Peach Belt Conference History

Now entering its 20th year of existence in 2009-10, the Peach Belt Conference has become one of the elite Division II conferences in the nation. Since its inception in 1990-91, the Peach Belt has developed a consistent history of excellence which continues to this day with 28 national championships and 25 national finalist

Starting with only two championships in 1991, in men’s and women’s basketball, the conference has expanded to 13 championship sports with the addition of women’s golf in the fall of 2009.

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 2008-09 season was among the conference’s most memorable. The Armstrong Atlantic State men’s and women’s tennis teams both won their respective national championships – for the second year in a row; a feat only done once before in college tennis. In addition, the Augusta State men’s basketball team became the first conference program to make back-to-back trips to the NCAA Elite Eight, Armstrong Atlantic became the first PBC volleyball team ever to advance to the Elite Eight and the North Georgia softball team was ranked #1 in the nation and reached the World Series.

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.

For 2009-10, the Peach Belt has grown once again with the addition of the University of Montevallo and Flagler College, giving the PBC 13 members, the most the league has ever had. The addition of the two schools returns the PBC to the state of Florida and expands the league into Alabama for the first time.

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, returns as the president of the Peach Belt in 2009-10.

The conference currently holds championships in 13 sports, six for men and seven 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 and women’s golf.