Atlantic Sun Conference Explained

Atlantic Sun Conference
Color:
  1. 44474D;
Font Color:white
Atlantic Sun Conference
Founded:1978
Association:NCAA
Division:Division I
Teams:12
Sports:22
Mens:10
Womens:12
Region:Southern United States
Formerly:Trans America Athletic Conference (1978–2001)
Atlantic Sun Conference (2001–2016)
ASUN Conference (2016–2023)
Headquarters:Atlanta, Georgia
Jacksonville, Florida
Commissioner:Jeff Bacon
Since:2023
Map:ASUN Map.svg
Map Size:250

The Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and began sponsoring football at the Division I FCS level in 2022. Originally established as the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in 1978,[1] it was renamed as the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2001, and briefly rebranded as the ASUN Conference from 2016 to 2023. The conference still uses "ASUN" as an official abbreviation.[2] The conference headquarters are located in Atlanta. On May 8, 2024, the conference announced it would move its headquarters from Atlanta, Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida in the fall of 2024.[3]

History

Formation

The conference was first formed on September 19, 1978, as the Trans America Athletic Conference, at the Dallas–Fort Worth Regional Airport Marina Hotel.[4] Its charter members were Oklahoma City University, Pan American University (later renamed University of Texas-Pan American), Northeast Louisiana University (now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe), Houston Baptist University (now Houston Christian University), Hardin-Simmons University, Centenary College of Louisiana, Samford University, and Mercer University, all of whom were previously D-I independents. None of the eight charter members remain in the conference today.

Almost immediately after its formation, the conference experienced a shake-up in its membership. Oklahoma City departed to become a charter member of the Midwestern City Conference (known today as the Horizon League), while UTPA returned to D-I independent status—both had only played a single season in the infant league. The TAAC was quick to replace the outgoing members with Northwestern State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, along with Georgia Southern University in 1980, but this instability would prove to be a trend through the coming years—over the next 20 years, the conference would accept 16 new members, with many of these leaving after only playing a handful of seasons. 1982 saw the departure of another charter member, Northeast Louisiana, to the Southland Conference. Additionally, it saw the arrival of Nicholls State University, who originally planned to join the TAAC as a full member. However, due to an oversight by the NCAA, adding in a new program who had not competed in Division I for at least five years would result in the offending conference forfeiting their automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. To get around this, the TAAC announced that Nicholls State would compete as a provisional member, ineligible for the men's basketball tournament until it completed its D-I transition in 1985.[5] However, it, along with Northwestern State, left the conference in 1984 to join the Gulf Star Conference instead.

Expansion, contraction, and rebranding

The remainder of the 1980s saw mostly growth for the conference, adding Georgia State University in 1983, Stetson University in 1985, and the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1986. However, near the end of the decade, the conference was hit with 5 departures over 4 consecutive years, beginning with Houston Baptist transitioning to the NAIA in 1989. This was followed by Hardin-Simmons dropping to NCAA Division III in 1990, UTSA and Arkansas–Little Rock leaving for the Southland and Sun Belt conferences in 1991, respectively, and Georgia Southern leaving for the Southern Conference in 1992. In the midst of this, the conference began to relentlessly pursue expansion throughout the 1990s to offset these losses, adding Florida International University in 1990, Southeastern Louisiana University and the College of Charleston in 1991, the University of Central Florida in 1992, Florida Atlantic University in 1993, Campbell University in 1994, Jacksonville State University in 1995, Troy State University in 1997, and Jacksonville University in 1998. Of these 9 schools, though, only 2 ended up staying with the conference for longer than 15 years.

The turn of the millennium saw another charter member in Centenary depart in 1999 for the Mid-Continent Conference (now the Summit League); the league was able to offset this with the addition of Belmont University in 2001. Around this same time, the conference sought to rebrand itself, changing its name from the Trans America Athletic Conference to the Atlantic Sun Conference. The newly rebranded A-Sun continued to expand into the 2000s, adding Gardner–Webb University in 2002, Lipscomb University in 2003, East Tennessee State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of North Florida in 2005, and Florida Gulf Coast University & the University of South Carolina Upstate in 2007. It also lost its fair share of members as well—largely some of the aforementioned members that had been added during the '90s, such as FIU, Florida Atlantic, and Troy to the Sun Belt, Georgia State to the Colonial Athletic Association, and UCF to Conference USA, but it also saw the departure of Samford to the Ohio Valley Conference, leaving Mercer as the only remaining charter member.

Present

The start of the 2010s gave the A-Sun a bit of a reprieve from conference realignment, losing only Campbell and Belmont in 2011 and 2012 to the Big South and OVC, respectively, and only adding recent D-I upgrader Northern Kentucky University in 2012. 2014 saw the departure of its final charter member, Mercer, to the Southern Conference in 2014; however, the Bears continued to compete in the ASUN as an affiliate for beach volleyball and added men's lacrosse to its ASUN membership in 2022. The ASUN continued to expand and contract slowly through the mid-2010s, losing only Northern Kentucky and East Tennessee State (along with Mercer), and only adding the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2015.

This slow pace didn't stay for long, however. The second half of the decade saw the conference rebranding a second time, to simply the ASUN Conference[2] Two years later, the University of North Alabama arrived from the Division II Gulf South Conference,[6] and Liberty University left the Big South for the ASUN.[7] More recently, Bellarmine University joined from the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference[8] and NJIT left for the America East Conference in 2020–21.[9] On July 1, 2024, the University of West Georgia joined from the Division II Gulf South Conference.[10]

Failed CCSA merger

On January 22, 2020, it was announced that the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association and the ASUN would merge to create a new Division I multisport conference.[11] The timeline below was released with the announcement of this merger and expansion plan:

The ASUN had planned on expanding to 20 members and then splitting the conference similar to how the Original Big East Conference was split in 2013 into the American Athletic Conference and the New Big East Conference. The new ASUN Conference governed by the CCSA would have made up of the ASUN 7 including all of the members that would have been in the ASUN Conference for at least 8 years to meet the requirements for a new multisport conference. The members would have included Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of North Florida, and Stetson University. The United Athletic Conference (not to be confused with the United Athletic Conference, the football merger between the Western Athletic Conference and the ASUN in 2023) governed by the original ASUN Conference would have included Bellarmine University, Liberty University, University of North Alabama, and ten other undisclosed schools that would have joined through expansion.

