July 1, 2024
Asbury Officially Announces Full Membership With Collegiate Conference of the South
ATLANTA, Ga. --- The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is announcing changes in its membership, including the addition of Asbury University, which has recently been accepted as a full member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Addition of Asbury University
The CCS is thrilled to welcome Asbury University as a new member, effective July 1. Asbury's acceptance as a full member of the NCAA reflects their dedication to maintaining high standards in both academics and athletics. This acceptance also triggers the Eagles' conference affiliation with the CCS, set to begin in the fall of 2024.
"Asbury University is honored and excited to join the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS)," said Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury University. "We are proud to join a conference whose schools strive for academic rigor, student development, and high-level athletic performance that prioritizes effort, excellence, hospitality, and character. We are excited for the days ahead!"
"This is a monumental step in the growth of Asbury Athletics. We are deeply grateful for the opportunities membership in the CCS will provide our student-athletes and coaches," said Mark Whitworth, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics & University Communications. "We will work diligently to represent the CCS in a way that reflects positively on the member institutions and fulfills our mission."
In the CCS, team championships are sponsored in women's cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, and track and field. Men's championship sports include cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and track and field.
With the addition of Asbury beginning in 2024-25, the CCS will be composed of nine institutions in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The current eight members are:
- Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Ga.
- Belhaven University, Jackson, Miss.
- Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
- Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Ala.
- LaGrange College, LaGrange, Ga.
- Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn.
- Piedmont University, Demorest, Ga.
- Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga.
Asbury's acceptance into the NCAA comes as Division III concludes its year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. Established on August 6, 1973, with 240 member schools and conferences, Division III has grown to include over 475 active schools and voting conferences today.
ABOUT ASBURY UNIVERSITY
Asbury University is a nationally ranked Christian liberal arts institution in Wilmore, Ky., with 15 academic departments offering more than 130 undergraduate areas of study, along with graduate degrees and online programs in business administration, media communication and education and an online bachelor's degree program. More than 22,000 living alumni surround the globe, leading and serving in all 50 states and at least 80 nations. asbury.edu
Asbury sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, as well as cheerleading, representing more than 350 student-athletes. Men's sports include: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Women's sports include: basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. asburyeagles.com
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Asbury University, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.
Follow all things #CCS on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @ccofsouth for all the latest news around the league.
"This means the wait is over! For three years we have been chopping at the bit to officially be in D3 and to have conference play. The CCS couldn't be a better conference to do that in and I know the boys and I are ready to compete. At the end of the day we get to write our own history and come fall we will be ready to do that!"
Austin Dunlap | Men's Soccer | Graduate Student
"I know how excited I am to be competing in such a quality conference, like the CCS, but the team is very excited as well. We've had the opportunity to compete against several of the CCS teams over the last couple of years, and they have been nothing but amazing hosts to us. They play an incredibly high level brand of basketball in the CCS , so this is going to be a fun experience for us!"
Chad Mayes | Head Women's Basketball Coach
"I was lucky enough to be here for the NAIA days and compete in the River States Conference (RSC). The atmosphere of those game were unmatched, grinding it out every weekend trying to win a series. I'm pumped to have the opportunity to be apart of a conference again and the chance to bring a championship back to Wilmore. It'll be fun getting to see new squads, facing off against new foes in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS). Most of all, I'm excited for some warm weather early in the season!"
Kaden Dugle | Baseball | Graduate Student
"We are thrilled and excited to be joining the CCS and cannot wait to compete at the conference and national level again. We will be competing against talented and like minded programs. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for us in the CCS."
Zach Welch | Head Women's Soccer Coach
"I'm really excited to be competing in the CCS next year. I believe playing a consistent conference schedule is going to elevate our program and make our team more competitive."
Ally Moore | Head Softball Coach
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* Watch our all TeamAU home games live at Asbury Sports Digital Network
* Use the links attached to the team schedules to watch live or follow live stat
