USC Aiken Pacers explained

USC Aiken Pacers
University:University of South Carolina Aiken
Association:NCAA
Conference:Peach Belt
Division:Division II
Director:Todd Wilkinson[1]
Location:Aiken, South Carolina
First Season:1961
Teams:11
Mens Teams:5
Womens Teams:5
Coed Teams:1
Basketballarena:Convocation Center
Soccerstadium:Pacer Pit
Softballstadium:J.H. Satcher Field
Mascot:Ace the Pacer
Nickname:Pacers
Color1:Pacer Blue
Color2:Ace Red
Color3:Triumph Gray[2]
Hex1:012855
Hex2:E4012B
Hex3:A2AAAD
Pageurl:https://pacersports.com/
Ncaa Titles:3
Indiv Relay Ncaa Champs:2[3]

The USC Aiken Pacers are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Carolina Aiken, located in Aiken, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Pacers have primarily competed in the Peach Belt Conference since the 1990–91 academic year. The Pacers' primary rival is conference foe Augusta.

USC Aiken competes in ten intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Men's and women's tennis were discontinued at the end of the 2018–19 school year. The Pacers also sponsor a co-ed Spirit Squad.

History

USC Aiken's athletic programs were initially known as the Rebels. The mascot name was changed to Pacers in 1971.[4]

Conference affiliations

NCAA

Varsity teams

Men's sportsWomen's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross country
Cross countrySoccer
GolfSoftball
SoccerVolleyball

Baseball

Ahead of the 2022 season, Michael Holder took the reins of the Pacer baseball program.[6] Holder succeeded longtime coach Kenny Thomas, who led the Pacers to nine NCAA Southeast Regional appearances across 22 seasons as head coach.[7]

Longtime Coastal Carolina head coach Gary Gilmore served as an assistant from 1986–1989 and subsequently as head coach at USCA from 1990–1995.

It was at the end of Gilmore's first season on staff in 1986 that pitcher Roberto Hernández was drafted in the first round of the MLB draft.[8] Hernández later made substantial donations to his alma mater, which led to a new baseball stadium being constructed and named in his honor on the university's campus.

Men's basketball

The men's basketball program has been led by Mark Vanderslice since the 2015–16 season.[9]

Women's basketball

The women's basketball program has been led by Mark Miller since the 2016–17 season.[10]

Cross country

The Pacers' cross country program is led by coach Marshall Leonard.[11]

Golf

The Pacers' golf program has been led by coach Michael Carlisle since the 1991–92 season. During his tenure, the program has experienced unprecedented success, including a run of three consecutive national championships (2004, 2005, and 2006).[12]

Men's soccer

The men's soccer program is led by first-year head coach Nick Sakiewicz.[13] He takes over for longtime coach Ike Ofoje, who was also the Pacers' inaugural women's soccer head coach.[14]

Women's soccer

The women's soccer program is led by first-year head coach Adam Kleman.[15] Kleman succeeds Tina Murphy, who in her two year tenure before departing for Gardner-Webb led the Pacers to their first Peach Belt tournament appearance since the 2017–18 season.[16]

Softball

The Pacers' softball program is led by fourth-year head coach Jaclin Poole. Under Poole's leadership, the Pacers made the 2022 Peach Belt Conference tournament, the program's first since 2016.[17]

Volleyball

The Pacers' volleyball program is led by head coach Glenn Cox, who has guided the program since 2008.[18]

Conference championships

As members of the Peach Belt Conference the Pacers have won 55 conference championships (46 team, nine individual) across five programs.

Men's Sports

Baseball

Basketball

Golf

Women's Sports

Basketball

Volleyball

Regional championships

The Pacers have had consistent success in regional competition, claiming 15 (10 team, five individual) NCAA Division II Region Titles across five sports.

