The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Member schools are located in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
While competitive CCS play began immediately during the 2022–23 school year, the CCS was not eligible for automatic NCAA Division III tournament bids until 2024–25. The conference sponsors 14 championship sports. Football, women's golf, and men's and women's lacrosse teams sponsored by CCS members continue to compete in the USA South as associate members.
History First changes On June 1, 2023, Berea announced that it accepted an invitation to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) as a full member, thus leaving the CCS, and join there, beginning the 2024–25 school year.
On October 6, 2023, Asbury University was accepted as a full member of the CCS, thus replacing Berea's spot, to join there beginning during the 2024–25 school year.
On July 17, 2024, Maryville announced that it will leave the CCS to accept an invitation to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) as a full member, and will join there, beginning the 2026–27 school year.
Chronological timeline 2022: The College Conference of the South was founded and established after a decision to split the 19-member USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) into two smaller, geographically oriented leagues. Charter members included Agnes Scott College, Belhaven University, Berea College, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University and Wesleyan College, beginning the 2022–23 academic year. 2024: Berea left the CCS to join the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) after the 2023–24 academic year. Asbury University joined the CCS in the 2024–25 academic year. 2026: Maryville (TN) left the CCS to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) after the 2025–26 academic year. Wesleyan left the CCS and the NCAA to begin a transition to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) after the 2025–26 academic year.
Member schools Founding members The CCS began with nine full members, all private and faith-based schools. The only members not tied to one or more specific Christian denominations are current member Asbury and former member Berea, although Asbury is historically associated with the Methodist movement.
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment NicknameColors Joined Football? Agnes Scott College Decatur, Georgia 1889 Presbyterian 914 Scotties 2022 No Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,054 Eagles 2024 No Belhaven University Jackson, Mississippi 1883 Presbyterian 3,245 Blazers 2022 Yes Covenant College Lookout Mountain, Georgia 1955 Presbyterian 1,282 Scots &Lady Scots 2022 No Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama 1854 UnitedMethodist 900 Hawks 2022 Yes LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia 1831 UnitedMethodist 1,137 Panthers 2022 Yes Piedmont University Demorest, Georgia 1897 United Church of Christ & Congregationalist 2,640 Lions 2022 No
Notes
Former members The CCS has three former full members, all were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference Berea College Berea, Kentucky 1855 Christian 1,613 Mountaineers 2022 2024 Heartland (HCAC) Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee 1819 Presbyterian 1,103 Scots 2022 2026 Southern (SAA) Wesleyan College Macon, Georgia 1836 UnitedMethodist 550 Wolves 2022 2026 Southern States (SSAC)
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports The CCS sponsors championships in the following sports:
+ Conference sportsSportMen'sWomen'sBaseball Basketball Cross country Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track and field (outdoor) Volleyball
Men's sponsored sports by school +SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryGolfSoccerTennisTrack & field (outdoor)Total CCS sportsAsbury7Belhaven7Covenant7Huntingdon7LaGrange7Piedmont7Totals666666642
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the CCS that are played by CCS schools +SchoolCyclingFootballLacrosseSwimmingWrestlingAsburySCACBelhavenUSA SouthHuntingdonUSA SouthUSA SouthINDLaGrangeUSA SouthUSA SouthPiedmontUSA SouthIND
Women's sponsored sports by school +SchoolBasketballCross CountrySoccerSoftballTennisTrack & field (outdoor)VolleyballTotal CCS sportsAgnes Scott7Asbury7Belhaven7Covenant7Huntingdon7LaGrange7Piedmont7Totals777777749
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the CCS that are played by CCS schools +SchoolBeach VolleyballCyclingFlag FootballGolfLacrosseSwimmingWrestlingAsburySCACHuntingdonINDINDUSA SouthUSA SouthINDLaGrangeINDINDUSA SouthPiedmontUSA SouthUSA SouthIND
Conference facilities All CCS members with football teams play that sport in the USA South. SchoolFootballBasketballStadiumCapacityArenaCapacityAgnes ScottNon-football school—Woodruff Athletic Complex— Asbury Non-football school — Luce Center Gym 1,500BelhavenBelhaven Bowl1,200Charles R. Rugg Arena500CovenantNon-football school—Barnes Physical Education Center650Huntingdon Charles Lee Field at Samford Stadium2,500Catherine Dixon Roland Arena976LaGrangeCallaway Stadium5,000Mariotti Gymnasium500PiedmontNon-football school—Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Cave Arena 1,500
See also USA South Athletic Conference Great South Athletic Conference – former Division III conference with similar membership and geographic footprint
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