On November 16, 2020, The ASUN Conference announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the quickly changing landscape in conference realignment, the creation of a new multisport conference would not be possible at the time of the release or with the aforementioned timeline.[12] This comes after the news that NJIT would be leaving the ASUN for the America East Conference in 2021, weakening the ASUN 7 and lowering the chances that a new conference would be created with only six members.

Addition of football

See main article: United Athletic Conference.

Arguably its biggest move in recent years was the announcement that the conference would be adding the University of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky University, and former member Jacksonville State University, as incoming members on January 29, 2021, with the intent of sponsoring football in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2022.[13] However, with these three schools joining in 2021, the league partnered with another conference beginning to sponsor football also in 2022, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), to allow the three teams to join the WAC as football affiliates for 2021, branding it interchangeably as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge" and "WAC–ASUN Challenge"; the two leagues will receive a combined bid to the FCS playoffs.[14] [15]

As soon as it was announced, however, the football league was thrown into jeopardy, as Jacksonville State announced it would be leaving once again in 2023 for Conference USA (C-USA), an FBS conference. Liberty was also invited to C-USA for 2023, but had already competed as an FBS independent for some time and was not included in the ASUN's new football league.[16] With the WAC also losing Sam Houston, another football-sponsoring school, to C-USA, the two conferences announced they would be renewing their alliance for the 2022 season.[17] On September 17, 2021, the ASUN announced Austin Peay State University, a football-sponsoring school, as a new member for the 2022–23 season.[18] In May 2022, local media in Charlotte, North Carolina, also reported that Queens University of Charlotte would start a transition from the Division II South Atlantic Conference as a new ASUN member, also effective on July 1 of that year.[19] The ASUN officially announced this move on May 10.[20]

The ASUN also expanded its associate membership in the 2020s. The conference started the decade with five associate members—Coastal Carolina in both beach volleyball and women's lacrosse, Mercer in beach volleyball only, and Akron, Kent State, and Howard in women's lacrosse. All of the women's lacrosse associates left by the 2021–22 school year. Akron and Kent State left after the 2020 season when their full-time home of the Mid-American Conference began sponsoring the sport. Coastal Carolina also left after the 2020 season for the SoCon. Howard moved several sports not sponsored by its full-time home of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to the Northeast Conference, with women's lacrosse moving after the 2021 season. Coastal Carolina moved beach volleyball to C-USA after the 2020–21 school year.

However, the 2021–22 school year saw the arrival of eight new associates, as well as the return of former women's lacrosse associates Coastal Carolina and Delaware State for that sport. ASUN beach volleyball added Charleston, Stephen F. Austin, and UNC Wilmington. The largest change in associate membership involved the relaunch of ASUN men's lacrosse. Full member Bellarmine was joined by five new associates—Air Force, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Utah.

The ASUN lost five beach volleyball members for 2022–23. The conference's four associates in that sport left for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC), which added that sport. Charleston, Stephen F. Austin, and UNC Wilmington all left the ASUN after a single season and Mercer also moved beach volleyball to the SBC.[21] Also, departing full member Jacksonville State moved beach volleyball to its future home of C-USA a year before its all-sports move to that league.[22]

Also for 2022–23, Mercer moved men's lacrosse into the ASUN after the SoCon shut down its men's lacrosse league, and new D-I member Lindenwood became an associate in both men's and women's lacrosse.

On October 14, 2022, Conference USA and Kennesaw State jointly announced that KSU would start a transition to FBS after the 2022 football season[23] and join C-USA in 2024.[24]

ESPN reported on December 9, 2022, that the ASUN and WAC had agreed to form a new football-only conference that plans to start play in 2024. The initial membership would consist of Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and North Alabama from the ASUN, and Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton, and Utah Tech from the WAC. UTRGV would become the 10th member upon its planned addition of football in 2025. The new football conference also reportedly plans to move "from what is currently known as FCS football to what is currently known as FBS football at the earliest practicable date."[25] On December 20, the two conferences confirmed the football merger, announcing that the new football league would start play in 2023 under the tentative name of ASUN–WAC Football Conference. This was followed in April 2023 by the new league rebranding itself as the United Athletic Conference (UAC). The UAC is playing a six-game schedule, and initially planned to start full round-robin conference play in 2024, although this is likely to change with two schools joining by 2025. Neither conference's announcement mentioned any plans to move to FBS.[26] [27] [28]

Return of Atlantic Sun

On September 1, 2023, it was announced that the ASUN would undergo another rebranding to reinstate the use of the name Atlantic Sun. The conference still uses "ASUN" as its official abbreviation.

Addition of swimming and diving

The ASUN added men's and women's swimming & diving for the 2023–24 season, taking most of its initial membership from the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, which had been founded as a partnership of several all-sports conferences, including the ASUN, as a home for that sport (the CCSA's scope would later expand to include beach volleyball). Two associate members came from the American Athletic Conference, which dropped men's swimming as a sponsored sport after the 2022–23 season. The initial membership for that sport is:[29]

Member schools

Current full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment (millions) Nickname Colors
Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, Tennessee19272022Public10,344$45.3Governors
Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, Kentucky19502020Private(Catholic)3,369$80.1Knights
Conway, Arkansas19072021Public10,869$56.0Bears & Sugar Bears
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, Kentucky18742021Public16,959$78.8Colonels
Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, Florida19972007Public15,076$129.3Eagles
Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville, Florida19341998Private4,213$59.2Dolphins
Lipscomb UniversityNashville, Tennessee18912003Private(Churches of Christ)4,620$97.5Bisons
Florence, Alabama18302018Public7,650$53.0Lions
Jacksonville, Florida19652005Public16,309$141.0Ospreys
Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina18572022Private(PCUSA)2,463$185.0Royals
Stetson UniversityDeLand, Florida18831985Private4,330$387.0Hatters
University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, Georgia19062024Public12,769$27.9Wolves
Notes

Associate members

InstitutionLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentJoinedNicknamePrimary
conference
ASUN
sport(s)

