:Peach Belt Conference

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The conference traces its roots November 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 Athletic Conference and began play in the fall of 1990.

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

Augusta State University joined the conference as the eighth member 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 University of Montevallo and Flagler College were added, returning a league presence to Florida and breaking new ground in Alabama. In 2012–13, the Peach Belt expanded to 14 members, the most the league has ever had, with the addition of Young Harris College. On January 8, 2013, the University System of Georgia finalized the mergers of two conference members into new institutions. Augusta State was merged into Georgia Regents University, which was renamed in 2015 as Augusta University, and NGCSU was merged into the University of North Georgia.{{cite press release|title=Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, approves presidents|url=http://www.usg.edu/news/release/board_of_regents_finalizes_consolidations_appoints_presidents |publisher=University System of Georgia|access-date=January 8, 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/09/16/georgia-regents-university-undergoes-name-change-again|title=Another New Name|work=Inside Higher Ed|date=September 16, 2015}} In both cases, the new institutions inherited the Peach Belt memberships of the older schools.

The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing its first of many national championships. The Columbus State men's 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 won three straight national titles from 2004 to 2006 while AASU women's tennis 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. Montevallo watched their men's basketball team reach the Elite Eight, eventually competing in the National Championship Game. Unfortunately, their run came to an end with a loss to Western Washington University. 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.

David Brunk was named the second PBC commissioner in May 2007, replacing 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 2011.

In April 2020, Francis Marion University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced that they would leave the Peach Belt Conference starting in 2021–22, both joining Conference Carolinas.{{cite press release|title=Conference Carolinas Announces Addition of Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke|url=https://www.conferencecarolinas.com/newmembers |publisher=Conference Carolinas|access-date=April 17, 2020}}

On April 14, 2021, the conference invited the NAIA's University of South Carolina Beaufort to join in 2022–23 after applying for membership in Division II and gaining acceptance into the NCAA.{{cite news|url=https://uscbathletics.com/news/2021/4/14/general-peach-belt-accepts-uscb-as-newest-league-member.aspx|title=Peach Belt Accepts USCB as Newest League Member|work=University of South Carolina Beaufort Athletics|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 18, 2021}} By July 14, 2022, USCB was accepted into the NAIA's Continental Athletic Conference for its first year of provisional membership while still playing a Peach Belt schedule as part of the Sand Sharks' dual NAIA-NCAA membership. USCB is ineligible for a Peach Belt or NCAA postseason during the three-year transition.{{cite press release |title=USC Beaufort Approved for NCAA DII Membership |url=https://uscbathletics.com/news/2022/7/14/general-usc-beaufort-approved-for-ncaa-division-ii-membership.aspx |access-date=July 16, 2022 |work=USCB Athletics |date=July 14, 2022}}

The conference currently holds championships in 16 sports, eight for men and eight for women. The championship sports are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, baseball, softball, men's and women's track & field, and men's and women's golf.{{cite web|url=http://www.peachbeltconference.org/information/about/history|title=Peach Belt Conference History|publisher=Peach Belt Conference|access-date=May 6, 2012}} Men's lacrosse was added on July 10, 2020, with its first season was in spring 2021, and men's and women's indoor track and field was added on August 11, 2023.{{cite press release |title=Peach Belt Conference to Add Men's Lacrosse as Championship Sport |url=https://www.peachbeltconference.org/news/2020/7/14/general-peach-belt-conference-to-add-mens-lacrosse-as-championship-sport.aspx |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=July 10, 2020}}{{cite press release |title=Peach Belt Conference Announces Addition of Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships |url=https://www.peachbeltconference.org/news/2023/7/26/general-peach-belt-conference-announces-addition-of-mens-and-womens-indoor-track-field-championships.aspx |access-date=August 17, 2023 |date=August 11, 2023}}

On December 13, 2023, the Sunshine State Conference, primary home of PBC track affiliates Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and Nova Southeastern University, announced it would start sponsoring men's and women's outdoor track & field in the 2025 spring season (2024–25 school year), and accordingly, both schools moved their respective programs to the SSC. Embry–Riddle will remain a PBC affiliate in men's and women's indoor track.{{cite press release |url=https://sunshinestateconference.com/news/2023/12/11/general-sunshine-state-conference-adds-beach-volleyball-and-outdoor-track.aspx |title=Sunshine State Conference Adds Beach Volleyball and Outdoor Track |publisher=Sunshine State Conference |date=December 13, 2023 |access-date=January 9, 2024}}

On January 10, 2024, Middle Georgia State University announced that it had received an invitation by the PBC and would join the conference, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.{{cite press release |url=https://peachbeltconference.org/news/2024/1/10/general-peach-belt-extends-invitation-to-middle-georgia-state-university-for-conference-membership.aspx |title=Peach Belt Extends Invitation To Middle Georgia State University For Conference Membership |publisher=Peach Belt Conference |date=January 10, 2024 |access-date=January 10, 2024}}

