Montevallo and Flagler Officially Join the Peach Belt Conference!
AUGUSTA, GA – Wednesday, July 1, represents a day of great
change as the University of Montevallo and Flagler College have
both become official members of the Peach Belt Conference. The two
schools were announced as the 12th and 13th members of the
conference on Dec. 18, but their membership became official with
the start of the new academic year July 1.
“It’s a great day for the Peach Belt
Conference,” said PBC Commissioner David Brunk. “We
could not be happier that these two schools are joining our league.
At times, it seemed like the day would never arrive but it is here
at last and we are eager to move forward with Montevallo and
Flagler.”
Both schools are immediately eligible for all PBC Championship
sports and full participation in NCAA Division II
Championships.
Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference has undergone several
membership changes over the last five years, but the addition of
Montevallo and Flagler will give the league 13 teams, the most it
has ever had. Started with seven charter members, the Peach Belt
grew to 12 members in 1997 and remained at that number for eight
years. Kennesaw State and North Florida left the league in 2005 to
move up to the Division I ranks and USC Upstate followed in
2007.
The PBC added North Georgia College & State University in 2005
and Georgia Southwestern State University in 2006 to bring its
current number to 11.
“This expansion means more than just the numbers,”
said Brunk. “These two institutions are a perfect fit for our
league both in terms of the athletic programs they sponsor and the
level at which they compete as well as emphasis on academic success
for all student-athletes.”
Founded in 1968, Flagler College is located in St. Augustine, Fla.
The school’s first building was Ponce de Leon Hall, built in
1888 and the first building in the state of Florida to be wired for
electricity as installed personally by Thomas Edison. It is also
listed on the National Register of Histor ic Places. Now
celebrating its 40th anniversary, Flagler enrolls 2,537 students in
a liberal arts curriculum.
Founded in 1896, the University of Montevallo is Alabama’s
only public liberal arts university. Located in the town of
Montevallo, just south of Birmingham, UM is one of 25 members of
the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Known as
Alabama College until 1969, the University of Montevallo enrolls
approximately 3,100 students and offers 30 degree programs with 75
majors.
The New Peach Belt Conference