(Air Force)
USAF Academy, Colorado1954Military4,3042021–22FalconsMountain West
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, South Carolina1954Public10,4842021–22ChanticleersSun Belt
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, Florida1961Public30,1712023–24OwlsAmerican
Gardner–Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, North Carolina1905Private3,5942023–24Runnin' BulldogsBig South
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia1963Public45,1522024–25OwlsC-USA
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, Virginia1971Private16,0002023–24Lady FlamesC-USA
Lindenwood University1827Private7,3742022–23[30] [31] LionsOVC
Mercer UniversityMacon, Georgia1833Private8,7402022–23BearsSoCon
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Virginia1930Public24,2862023–24MonarchsSun Belt

(UNC Asheville)
Asheville, North Carolina1927Public3,7622023–24BulldogsBig South
Salt Lake City, Utah1850Public32,8182021–22UtesBig 12

Future associate members

InstitutionLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentJoiningNicknamePrimary
conference
ASUN
sport(s)
University of DelawareNewark, Delaware1743Public23,774[32] 2025–26Blue HensCAA
[33]
[34]
Notes

Former full members

School names and nicknames listed here reflect those used during the schools' time in the TAAC/ASUN. One school has changed both its name and nickname and three others have changed only their nicknames.

Five former full members are now associates:

InstitutionLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentJoinedLeftNicknameCurrent
conference
Little Rock, Arkansas1927Public13,00019791991TrojansOVC
Belmont UniversityNashville, Tennessee1890Private6,64720012012BruinsMVC
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek, North Carolina1887Private4,12019942011Fighting CamelsCAA
Centenary College of LouisianaShreveport, Louisiana1825Private78719781999Gentlemen (men's)
Ladies (women's)
SCAC
Orlando, Florida1963Public60,18119922005Golden KnightsBig 12
Charleston, South Carolina1770Public11,32019911998CougarsCAA
East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, Tennessee1911Public15,53020052014BuccaneersSoCon
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, Florida1961Public29,29019932006OwlsAmerican
Florida International UniversityUniversity Park, Florida1965Public50,39419901998Golden PanthersC-USA
Gardner–Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, North Carolina1905Private4,30020022008Runnin' BulldogsBig South
Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, Georgia1906Public20,58419791992EaglesSun Belt
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, Georgia1913Public32,08719832005PanthersSun Belt
Hardin–Simmons UniversityAbilene, Texas1891Private2,43519781990CowboysAmerican Southwest
Houston Baptist UniversityHouston, Texas1960Private2,56719781989HuskiesSouthland
Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, Alabama1883Public9,28319952003GamecocksC-USA
20212023
Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia1963Public45,15220052024OwlsC-USA
Liberty UniversityLynchburg, Virginia1971Private16,00020182023Flames & Lady FlamesC-USA
Monroe, Louisiana1931Public8,40519781982IndiansSun Belt
Mercer UniversityMacon, Georgia1833Private8,30019782014BearsSoCon
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, New Jersey1881Public11,51820152020HighlandersAmerica East
Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, Louisiana1948Public7,09319821984ColonelsSouthland
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, Kentucky1968Public15,26320122015NorseHorizon
Northwestern State UniversityNatchitoches, Louisiana1884Public9,24419791984DemonsSouthland
Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, Oklahoma1904Private3,77019781979ChiefsSooner (SAC)
Samford UniversityHomewood, Alabama1841Private4,44019782003BulldogsSoCon
Spartanburg, South Carolina1967Public5,82120072018SpartansBig South
Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond, Louisiana1925Public17,80019911997LionsSouthland
Edinburg, Texas1927Public19,30219781980BroncsWAC
San Antonio, Texas1969Public30,47419861991RoadrunnersAmerican
Troy UniversityTroy, Alabama1887Public29,68919972005Trojans
Notes:

Former associate members

InstitutionLocationFoundedTypeEnrollmentJoinedLeftNicknameASUN
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Current
conference
in former
ASUN sport(s)
Akron, Ohio1870Public18,7302019–202019–20[35] ZipsMAC
Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, Michigan1892Public27,6932015–162016–17ChippewasMAC

(Charleston)
Charleston, South Carolina1770Public10,4682021–22[36] 2022–23CougarsBeach volleyballCAASun Belt
Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, Ohio1964Public15,6482021–222024–25VikingsHorizonNEC
Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, South Carolina1954Public10,4842015–162020–21ChanticleersBeach volleyballSun Belt
Delaware State UniversityDover, Delaware1891Public
5,0542016–17
2021–22
2017–18
2022–23
HornetsMEACNEC
Detroit, Michigan1877Private5,7002012–132016–17TitansHorizonMAC
2021–222024–25NEC
Elon UniversityElon, North Carolina1889Private6,3052013–142013–14PhoenixCAA
Furman UniversityGreenville, South Carolina1826Private2,6682014–152016–17PaladinsSoCon
Howard UniversityWashington, D.C.1867Private9,1392012–132020–21[37] Lady BisonMEACNEC
Kent State UniversityKent, Ohio1910Public28,1222018–192019–20Golden FlashesMAC
Lindenwood University1827Private7,3742022–232024–25LionsOVC
Mercer UniversityMacon, Georgia1833Private8,6032014–152016–17BearsSoCon
2022–23Beach volleyballSoConSun Belt
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Virginia1930Public24,9322014–152017–18MonarchsSun BeltAmerican
Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, Pennsylvania1921Private4,8952021–222024–25ColonialsHorizonNEC
Southern Methodist University
(SMU)
Dallas, Texas1911Private11,6492023–242024–25MustangsACC
Stephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, Texas1923Public11,9462021–22[38] 2022–23Beach volleyballLadyjacksSouthland

(UNCW)
Wilmington, North Carolina1947Public14,7652021–222022–23Beach volleyballSeahawksCAASun Belt
Notes:

