Big South

Big South
Name	Big South
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Charleston, South Carolina
Commissioner	Jeff Barber
Region	Southeastern United States
Members	11

Big South

The Big South is an American collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, that organizes intercollegiate competition among private and public institutions primarily in the Southeastern United States. The conference sponsors championships in multiple sports for member institutions that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Over its history the conference has undergone realignment, expansion, and media partnerships, interacting with regional conferences and institutions across the Atlantic Coast and Southern regions.

History

The conference was established in 1983 during a period of realignment that included interactions with institutions such as Appalachian State University, East Tennessee State University, Gardner–Webb University, and Winthrop University. Early decades featured growth in basketball with postseason implications tied to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and football developments related to the creation of an FCS championship structure under the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Realignment waves in the 2000s and 2010s saw members depart for conferences like the Sun Belt Conference, Southern Conference, and Atlantic Sun Conference while the Big South added institutions from conferences including the Northeast Conference and the Big West Conference. Notable administrative milestones included the establishment of an office in Rock Hill, South Carolina and subsequent relocation of operations to Charleston, South Carolina, alongside televised agreements involving broadcasters that cover collegiate competition.

Membership

Member institutions have included a mix of private colleges and public universities with histories at institutions such as Coastal Carolina University, Liberty University, Radford University, Campbell University, and UNC Asheville. The membership portfolio has fluctuated as schools like University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Virginia Military Institute relocated to other leagues, while newcomers such as Gardner–Webb University and Presbyterian College sought affiliation for stability in scheduling and postseason access. Members compete in a range of sports and maintain campus facilities in cities including Conway, South Carolina, Radford, Virginia, Buies Creek, North Carolina, and Buena Vista, Virginia. Associate memberships have linked specialized programs—most notably football and wrestling—to institutions based in markets served by conferences like the Colonial Athletic Association and the Missouri Valley Conference.

Sports and Championships

The conference sponsors championships in sports including men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, track and field, cross country, golf, tennis, and football at the FCS level. Basketball success has produced automatic bids to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, with member programs earning at-large attention through regular-season performance and conference tournament victories. Football programs contend for playoff berths within the NCAA Division I Football Championship framework, while baseball teams have progressed to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship regional rounds. The conference has also overseen individual national qualifiers in sports such as track and field and golf who compete at events sanctioned by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and the United States Golf Association.

Facilities and Venues

Member institutions host competition in venues ranging from multipurpose arenas and stadiums to specialized fields and courts. Basketball games are staged in arenas such as those on campuses in Conway, South Carolina, Radford, Virginia, and Buies Creek, North Carolina; baseball and softball contests take place at stadiums that have hosted regional tournaments under the NCAA umbrella. Football stadiums for FCS competition include facilities that meet standards for playoff hosting and broadcasting, while soccer and lacrosse are contested at pitches used for conference and nonconference scheduling against schools from conferences like the American Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Venues have undergone renovations funded by donors and athletic departments comparable to capital projects at institutions like Liberty University and Coastal Carolina University.

Governance and Administration

The conference is administered by a commissioner and an office staff responsible for compliance, championships, officiating, scheduling, and media relations. Governance follows bylaws consistent with NCAA regulations and involves athletic directors, presidents, and chancellors from member institutions in committees resembling those used by the Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Budgetary decisions interact with television rights, sponsorship agreements, and student-athlete welfare initiatives, reflecting broader trends seen in intercollegiate athletics governance exemplified by conferences such as the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference. The conference also engages in academic collaboration and student-athlete support programs linked to compliance with NCAA academic progress requirements.

Notable Athletes and Alumni

The conference has produced athletes and alumni who advanced to professional leagues and notable careers. Basketball alumni have progressed to the National Basketball Association and international leagues; baseball players have been selected in the Major League Baseball draft and reached World Series rosters. Football alumni have entered the National Football League and competed in postseason games; other graduates have pursued professional opportunities with organizations like Major League Soccer and in coaching roles at institutions including Florida State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Administrators and coaches from member schools have taken leadership positions within conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southern Conference. Category:College athletic conferences in the United States