Peach Belt Conference History

Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt Conference has worked tirelessly to become one of the elite conferences in NCAA Division II. Now entering its 19th season with 26 national championships and 25 national finalists, the PBC has accomplished that goal.

Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men’s and women’s basketball, the conference has expanded to 12 championship sports with the addition of women’s soccer in the fall of 2000.

The conference traces its roots back to November of 1988 when 11 schools first met in Greenville, S.C. to form a Division II conference. Following a second meeting on Dec. 3, 1989, five of those 11 schools, plus two others, formed the Peach Belt and begin play in fall 1990.

The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing a national championship. The Columbus State golf team took the honor by winning the 1992 national crown, the first of three golf championships the Cougars own.  One year later, the Lander men's tennis team began their record-breaking run of eight straight national titles, the first PBC dynasty.  Since then, USCA men's golf has won three straight national titles from 2004-06 while AASU women's tennis has captured four titles overall.

The 2007-08 season was indeed a remarkable one for the PBC.  Armstrong Atlantic State became only the second team in the last 20 years to win both the men's and women's tennis national championships in the same season as they hoisted both trophies in 2008.  The Augusta State men's basketball team also made a historic run to the national championship game.

The seven charter members of the conference were Armstrong Atlantic State University, Columbus State University, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Lander University, USC Aiken and USC Upstate. The name Peach Belt Athletic Conference was adopted in January of 1990 and modified to Peach Belt Conference in May of 2000.

Augusta State joined the conference in 1991 and UNC Pembroke became the ninth member on July 1, 1992. They were followed by Kennesaw State University on July 1, 1994, Clayton State University on July 1, 1995 and the University of North Florida on July 1, 1997. Kennesaw State and North Florida departed for the Division I ranks in 2005, USC Upstate did the same in 2007, and the conference welcomed in North Georgia College & State University in 2005 and Georgia Southwestern State University in 2006.

David Brunk was named the second PBC commissioner in May of 2007. Brunk replaced Marvin Vanover, who was the first PBC commissioner from 1991 to 2007. Brunk is charged with continuing the strong growth of the conference as its second era begins.

Dr. David Potter, president of North Georgia College & State University, is the president of the Peach Belt in 2008-09.

The conference currently holds championships in 12 sports, six for men and six for women. They are men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball, softball and men’s golf.