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1978 till:2028

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

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id:line value:black

id:bg value:white id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote) id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the twoPlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1979 text:Oklahoma City (1978–79) bar:1 shift:(120) color:OtherC1 from:1979 till:1985 text:Horizon bar:1 shift:(50) color:OtherC2 from:1985 till:end text:SAC

bar:2 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1980 text:Pan American (1978–80) bar:2 shift:(110) color:OtherC1 from:1980 till:1987 text:Ind. bar:2 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:1987 till:1991 text:ASC bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:1998 text:Sun Belt bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:1998 till:2008 text:D-I Ind. bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:2008 till:2013 text:GWC bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2015 text:WAC, then merged into UTRGV

bar:3 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1982 text:Northeast Louisiana (1978–82) bar:3 shift:(80) color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:2006 text:Southland bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:2006 till:end text:Sun Belt

bar:4 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1989 text:Houston Baptist (1978–89) bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:1989 till:1995 text:NAIA Ind. bar:4 shift:(-10) color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:1996 text:BSC bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:1998 text:NAIA Ind. bar:4 shift:(30) color:OtherC2 from:1998 till:2007 text:RRAC bar:4 shift:(-50) color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:2008 text:NCAA Ind. bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:2008 till:2013 text:GWC bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:end text:Southland

bar:5 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1990 text:Hardin–Simmons (1978–90) bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:1990 till:1996 text:TIAA bar:5 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:end text:ASC

bar:6 color:FullxF from:1978 till:1999 text:Centenary (1978–99) bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:1999 till:2003 text:Independent bar:6 color:OtherC2 from:2003 till:2012 text:Summit bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:SCAC

bar:7 color:FullxF from:1978 till:2003 text:Samford (1978–2003) bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2008 text:OVC bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2008 till:end text:SoCon

bar:8 color:FullxF from:1978 till:2014 text:Mercer (1978–2014) bar:8 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:2014 till:end text:SoCon (2014–17, w. lax.; 2014–present, b. volleyball; 2022–present, m. lax.)

bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1979 text:Ind. bar:9 color:FullxF from:1979 till:1984 text:Northwestern State (1979–84) bar:9 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:1984 till:1987 text:GSC bar:9 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:1987 till:end text:Southland

bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1979 text:Ind. bar:10 color:FullxF from:1979 till:1991 text:Arkansas–Little Rock (1979–91) bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:2022 text:Sun Belt bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:OVC

bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1980 text:Indep. bar:11 color:FullxF from:1980 till:1992 text:Georgia Southern (1980–92) bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1992 till:2014 text:SoCon bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:2014 till:end text:Sun Belt

bar:12 color:AssocOS from:1982 till:1984 text:Nicholls State (1982–84; provisional)

bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1981 text:Sun Belt bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:1981 till:1983 text:Indep. bar:13 color:FullxF from:1983 till:2005 text:Georgia State (1983–2005) bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:CAA bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:Sun Belt

bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1985 text:D-I Independent bar:14 color:FullxF from:1985 till:end text:Stetson (1985–present)

bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1986 text:D-I Independent bar:15 color:FullxF from:1986 till:1991 text:UTSA (1986–91) bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1991 till:2012 text:Southland bar:15 shift:(-10) color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2013 text:WAC bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2023 text:C-USA bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:American

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1988 text:D-II Independent bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1988 till:1990 text:D-I Ind. bar:16 color:FullxF from:1990 till:1998 text:FIU (1990–98) bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1998 till:2013 text:Sun Belt bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:C-USA

bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1979 text:GSC bar:17 shift:(10) color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1980 text:D-II bar:17 shift:(10) color:OtherC1 from:1980 till:1984 text:DI-AA Indep. bar:17 color:OtherC2 from:1984 till:1987 text:Gulf Star bar:17 color:OtherC1 from:1987 till:1991 text:D-I Independent bar:17 color:FullxF from:1991 till:1997 text:Southeastern Louisiana (1991–97) bar:17 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:end text:Southland

bar:18 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1991 text:NAIA Independent bar:18 color:FullxF from:1991 till:1998 text:College of Charleston (1991–98) bar:18 shift:(20) color:OtherC1 from:1998 till:2013 text:SoCon bar:18 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:end text:CAA

bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1984 text:SSC bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:1984 till:1990 text:Independent bar:19 shift:(-10) color:OtherC1 from:1990 till:1991 text:ASC bar:19 shift:(-5) color:OtherC2 from:1991 till:1992 text:SBC bar:19 color:FullxF from:1992 till:2005 text:UCF (1992–2005) bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2013 text:C-USA bar:19 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2023 text:AAC bar:19 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:Big 12

bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1983 text:NAIA Independent bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:1983 till:1993 text:D-II Independent bar:20 color:FullxF from:1993 till:2006 text:Florida Atlantic (1993–2006) bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:2013 text:Sun Belt bar:20 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2023 text:C-USA bar:20 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:American

bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1983 text:D-I Independent bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:1983 till:1994 text:Big South bar:21 color:FullxF from:1994 till:2011 text:Campbell (1994–2011) bar:21 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2023 text:Big South bar:21 color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:CAA

bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1993 text:GSC bar:22 color:OtherC2 from:1993 till:1995 text:D-II Ind. bar:22 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2003 text:Jacksonville State (1995–2003) bar:22 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2021 text:OVC bar:22 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2022 text:(2021–23) bar:22 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:22 shift:(30) color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:C-USA

bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1991 text:GSC bar:23 color:OtherC2 from:1991 till:1993 text:D-II Ind. bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:1993 till:1994 text:ECC bar:23 shift:(10) color:OtherC2 from:1994 till:1997 text:Mid-Con bar:23 color:FullxF from:1997 till:2005 text:Troy (1997–2005) bar:23 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:end text:Sun Belt

bar:24 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1998 text:Sun Belt bar:24 color:FullxF from:1998 till:end text:Jacksonville (1998–present)

bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1985 text:VSAC bar:25 color:OtherC2 from:1985 till:1996 text:TCAC bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:D-I Independent bar:25 color:FullxF from:2001 till:2012 text:Belmont (2001–12) bar:25 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2022 text:OVC bar:25 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:MVC

bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1989 text:Independent bar:26 color:OtherC2 from:1989 till:2000 text:SAC bar:26 color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2002 text:Indep. bar:26 color:FullxF from:2002 till:2008 text:Gardner–Webb (2002–08) bar:26 shift:(10) color:OtherC1 from:2008 till:end text:Big South

bar:27 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1985 text:VSAC bar:27 color:OtherC2 from:1985 till:1996 text:TCAC bar:27 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:TSAC bar:27 color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2003 text:D-I Ind. bar:27 color:FullxF from:2003 till:end text:Lipscomb (2003–present)

bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2005 text:SoCon bar:28 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2014 text:East Tennessee State (2005–14) bar:28 color:OtherC1 from:2014 till:end text:SoCon

bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:1994 text:GIAC bar:29 color:OtherC2 from:1994 till:2000 text:PBAC bar:29 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2005 text:PBC bar:29 color:FullxF from:2005 till:2022 text:Kennesaw State (2005–24) bar:29 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:29 color:FullxF from:2023 till:2024 bar:29 color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:C-USA

bar:30 color:OtherC1 from:1983 till:1992 text:NAIA Independent bar:30 color:OtherC2 from:1992 till:1997 text:SSC bar:30 color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:2000 text:PBAC bar:30 color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2005 text:PBC bar:30 color:FullxF from:2005 till:end text:North Florida (2005–present)

bar:31 color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:2002 text:NAIA Independent bar:31 color:OtherC2 from:2002 till:2007 text:D-II Independent bar:31 color:FullxF from:2007 till:end text:FGCU (2007–present)

bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1992 text:NAIA Independent bar:32 color:OtherC2 from:1992 till:2000 text:PBAC bar:32 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2007 text:PBC bar:32 color:FullxF from:2007 till:2018 text:USC Upstate (2007–18) bar:32 color:OtherC1 from:2018 till:end text:Big South

bar:33 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1985 text:D-II Independent bar:33 color:OtherC2 from:1985 till:2012 text:GLVC bar:33 color:FullxF from:2012 till:2015 text:Northern Kentucky (2012–15) bar:33 shift:(100,-5) color:OtherC1 from:2015 till:end text:Horizon

bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1997 text:D-III Independent? bar:38 color:OtherC2 from:1997 till:2000 text:NYCAC bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:2000 till:2006 text:CACC bar:38 color:OtherC2 from:2006 till:2008 text:Indep. bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:2008 till:2013 text:GWC bar:38 color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2015 text:Indep. bar:38 color:FullxF from:2015 till:2020 text:NJIT (2015–20) bar:38 color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:AmEast

bar:42 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1991 text:Independent bar:42 color:OtherC2 from:1991 till:2018 text:Big South bar:42 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2023 text:Liberty (2018–2023 [full], 2023–present [women's lacrosse, women's swim & dive]) bar:42 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end

bar:43 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2018 text:GSC bar:43 color:FullxF from:2018 till:2022 text:North Alabama (2018–present) bar:43 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:43 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end

bar:46 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2020 text:GLVC bar:46 color:FullxF from:2020 till:end text:Bellarmine (2020–present)

bar:47 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1993 text:AIC (NAIA) bar:47 color:OtherC2 from:1993 till:2006 text:GSC bar:47 color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:2021 text:Southland bar:47 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2022 text:Central Arkansas (2021–present) bar:47 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:47 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end

bar:48 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2021 text:OVC bar:48 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2022 text:Eastern Kentucky (2021–present) bar:48 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:48 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end

bar:49 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:2022 text:OVC bar:49 color:Full from:2022 till:2022 text:Austin Peay (2022–present) bar:49 color:Full from:2022 till:2023 bar:49 color:FullxF from:2023 till:end

bar:50 color:OtherC1 from:1988 till:1995 text:D-II Independent bar:50 color:OtherC2 from:1995 till:2007 text:CVAC bar:50 color:OtherC2 from:2007 till:2013 text:CC bar:50 color:OtherC1 from:2013 till:2022 text:SAC bar:50 color:FullxF from:2022 till:end text:Queens (2022–present)

bar:51 color:OtherC1 from:1978 till:1983 text:Independent bar:51 color:OtherC2 from:1983 till:2024 text:GSC bar:51 color:FullxF from:2024 till:end text:West Georgia (2024–present)

bar:N color:yellow from:1978 till:2001 text:Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) bar:N color:yelloworange from:2001 till:2016 text:Atlantic Sun Conference bar:N color:yellow from:2016 till:end text:ASUN

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:2 start:1980

TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text:^"ASUN Conference membership history"

  1. > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six 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. <#

Sports sponsored

As of the 2023–24 school year, the ASUN sponsors championship competition in 10 men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[39]

In 2008, the ASUN, in an agreement with the Southern Conference (SoCon), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and Big South Conference, formed the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) for schools sponsoring men's and women's swimming and diving within the associated conferences. For the past several years, the ASUN's Commissioner has served as the president of what was initially a swimming & diving-only conference. In 2014 the CCSA expanded to include several other schools from other conferences, and the following year the conference added beach volleyball (women-only at the NCAA level) as a sponsored sport, changing its name to the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. Currently the conference has 17 member schools, with five men's swimming and diving teams, nine women's swimming & diving teams, and six beach volleyball teams.[40] A more recent change to the roster of ASUN sports took place after the 2013–14 school year. Under a cooperative agreement between the ASUN and SoCon, the two leagues agreed to split lacrosse sponsorship. The SoCon took over the ASUN men's lacrosse league, while women's lacrosse sponsorship remained with the ASUN.[41] The full alliance in women's lacrosse amicably ended after the 2017 season, with the SoCon sponsoring that sport from the 2018 season forward, but the two leagues continued in a cross-scheduling agreement until the SoCon dropped women's lacrosse after the 2021 season.

Still more recently, on September 13, 2016, the ASUN and Big South announced a football partnership that allows any ASUN members with scholarship football programs to become Big South football members, provided they are located within the general geographic footprint of the two conferences. At the time of announcement, the only ASUN member with a scholarship football program, Kennesaw State, was already a Big South football member. Should any ASUN member add scholarship football, or any non-scholarship football program of an ASUN school (at the time of announcement, Jacksonville and Stetson) upgrade to scholarship football, that team will automatically join Big South football.[42] North Alabama joined Big South football under the terms of this agreement; although the school's home state of Alabama had no schools in either conference at the time it was announced as a future ASUN member, three of its neighboring states were home to six of the ASUN's eight members at that time.

