Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference

The Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) was a former college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); which was predominantly for smaller, private colleges in Western and Middle Tennessee.

History

The TCAC was created in 1985 from the western division of the old Volunteer State Athletic Conference. The charter members were Belmont University, Bethel College, Christian Brothers University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb University, Freed–Hardeman University, Lambuth University, Martin Methodist College, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Union University. The TCAC survived in that form until 1995 when both Belmont and Christian Brothers announced their intentions to go to the NCAA. The remaining teams formed a new conference, the TranSouth Athletic Conference which existed until the 2012–13 school year.

Chronological timeline

1985 – The Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) was founded. Charter members included Belmont University, Bethel College, Christian Brothers University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb University, Freed–Hardeman University, Lambuth University, Trevecca Nazarene University and Union University, beginning the 1985–86 academic year.
1994 – Martin Methodist College (now the University of Tennessee Southern) joined the TCAC in the 1994–95 academic year.
1996 - The TCAC would cease operations as an athletic conference after the 1995–96 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 1996–97 academic year: Bethel (Tenn.), David Lipscomb, Freed–Hardeman, Martin Methodist (now UT Southern), Trevecca Nazarene and Union (Tenn.) to form the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC); with Cumberland (Tenn.) and Lambuth to the Mid-South Conference (MSC); Belmont to the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent (which would later join the Atlantic Sun Conference, beginning the 2001–02 school year); and Christian Brothers to the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference (GSC).

Member schools

Final members

Institution	Location^[a]	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^[b]	Left^[c]	Subsequent conference(s)	Current conference
Belmont University	Nashville	1890	Nondenominational	8,700	Bruins	1985	1996	various^[d]	Missouri Valley (MVC)^[e] (2022–present)
Bethel College^[f]	McKenzie	1842	Cumberland Presbyterian	2,975	Wildcats	1985	1996	various^[g]	Mid-South (MSC) (2020–present)
Christian Brothers University	Memphis	1871	Catholic (R.S.F.)	1,968	Buccaneers	1985	1996	Gulf South (GSC)^[h] (1996–present)
Cumberland University	Lebanon	1842	Nonsectarian	1,500	Bulldogs^[i]	1985	1996	Mid-South (MSC) (1996–2002) TranSouth (TSAC) (2002–12)	Mid-South (MSC) (2012–present)
David Lipscomb University	Nashville	1891	Churches of Christ	4,278	Bisons	1985	1996	TranSouth (TSAC) (1996–2001) D-I Independent (2001–03)	Atlantic Sun (ASUN)^[e] (2003–present)
Freed–Hardeman University	Henderson	1869	Churches of Christ	2,027	Lions	1985	1996	TranSouth (TSAC) (1996–2013) American Midwest (AMC) (2013–20)	Mid-South (MSC) (2020–present)
Lambuth University	Jackson	1843	United Methodist	800	Eagles	1985	1996	various^[j]	Closed in 2011
Martin Methodist College^[k]	Pulaski	1870	Public^[l]	1,000	FireHawks	1994	1996	various^[m]	Southern States (SSAC) (2023–present)
Trevecca Nazarene University^[n]	Nashville	1901	Nazarene	2,345	Trojans	1985	1996	TranSouth (TSAC) (1996–2012) Great Midwest (G-MAC)^[h] (2012–24)	Gulf South (GSC)^[h] (2024–present)
Union University	Jackson	1823	Baptist	4,259	Bulldogs	1985	1996	TranSouth (TSAC) (1996–2012)	Gulf South (GSC)^[h] (2012–present)

Notes

^ All cities were located in the State of Tennessee.
^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
^ Belmont had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-I Independent from 1996–97 to 2000–01; the Atlantic Sun Conference from 2001–02 to 2011–12; and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) from 2012–13 to 2021–22.
^ ^a ^b Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
^ Currently known as Bethel University since 2009.
^ Bethel (Tenn.) had joined the following subsequent conferences: the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 1996–97 to 1997–98 (and again from 2006–07 to 2012–13); the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 2013–14 to 2019–20.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ Cumberland (Tenn.) changed its nickname from Bulldogs to Phoenix in 2016.
^ Lambuth had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 1996–97 to 2005–06; the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 2006–07 to 2008–09; and as an NAIA/NCAA D-II Independent from 2009–10 to 2010–11.
^ Currently known as the University of Tennessee Southern since 2021.
^ UT Southern (formerly Martin Methodist) was a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church until July 2021.
^ UT Southern (formerly Martin Methodist) had joined the following subsequent conferences: the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 1996–97 to 2012–13; the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 2013–14 to 2019–20; and the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 2020–21 to 2022–23.
^ Formerly known as Trevecca Nazarene College until 1995.

