sponsor every sport; for example, Colorado College does not have a football program, while Schreiner University and University of St. Thomas (Texas) have recently added wrestling. The conference is also known for its sponsorship of synchronized swimming, a rare offering at the collegiate level historically associated with Trinity University.

Conference championships

The SCAC crowns team and individual champions in each of its sponsored sports annually. The conference's postseason tournaments, particularly in baseball and basketball, are highly competitive and often serve as qualifiers for NCAA Division III national championship tournaments. Institutions like Trinity University and Southwestern University have historically dominated in sports such as men's soccer and softball, respectively. The conference also hosts championship events in swimming and diving at premier facilities like the Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio. Championship results are archived and contribute to the conference's historical records and the NCAA's national statistics.

Notable achievements

SCAC member institutions have achieved significant success on the national stage within NCAA Division III. Trinity University has won multiple national championships in men's tennis, while Southwestern University captured the NCAA Division III national title in women's golf. The conference has produced numerous individual national champions in sports like swimming and diving and track and field, as well as a wealth of Academic All-America selections, highlighting its commitment to scholar-athletes. Furthermore, the SCAC has been a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives, earning recognition from the NCAA for its programming and receiving the Division III Diversity Spotlight Initiative award. Many alumni have also achieved professional success, including former Major League Baseball player Mickey Rivers and Olympic swimmer Josh Davis.

Category:NCAA Division III conferences Category:Sports leagues established in 1962 Category:Sports organizations based in Georgia (U.S. state)