Team

AssociationDivisionSportYearOpponent/Runner-UpScore
NCAADivision IIBaseball1993Francis Marion13–2
Men's Golf2002835–
2003Francis Marion865–878
2004Kennesaw State578–586
2005Armstrong State887–891
2006Columbus State875–912
Men's Basketball2013Barton82–75
2014Montevallo84–73
Men's Tennis2019Wingate4–2
Volleyball2016Queens3–2

Individual

AssociationDivisionSportYearIndividual(s)EventScore
NCAADivision IIMen's Golf1997Jamie StanleyIndividual Title220 (+4)
2003Scott Usher212 (–4)
2005Scott Brown216 (0)
2006Scott Brown211 (–5)
2012Matt Atkins210 (–6)

National championships

Team

AssociationDivisionSportYearOpponent/Runner-UpScore
NCAADivision IIMen's Golf[19] 2004Chico State1,191–1,200
2005Armstrong State1,158–1,163
2006Columbus State1,148–1,160

Individual

AssociationDivisionSportYearIndividual(s)EventScore
NCAADivision IIMen's Golf2005Dane BurkhartIndividual Title279 (–5)
2008Jeff Goff278 (–2)

Notable alumni

Baseball

Men's basketball

Men's golf

Men's soccer

Women's soccer

Notes and References

  1. News: USC Aiken Announces Todd Wilkinson As Director Of Athletics. January 5, 2023.
  2. Web site: Colors. July 3, 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022-23 PBC CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE. January 16, 2023.
  4. Pacer Times, Vol. 50 no. 1, p.1 (August 8, 2013).
  5. Web site: Conference History. January 2, 2023.
  6. News: Pacers ready to begin new era under Holder. February 5, 2023.
  7. News: Kenny Thomas To Retire After 2021 Season. February 5, 2023.
  8. Web site: Roberto Hernández. March 20, 2024.
  9. News: College Basketball: Division II head basketball job for Vanderslice. February 5, 2023.
  10. News: USC Aiken announces Mark Miller will be new women’s basketball head coach. February 5, 2023.
  11. News: MARSHALL LEONARD NAMED USCA HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH. February 5, 2023.
  12. Web site: Michael Carlisle - Head Men's Golf Coach. February 5, 2023.
  13. Web site: 2023-12-21 . USC Aiken Hires Nick Sakiewicz To Lead Men’s Soccer Program . 2024-01-15 . University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics . en.
  14. Web site: Ike Ofoje - Men's Soccer Coach. February 5, 2023.
  15. Web site: 2023-07-28 . USC Aiken Hires Adam Kleman As Head Women’s Soccer Coach . 2023-08-12 . University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics . en.
  16. Web site: Tina Murphy - Women's Soccer Coach . 2023-08-12 . University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics . en.
  17. Web site: USC Aiken Is Sixth Seed For PBC Championship. February 5, 2023.
  18. Web site: Glenn Cox - Volleyball Coach. February 5, 2023.
  19. Web site: NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship Results . NCAA. NCAA.org. January 14, 2016.
  20. Web site: Richard Batchelor - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  21. Web site: Scott Cassidy - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  22. Web site: Paul Fletcher - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  23. Web site: Roberto Hernandez - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  24. Web site: Adam Riggs - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  25. Web site: Bryan Ward - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  26. Web site: Reggie Williams - Baseball. January 15, 2023.
  27. Web site: Chris Commons - Men's Basketball. January 21, 2023.
  28. Web site: Josh Dollard - Men's Basketball. January 21, 2023.
  29. Web site: Matt Atkins - Men's Golf. January 15, 2023.
  30. Web site: Scott Brown - Men's Golf. January 15, 2023.
  31. Web site: Roberto Diaz - Men's Golf. January 15, 2023.
  32. Web site: Ranaldo Bailey - Men's Soccer. January 21, 2023.
  33. Web site: John Lesko - Men's Soccer. January 29, 2023.
  34. Web site: Akeyla Furbert - Women's Soccer. January 29, 2023.