Membership timeline

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         id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
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         id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
         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
         id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

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

 bar:1  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Belmont (1985–1996)
 bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:D-I Ind.
 bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2012 text:Atlantic Sun
 bar:1  color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:2022 text:Ohio Valley
 bar:1  color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:Missouri Valley

 bar:2  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Bethel (Tenn.) (1985–1996)
 bar:2  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:1998 text:TranSouth
 bar:2  shift:(10) color:OtherC2 from:1998 till:2006 text:River States
 bar:2  color:OtherC1 from:2006 till:2013 text:TranSouth
 bar:2  color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2020 text:Southern States
 bar:2  color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:Mid-South

 bar:3  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Christian Brothers (1985–1996)
 bar:3  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:end text:Gulf South

 bar:4  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Cumberland (Tenn.) (1985–1996)
 bar:4  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2002 text:Mid-South
 bar:4  color:OtherC2 from:2002 till:2012 text:TranSouth
 bar:4  color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Mid-South

 bar:5  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Freed–Hardeman (1985–1996)
 bar:5  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2013 text:TranSouth
 bar:5  color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2020 text:American Midwest
 bar:5  color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:end text:Mid-South

 bar:6  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Lambuth (1985–1996)
 bar:6  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2006 text:Mid-South
 bar:6  color:OtherC2 from:2006 till:2009 text:TranSouth
 bar:6  color:OtherC1 from:2009 till:2011 text:D-II Ind.

 bar:7  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Lipscomb (1985–1996)
 bar:7  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:TranSouth
 bar:7  color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2003 text:D-I Ind.
 bar:7  color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:end text:Atlantic Sun

 bar:8  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Trevecca Nazarene (1985–1996)
 bar:8  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2012 text:TranSouth
 bar:8  color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2024 text:Great Midwest
 bar:8  color:OtherC1 from:2024 till:end text:Gulf South

 bar:9  color:FullxF from:1985 till:1996 text:Union (Tenn.) (1985–1996)
 bar:9  color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2012 text:TranSouth
 bar:9  color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:end text:Gulf South

 bar:10  color:FullxF from:1994 till:1996 text:Martin Methodist (1994–1996)
 bar:10  shift:(100) color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2013 text:TranSouth
 bar:10  color:OtherC2 from:2013 till:2020 text:Southern States
 bar:10  color:OtherC1 from:2020 till:2023 text:Mid-South
 bar:10  color:OtherC2 from:2023 till:end text:Southern States

 bar:N color:red from:1985 till:1996  text:Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference
 bar:N color:blue from:1996 till:end  text:Post-TCAC

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Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football only) <# </timeline>

Full member (non-football)

References

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[1] All cities were located in the State of Tennessee.

[2] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[3] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[4] Belmont had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-I Independent from 1996–97 to 2000–01; the Atlantic Sun Conference from 2001–02 to 2011–12; and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) from 2012–13 to 2021–22.

[D1-5] Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

[6] Currently known as Bethel University since 2009.

[7] Bethel (Tenn.) had joined the following subsequent conferences: the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 1996–97 to 1997–98 (and again from 2006–07 to 2012–13); the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 2013–14 to 2019–20.

[D2-8] Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

[9] Cumberland (Tenn.) changed its nickname from Bulldogs to Phoenix in 2016.

[10] Lambuth had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 1996–97 to 2005–06; the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 2006–07 to 2008–09; and as an NAIA/NCAA D-II Independent from 2009–10 to 2010–11.

[11] Currently known as the University of Tennessee Southern since 2021.

[12] UT Southern (formerly Martin Methodist) was a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church until July 2021.

[13] UT Southern (formerly Martin Methodist) had joined the following subsequent conferences: the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TSAC) from 1996–97 to 2012–13; the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) from 2013–14 to 2019–20; and the Mid-South Conference (MSC) from 2020–21 to 2022–23.

[14] Formerly known as Trevecca Nazarene College until 1995.

[15] Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). Open access icon

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Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference

Contents

History

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Final members

Membership timeline

Sponsored sports

References

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Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference

History

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Final members

Membership timeline

Sponsored sports

References

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