The Peach Belt Conference Entering its 22nd year of existence in 2011-12, 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 30 national championships and 27 national finalists. 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 Armstrong women’s tennis has captured four titles overall. The 2010-11 season was one of the most memorable the league has ever had. Clayton State became the first PBC women’s basketball team to capture a national championship. The Columbus State men’s tennis team reached the national semifinals while the Clayton State and Armstrong Atlantic State women’s tennis teams also played in the national semifinals. The North Georgia softball team made an unprecedented third straight appearance in the NCAA Women’s College World Series, while Columbus State’s Meshack Koyiaki registered a runner-up finish at the Men’s Cross Country National Championships. In all, 46 Peach Belt teams made appearances in the NCAA postseason, including seven men’s tennis teams and six each in the sports of men’s golf and women’s tennis. 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
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Peach Belt Conference 30 National Championships Baseball Kennesaw State (1994, 1996) Columbus State (2002) Men’s Basketball Kennesaw State (2003-04)
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. In 2009-10, the Peach Belt expanded to 13 members, the most the league has ever had, with the additions of Montevallo and Flagler. The two schools also returned a league presence to Florida and broke new ground in Alabama. 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. Kendall Blanchard, president of Georgia Southwestern State University, began the second of his two-year term as the league president in July of 2011. 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.
Men’s Golf Columbus State (1992, 1994, 1997) Francis Marion (2003) USC Aiken (2004, 2005, 2006) Men’s Tennis Lander (1991-2000) Armstrong (2008-09) Women’s Basketball Clayton State (2010-11) Women’s Soccer Kennesaw State (2003) Women’s Tennis Armstrong (1995-96, 2005, 2008-10) Softball Kennesaw State (1995, 1996)
PBC Quick Facts Address: 503 Blackburn Drive Martinez, GA 30907 Founded: December 3, 1989 Phone Number: (706) 860-8499 Fax Number: (706) 650-8113 Website: www.peachbelt.com Commissioner: David Brunk Media Relations: Ken Gerlinger Compliance: Diana Kling Operations: Carl Segura
Armstrong has reached the PBC Tournament title game four times