When the ASUN announced the July 2021 entry of Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State, it also stated that it would launch a scholarship FCS football league, but did not specify when football competition will begin.[13] No current member is required to add football or change its current football standing.[43] At a press conference on February 23, 2021, the ASUN announced that it had entered into a separate football partnership with the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), which had previously announced the relaunch of its football league at the FCS level in fall 2021 with the arrival of four new FCS member schools. The three incoming ASUN members joined the four incoming WAC members in a round-robin schedule branded as the "ASUN–WAC Challenge". Both conferences proposed an amendment to NCAA bylaws that would allow the alliance to receive an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The alliance had seven members, one more than the six normally required for an automatic bid, but were not in the same league for an adequate period to meet the current NCAA "continuity" requirement.[44] [15] The two leagues' proposal was successful, resulting in an automatic qualifier from the seven-team Challenge, colloquially dubbed "AQ7".[45] With the 2022 arrival of Austin Peay providing the ASUN its sixth scholarship FCS program, the ASUN will start its football league in the 2022 season. However, because the ASUN and WAC were each left with only five playoff-eligible football members for 2022 after Jacksonville State (ASUN) and Sam Houston (WAC) started FBS transitions in that season, both leagues renewed their football partnership for 2022.[17] As noted earlier, the two conferences fully merged their football leagues in 2023 as the United Athletic Conference.

Shortly after the addition of football was announced, the ASUN announced that it would reinstate men's lacrosse in the 2022 season, with the lacrosse partnership with the SoCon retained for the time being. The two full ASUN members with men's lacrosse programs, Bellarmine and Jacksonville, separated for that sport, with Bellarmine joining the new ASUN lacrosse league and Jacksonville remaining in SoCon men's lacrosse. Air Force moved from SoCon men's lacrosse; men's lacrosse independent Utah joined; and all three Horizon League members with men's lacrosse programs also joined, with Detroit Mercy moving from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Cleveland State and Robert Morris moving from independent status. The SoCon maintained its automatic NCAA tournament berth by adding another lacrosse independent, Hampton. The ASUN men's lacrosse league was initially to be administered through the CCSA while operating under the ASUN name as part of the ASUN's intended plan to split into two conferences.[46] [47] This arrangement was scrapped along with the planned conference split once NJIT left for the America East; the men's lacrosse league is now directly administered by the ASUN.

The ASUN added two new beach volleyball members, Charleston and UNCW, in July 2021.[36] At the same time, Coastal Carolina left ASUN beach volleyball for the newly formed Conference USA beach volleyball league.[48] With the demise of SoCon women's lacrosse after the 2021 season, Coastal Carolina and Delaware State returned to the ASUN in that sport after respectively spending one and four seasons in the SoCon.

The SoCon dropped men's lacrosse after the 2022 season due to further conference realignment. Jacksonville returned men's lacrosse to the ASUN, and full SoCon member Mercer became an ASUN men's lacrosse affiliate. Lindenwood, which started a transition from D-II to D-I in 2022 as a new member of the Ohio Valley Conference, became an affiliate in both men's and women's lacrosse (neither of which is sponsored by the OVC). Also in 2022–23, the ASUN lost all four of its beach volleyball affiliates (Charleston, Mercer, Stephen F. Austin, UNCW) to the new beach volleyball league of the Sun Belt Conference.

As noted previously, the ASUN added men's and women's swimming & diving in 2023–24.

Men's sports

Men's sponsored sports by school
School width=50px Golf !Total
sports
Austin Peay 5
Bellarmine 10
Central Arkansas 7
Eastern Kentucky 6
Florida Gulf Coast 6
Jacksonville 6
Lipscomb 8
North Alabama 5
North Florida 8
Queens 10
Stetson 6
West Georgia 8
Associate members
Air Force 1
Florida Atlantic 1
Gardner–Webb 1
Mercer 1
Old Dominion 1
Utah 1-Future associate members -->
Totals 12 12 12 12 3+3 8 2+3 8 7 7 83+6

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the league which are played by ASUN schools:

School Volleyball Wrestling
Austin Peay No No No
Bellarmine No No No SoCon
Central Arkansas No No No
Eastern Kentucky No No No
Jacksonville No No No
North Alabama No No No
Queens No No MIVA[49] No
Stetson No No
West Georgia No No No

In addition to the aforementioned sports:

Women's sports

Women's sponsored sports by school
School width=50px Golf !Total
Sports
Austin Peay 10
Bellarmine 10
Central Arkansas 10
Eastern Kentucky 9
Florida Gulf Coast 9
Jacksonville 10
Lipscomb 9
North Alabama 8
North Florida 11
Queens 11
Stetson 9
West Georgia 8
Associate members
Coastal Carolina 1
Gardner–Webb 1
Kennesaw State 1
Liberty 2
Lindenwood 1
UNC Asheville 1-Future associate members -->
Totals 12 8 12 12 3+4 12 12 4+3 9 9 9 12 115+7

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the league which are played by ASUN schools:

School Stunt Triathlon
Bellarmine MAC[50] No No No No
Central Arkansas No No No Independent No
Jacksonville No No No No
Queens No IND No IND
Stetson No No No No
West Georgia No No No No No

In addition to the aforementioned sports:

Facilities

F&M Bank Arena5,500Raymond C. Hand Park777Morgan Brothers Soccer Field800
Freedom Hall18,252Knights FieldOwsley B. Frazier Stadium2,000
Farris Center6,000Bear Stadium1,000Bill Stephens Track/Soccer Complex1,000
Baptist Health Arena6,300Turkey Hughes Field500EKU Soccer Field400
Alico Arena4,633Swanson Stadium1,500FGCU Soccer Complex1,500
Swisher Gymnasium1,500John Sessions Stadium1,500Ashley Sports Complex500
Allen Arena5,028Ken Dugan Field1,500Lipscomb Soccer Complex600
Flowers Hall3,900Mike D. Lane FieldBill Jones Athletic Complex
UNF Arena5,800Harmon Stadium1,000Hodges Stadium9,300
Curry Arena2,500Tuckaseegee Dream FieldsDickson Field
Edmunds Center5,000Melching Field at Conrad Park2,500Stetson Soccer Complex500
The Coliseum7,000Cole Field500University Soccer Field250

All Sports Championships

The Jesse C. Fletcher and Sherman Day Trophies are awarded each year to the top men's and women's program in the conference. The Bill Bibb Trophy, combining the men's and women's results for the best overall program, was first awarded in 2006–07. East Tennessee State won this overall trophy seven of the nine years it has been awarded; Florida Gulf Coast won in 2012–13, 2014–15 and 2015–16.[51]

