Sun Belt Conference

Sun Belt Conference is an athletic conference that consists of 14 member schools, primarily located in the Southern United States. The conference was founded in 1976 and is affiliated with the NCAA at the Division I level. The conference has undergone several changes and expansions over the years, with notable members including University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe, and Georgia Southern University. The conference is also home to several prominent athletic programs, including Appalachian State University, Arkansas State University, and University of Texas at Arlington.

● History

The conference was established in 1976 with six founding members: University of New Orleans, University of South Alabama, Georgia State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of South Carolina, and Jacksonville University. Over the years, the conference has undergone several expansions, including the addition of University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1991, Florida International University in 1998, and Western Kentucky University in 2001. The conference has also experienced several departures, including the loss of University of South Carolina to the Southeastern Conference in 1991 and University of North Carolina at Charlotte to Conference USA in 2005. Notable events in the conference's history include the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearances by University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Western Kentucky University, as well as the NCAA Division I Football Championship appearances by Appalachian State University and Georgia Southern University. The conference has also been home to several notable coaches, including Rick Pitino and John Calipari, who have gone on to achieve success at programs like University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

● Member Schools

The conference currently consists of 14 member schools, including Appalachian State University, Arkansas State University, University of Texas at Arlington, Coastal Carolina University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe, University of South Alabama, Troy University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Texas State University, University of Texas at El Paso, and James Madison University. These schools are located in several states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The conference also has several affiliate members, including University of Central Arkansas and University of North Alabama, which participate in sports like football and soccer. Notable athletic programs among the member schools include Appalachian State University's football team, which has won several NCAA Division I Football Championship titles, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette's basketball team, which has appeared in several NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournaments.

● Conference Championships

The conference sponsors several championship events, including the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game. The conference also awards several individual honors, including the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Notable winners of these awards include Elfrid Payton from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Will Barton from University of Memphis. The conference has also produced several notable athletes, including Tony Romo from Eastern Illinois University and Jeremy Evans from Western Kentucky University, who have gone on to achieve success in professional leagues like the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. The conference has also been home to several notable teams, including the Appalachian State University football team, which has won several NCAA Division I Football Championship titles, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette basketball team, which has appeared in several NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournaments.

● Sports Sponsored

The conference sponsors 18 sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field. The conference also sponsors several other sports, including golf, tennis, and cross country. Notable teams and athletes in these sports include the Appalachian State University football team, which has won several NCAA Division I Football Championship titles, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette basketball team, which has appeared in several NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournaments. The conference has also produced several notable athletes, including Tony Romo from Eastern Illinois University and Jeremy Evans from Western Kentucky University, who have gone on to achieve success in professional leagues like the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. The conference has also been home to several notable coaches, including Rick Pitino and John Calipari, who have gone on to achieve success at programs like University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

● Facilities

The conference's member schools have several notable facilities, including Kidd Brewer Stadium at Appalachian State University, Centennial Bank Stadium at Arkansas State University, and College Park Center at University of Texas at Arlington. The conference also has several other notable facilities, including Hanner Fieldhouse at Georgia Southern University and Fant–Ewing Coliseum at University of Louisiana at Monroe. These facilities have hosted several notable events, including the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship and the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The conference's member schools have also invested heavily in their facilities, with several schools undergoing renovations and expansions in recent years, including University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Cajun Field and University of South Alabama's Ladd–Peebles Stadium. Notable architects and construction companies involved in these projects include Populous and HKS, Inc., which have designed and built several notable stadiums and arenas, including AT&T Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.