AtlanticWest
Members:14
Regions:South Atlantic, Southeast, South Central, Southwest
Former Names:Big Southeast
Commissioner:Benton Cook (15th Year)
Years:1899-Present
History
1899
Before many conferences were created, the Big Southeast, as it was once called was founded in 1899 by then commissioner Fred Gatling. He extended invitations to 20 universities, expecting 16 to accept. That is exactly what happened. Alabama, Alabama Gulf Coast, Arkansas, Atlanta, Coastal (now Asheville State), Dallas, Duke, Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Fort Lauderdale, Georgia, Georgia Baptist, Maryland, Naples, North Carolina, and Virginia State.
1900
Naples took home the conference championship in the first season of play in the conference.
1915
The Southwest Conference extended an invitation to Arkansas sometime between 1914 and 1915. Arkansas accepted the invite and never returned to the Big Southeast. Thus, the Big Southeast extended an invitation to Southern Coastal (now Charleston State), which they immediately accepted.
1932
The conference was atop of the college throwball world and stayed the same (except for Arkansas’ exit) through the 1930-1931 season. That changed when the SEC was founded and they extended invitations to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Those three, left the Big Southeast and never returned.
1953
After being extended invitations, Duke, Maryland, and North Carolina joined the ACC in 1953. Thus, the Big Southeast extended invitations to Asheville, Huff College, Jones College, and New Orleans, which they all accepted.
1990
The Big South (later the Arkansas Valley) was created in 1990. After being extended invitations Alabama Gulf Coast, Atlanta, Coastal (now Asheville State), Dallas, Florida Gulf Coast, Fort Lauderdale, Georgia Baptist, and Southern Coastal (now Charleston State). joined the new conference. Thus, the Big Southeast extended invitations to Black Mountain, Boca Raton, Daphne, Fairhope, Nashville State, Norfolk San Antonio, and Washington DC. Here’s what the conference looked like in 1990:Black Mountain, Boca Raton, Daphne, Fairhope, Huff College, Jones College, Nashville State, Northern Arkansas, Norfolk, San Antonio, Virginia State, and Washington DC. The conference also rebranded, naming itself the AtlanticWest Conference.
2003
Huff College and Jones College accepted invitations to join the American South (later the Arkansas Valley). The AtlanticWest extended invitations to NC Central and Ouachita Baptist, which they accepted.
2018
Virginia State accepted an invitation to join the Arkansas Valley (now split into the East and West Valley Conferences). Norfolk accepted an invitation to join the ACC as a T-Division Sports only member (swim sports, throwball, and wiffle ball). Arkansas Baptist, Florida Atlantic (T-Division Sports only), and North Florida (T-Division Sports only) accepted invitations to join the AtlanticWest.
2020
Florida Atlantic accepts invitation to return to former conference, the Conference USA, effective July 1, 2020.
Current Members:
Arkansas Baptist
Asheville
Black Mountain
Boca Raton
Daphne
Fairhope
Nashville State
NC Central
New Orleans
North Florida
Northern Arkansas
Ouachita Baptist
San Antonio
Washington DC