Men's All Sports: Jesse C. Fletcher Trophy

YearChampion
1978–79Oklahoma City
1979–80Northeast Louisiana
1980–81Northeast Louisiana
1981–82Northeast Louisiana
1982–83Georgia Southern
1983–84Centenary
1984–85Georgia Southern
1985–86Houston Baptist
1986–87Georgia Southern
1987–88Georgia Southern
1988–89Georgia Southern
1989–90Georgia Southern
1990–91Georgia Southern
1991–92Florida International
1992–93Florida International
1993–94Florida International
1994–95Central Florida
1995–96Central Florida
1996–97Florida International
1997–98Georgia State
1998–99Central Florida
1999–00Georgia State
2000–01Georgia State
2001–02Georgia State
2002–03Central Florida
2003–04Central Florida
2004–05Central Florida
2005–06East Tennessee State
2006–07East Tennessee State
2007–08East Tennessee State
2008–09East Tennessee State
2009–10East Tennessee State
2010–11East Tennessee State
2011–12East Tennessee State
2012–13Florida Gulf Coast
2013–14East Tennessee State
2014–15North Florida
2015–16North Florida
2017–18North Florida
2018–19Liberty
2021–22Liberty
2022–23Liberty

Women's All Sports: Sherman Day Trophy

YearChampion
1978–79None
1979–80None
1980–81None
1981–82None
1982–83None
1983–84None
1984–85None
1985–86Stetson, Georgia State
1986–87Stetson
1987–88Georgia State
1988–89Georgia State
1989–90Georgia State
1990–91Florida International
1991–92Florida International
1992–93Georgia State
1993–94Florida International
1994–95Campbell
1995–96Central Florida
1996–97Central Florida
1997–98Georgia State
1998–99Central Florida
1999–00Georgia State
2000–01Georgia State
2001–02Central Florida
2002–03Central Florida
2003–04Central Florida
2004–05Central Florida
2005–06Florida Atlantic
2006–07East Tennessee State
2007–08Jacksonville
2008–09Jacksonville
2009–10Kennesaw State
2010–11Jacksonville
2011–12Kennesaw State
2012–13Florida Gulf Coast
2013–14Jacksonville
2014–15Florida Gulf Coast
2015–16Florida Gulf Coast
2016–17Florida Gulf Coast
2017–18Florida Gulf Coast
2018–19Liberty
2021–22Liberty
2022–23Liberty

Combined All Sports: Bill Bibb Trophy

YearChampion
2006–07ETSU
2007–08ETSU
2008–09ETSU
2009–10ETSU
2010–11ETSU
2011–12ETSU
2012–13FGCU
2013–14ETSU
2014–15FGCU
2015–16FGCU
2016–17FGCU
2017–18Kennesaw State
2018–19Liberty
2021–22Liberty
2022–23Liberty

Championships

Men's basketball

This is a partial list of the last 10 champions. For the full history, see ASUN men's basketball tournament.[52]

SeasonRegular-season champion(s)Tournament champion
2013–14Florida Gulf Coast
Mercer
Mercer
2014–15North FloridaNorth Florida
2015–16North FloridaFlorida Gulf Coast
2016–17Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2017–18Florida Gulf CoastLipscomb
2018–19Lipscomb
Liberty
Liberty
2019–20Liberty
North Florida
Liberty
2020–21LibertyLiberty
2021–22Liberty (East)
Jacksonville State (West)
Bellarmine
2022–23Kennesaw State
Liberty
Kennesaw State
2023–24Eastern KentuckyStetson

Women's basketball

This is a partial list of the last 13 champions. For the full history, see ASUN women's basketball tournament.[53]

SeasonRegular Season Champion(s)Tournament Champion
2011–12Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2012–13StetsonStetson
2013–14Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2014–15Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2015–16Florida Gulf CoastJacksonville
2016–17StetsonFlorida Gulf Coast
2017–18Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2018–19Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2019–20Florida Gulf CoastNone (COVID-19)
2020–21Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2021–22Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2022–23Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast
2023–24Florida Gulf CoastFlorida Gulf Coast