• 1989 – On December 3, 1989, the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) was founded as the Peach Belt Athletic Conference (PBAC). Charter members included Armstrong State College (later Armstrong Atlantic University before merging with Georgia Southern University), Columbus College (now Columbus State University), Francis Marion College (now Francis Marion University), Georgia College (now Georgia College & State University), Lander College (now Lander University), the University of South Carolina at Aiken (USC Aiken) and the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg (USC Spartanburg, now the University of South Carolina Upstate or USC Upstate), beginning the 1990–91 academic year.
• 1991 – Augusta College (later Augusta State University, now Augusta University) joined the PBAC in the 1991–92 academic year.
• 1992 – The Pembroke State University (now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, or UNC Pembroke) joined the PBAC in the 1992–93 academic year.
• 1994 – Kennesaw State College (now Kennesaw State University) joined the PBAC in the 1994–95 academic year.
• 1995 – Clayton State College (later Clayton College and State University, now Clayton State University) joined the PBAC in the 1995–96 academic year.
• 1997 – The University of North Florida joined the PBAC in the 1997–98 academic year.
• 2000 – The PBAC was renamed by shortening its name to the Peach Belt Conference (PBC), beginning the 2000–01 academic year.
• 2005 – Kennesaw State and North Florida left the PBC to join the Division I ranks National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) after the 2004–05 academic year.
• 2005 – North Georgia College & State University (now the University of North Georgia) joined the PBC in the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2006 – Georgia Southwestern State University joined the PBC in the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2007 – USC Upstate left the PBC to join the NCAA Division I ranks and the Atlantic Sun after the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2009 – Flagler College and the University of Montevallo joined the PBC in the 2009–10 academic year.
• 2012 – Young Harris College joined the PBC in the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2012 – The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Nova Southeastern University and Shorter University joined the PBC as affiliate members for men's & women's outdoor track & field in the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year).
• 2014 – The Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's & women's outdoor track & field in the 2015 spring season (2014–15 academic year).
• 2021 – Alabama–Huntsville (UAH) and Shorter left the PBC as affiliate members for men's & women's outdoor track & field after the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
• 2017 – Two institutions left the PBC to join their respective new home primary conferences, both after the 2016–17 academic year:
• Montevallo to rejoin the Gulf South Conference (GSC)
• and Armstrong State to discontinue its athletic program when it was merged into Georgia Southern University
• 2017 – The Daytona Beach campus of Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's and women's outdoor track & field in the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
• 2019 – Two institutions joined the PBC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2019–20 academic year:
• Albany State University for women's soccer
• and Claflin University for baseball
• 2021
• Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke left the PBC to join the Conference Carolinas (CC) after the 2020–21 academic year.
• Alabama–Huntsville (UAH) and Shorter rejoined the PBC as affiliate members for men's lacrosse (with former full member Montevallo also rejoining that sport) in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
• Savannah State University joined the PBC as an affiliate member for women's golf in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2022 – The University of South Carolina at Beaufort (South Carolina–Beaufort or USC Beaufort) joined the PBC in with the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023
• Young Harris left the PBC to join the Conference Carolinas (CC) after the 2022–23 academic year.
• Central State University (and Embry–Riddle adding the sport into its PBC affiliate membership) joined the PBC as an affiliate member for men's and women's indoor track & field in the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year).
• 2024
• Embry–Riddle and Nova Southeastern left the PBC as affiliate members for men's and women's outdoor track & field after the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year); although Embry–Riddle would remain in the conference for men's and women's indoor track & field.
• Shorter left the PBC to join the Conference Carolinas for all sports after the 2023–24 academic year, including its PBC affiliated sport of men's lacrosse.
• Edward Waters University joined the PBC as an affiliate member for women's golf in the 2024–25 academic year.
• 2025
• Middle Georgia State University will join the PBC beginning the 2025–26 academic year.
• Salem University will join the PBC as an affiliate member for women's volleyball in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).

The PBC currently has 10 full members, with all but one being public schools. Reclassifying members listed in yellow.

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The PBC will have one new full member, also a public school.

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The PBC currently has eight affiliate members, three being private schools and five being public.

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The PBC has eight former full members, all but one are public schools:

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The PBC has five former affiliate members, one was a public school, while four were private schools:

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id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only

id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference

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bar:2 color:FullxF from:1990 till:end text:Columbus State (1990–present)

bar:3 color:FullxF from:1990 till:2021 text:Francis Marion (1990–2021)

bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:4 color:FullxF from:1990 till:end text:Georgia College (1990–present)

bar:5 color:FullxF from:1990 till:end text:Lander (1990–present)

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bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:2021 till:end text:Carolinas

bar:10 color:FullxF from:1994 till:2005 text:Kennesaw State (1994–2005)

bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2025 text:Atlantic Sun

bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:2025 till:end text:C-USA

bar:11 color:FullxF from:1995 till:end text:Clayton State (1995–present)

bar:12 color:FullxF from:1997 till:2005 text:North Florida (1997–2005)

bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Atlantic Sun

bar:13 color:FullxF from:2005 till:end text:North Georgia (2005–present)

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bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:Carolinas

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bar:18 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:(2021–present)

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bar:22 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:end text:Embry–Riddle (2017–present)

bar:23 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:end text:Albany State (2019–present)

bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2019 till:end text:Claflin (2019–present)

bar:25 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:Savannah State (2021–present)

bar:26 color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2023 text:USC Beaufort (2022–present)

bar:26 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:

bar:27 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:Central State (2023–present)

bar:28 color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:Edward Waters (2024–present)

bar:29 shift:(-60) color:FullxF from:2025 till:end text:Middle Georgia State (2025–future)

bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2025 till:end text:Salem (2025–future)

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1. > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.

{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}| Full member (all sports) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}| Full member (non-football) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|204|229|178}}| Associate member (sport) }}

<#

{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}| Full member (all sports) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}| Full member (non-football) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|229|178|204}}| Associate member (football-only) }}

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Departing members/teams in pink.

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Departing members/teams in pink.

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{{see also|Peach Belt Conference men's basketball tournament}}

{{see also|Peach Belt Conference women's basketball tournament}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

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{{NCAA Division II conferences}}

Category:Sports in the Southern United States