Baseball

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atlantic Coast Conference . March 1, 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060206230012/http://www.atlanticsun.org/quickhits/default.asp?pageId=15 . February 6, 2006.
  2. Conference Student-Athletes Unveil New ASUN Brand Identity. April 28, 2016. ASUN Conference.
  3. Web site: Barney . Justin . May 8, 2024 . Atlantic Sun Conference relocating conference headquarters to Jacksonville this fall . May 11, 2024 . news4jax.com.
  4. News: New conference Gets NCAA OK For Division I. Abilene Reporter-News. 19. November 1, 1978. July 3, 2022. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Nicholls finally in conference. The Anniston Star. 14. August 19, 1982. July 3, 2022. Newspapers.com.
  6. UNA Accepts ASUN Division I Invitation . North Alabama Lions . December 6, 2016 . December 11, 2016.
  7. ASUN Conference Announces Liberty University as League Member for 2018–19 . ASUN Conference . May 17, 2018 . May 17, 2018 . May 20, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180520193050/http://asunsports.org/general/2017-18/releases/20180516hf2r4k . dead .
  8. ASUN Conference Announces Addition of Bellarmine University . ASUN Conference . June 18, 2019 . June 18, 2019 . June 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190619175040/http://asunsports.org/general/2018-19/releases/20190617o5yrum . dead .
  9. Web site: NJIT to Join America East Conference as 10th Member Institution – NJIT Highlanders . NJIT Highlanders . June 12, 2020 . June 13, 2020.
  10. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/10/09/west-georgia "Inside West Georgia’s move to Division I"
  11. Web site: ASUN Announces Exploration of Expansion & Building New NCAA Division I Multisport Conference . ASUN Conference . January 22, 2020 . April 23, 2023 . October 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221004093426/https://asunsports.org/general/2019-20/releases/20200122lh6utq . dead .
  12. Web site: ASUN Statement on Conference Expansion . ASUN Conference . November 16, 2020 . April 23, 2023 . November 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201116230103/https://asunsports.org/general/2020-21/releases/20201115ri19kb . dead .
  13. ASUN Conference Announces Three New Institutions; Adds Football as 20th Sport . ASUN Conference . January 29, 2021 . January 29, 2021 . January 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129160022/https://www.asunsports.org/general/2020-21/releases/20210126nthmsg . dead .
  14. ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021 . ASUN Conference . February 23, 2021 . February 23, 2021.
  15. From the Commissioner's Desk: @ASUN_Football Update . ASUN Conference . February 23, 2021 . February 23, 2021.
  16. Web site: November 5, 2021 . Conference USA to add Liberty, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State beginning in 2023 . July 18, 2024 . ESPN.
  17. ASUN and WAC Renew Football Alliance . ASUN Conference . May 18, 2022 . May 19, 2022.
  18. ASUN Conference Welcomes Austin Peay State University as its Newest Member . ASUN Conference . September 17, 2021 . September 17, 2021 . November 15, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221115194740/https://asunsports.org/general/2021-22/releases/20210916gkbm0v . dead .
  19. News: Queens University of Charlotte accepts invitation to NCAA Division I conference . Jonathan . Limehouse . The Charlotte Observer . May 7, 2022 . May 8, 2022.
  20. ASUN Conference Welcomes Queens University of Charlotte as Its Newest Member . ASUN Conference . May 10, 2022 . May 10, 2022 . May 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220510170813/https://asunsports.org/general/2021-22/releases/20220502gh522q . dead .
  21. Sun Belt Conference Adds Beach Volleyball For 2023 . Sun Belt Conference . January 18, 2023 . January 19, 2023.
  22. 2023 Preseason Awards Announced . Conference USA . February 23, 2023 . March 12, 2023 . The league serves up its second season with opening matches this weekend featuring (16) FIU, (12) Florida Atlantic and UAB, along with new members Jacksonville State and (ARV) Tulane..
  23. Kennesaw State to Join Conference USA in 2024–25 . Kennesaw State Owls . October 14, 2022 . October 14, 2022.
  24. C-USA Adds Kennesaw State, Owls to Join in 2024 . Conference USA . October 14, 2022 . October 14, 2022.
  25. News: Thamel . Pete . Pete Thamel . December 9, 2022 . Atlantic Sun, WAC teams pairing up to attempt move to FBS, sources say . December 9, 2022 . ESPN.com.
  26. @ASUN_Football and WAC Release 2023 Schedule . ASUN Conference . December 20, 2022 . December 22, 2022.
  27. ASUN And WAC Unveil 2023 Football Schedule . Western Athletic Conference . December 20, 2022 . December 22, 2022.
  28. ASUN-WAC Football Partnership Formally Rebrands As The United Athletic Conference . ASUN Conference . April 17, 2023 . April 19, 2023.
  29. ASUN Conference Adds Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving . Atlantic Sun Conference . August 28, 2023 . September 24, 2023.
  30. Jacksonville, Lindenwood & Mercer Joining #ASUNMLAX for 2023 Season . ASUN Conference . March 30, 2022 . May 11, 2022.
  31. #ASUNWLAX Announces Addition of Lindenwood for 2023 Season . ASUN Conference . May 2, 2022 . May 7, 2022.
  32. Web site: Facts & Figures University of Delaware . 2023-11-27 . udel.edu . en.
  33. Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Lacrosse Adds Delaware for 2026 Season . July 17, 2024 . July 30, 2024.
  34. Delaware Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Joins Atlantic Sun Conference . July 11, 2024 . July 12, 2024.
  35. Akron Women's Lacrosse to Join ASUN . . April 9, 2018 . April 28, 2018.
  36. ASUN Conference Announces Additions of Col. of Charleston and UNCW in Beach Volleyball . ASUN Conference . July 6, 2021 . October 9, 2021.
  37. Six Howard Athletics Programs Join the Northeast Conference as Associate Members . Howard Bison . July 6, 2020 . July 11, 2020.
  38. 11th Season of #ASUNBVB Begins This Weekend . ASUN Conference . February 24, 2022 . August 29, 2022 . Stephen F. Austin begins its first season in the league and is set to open its 2022 campaign at the Kingsville Tournament where they face Ottawa, Texas A&M Kingsville, Missouri Baptist and Colorado Mesa..
  39. Web site: ASUN Conference. asunsports.org.
  40. Web site: About the CCSA . Coastal Collegiate Sports Association . September 29, 2020.
  41. SoCon, ASUN Partner to Enhance Lacrosse . Southern Conference . dead . January 9, 2014 . March 31, 2014 . April 7, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407052929/http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4000&ATCLID=209368200&SPID=1790&SPSID=21983 .
  42. Big South and ASUN Conference Establish FCS Membership Partnership . ASUN Conference . September 13, 2016 . October 30, 2016 . October 30, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161030143231/http://asunsports.org/general/2016-17/releases/20160913d3jpxf . dead .
  43. Web site: EKU to leave the OVC for the Atlantic Sun Conference . Drew . Franklin . Kentucky Sports Radio . January 25, 2021 . January 26, 2021.
  44. ASUN, WAC Conferences Announce Football Partnership for 2021 . ASUN Conference . February 23, 2021 . February 23, 2021.
  45. News: FCS college football 2021: AQ7 preview . Stats Perform . . August 20, 2021 . September 5, 2021.
  46. ASUN Conference Announces Formation of Men's Lacrosse League . ASUN Conference . February 5, 2021 . February 6, 2021 . February 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205181350/https://asunsports.org/general/2020-21/releases/20210205djyk6a . dead .
  47. Hampton joining SoCon as associate member for men's lacrosse . Southern Conference . February 5, 2021 . February 6, 2021 . February 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210205180343/https://soconsports.com/news/2021/2/5/hampton-joining-socon-as-associate-member-for-mens-lacrosse.aspx . dead .
  48. CCSA Announces Beach Volleyball Membership Split With Conference USA; 2022 Championship Dates Set . Coastal Collegiate Sports Association . September 28, 2021 . October 9, 2021.
  49. Queens University of Charlotte to Join MIVA in 2023 . Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association . August 15, 2022 . August 29, 2022.
  50. Bellarmine to Join MAC as Affiliate Member in Field Hockey . Mid-American Conference . June 9, 2020 . October 1, 2020.
  51. Web site: All Sports Standings – ASUN Conference. asunsports.org. 2019-01-01. 2019-01-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20190102002230/http://asunsports.org//quick_hits/all_sports_standings. dead.
  52. Web site: ASUN Conference Men's Basketball Record Book . ASUN Conference . August 17, 2020 . July 6, 2021.
  53. Web site: ASUN Conference Women's Basketball Record Book . ASUN Conference . August 13, 2020 . July 6, 2021.