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UPIKE Approved for AAC Membership in 2023-24

UPIKE Approved for AAC Membership in 2023-24
October 5, 2022

WALESKA, Ga. – The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is proud to welcome the University of Pikeville as a full member effective for the 2023-24 season.

The AAC Council of Presidents voted unanimously to approve Pikeville for full membership.

"We are so excited to have a great school like Pikeville join the AAC," said Bill Popp, Commissioner of the AAC. "They bring strong competitive sports, great students, and outstanding administrators and leadership to an already very strong group of similar schools."

Located in Pikeville, Ky., Pikeville will keep the AAC at 16 full members. Earlier this fall, Point University announced it will leave the conference following the 2022-23 season. With these membership changes, the AAC will have 16 full members and 12 affiliate members.

Pikeville is the third full member of the AAC from Kentucky, joining Kentucky Christian University and Union College. The AAC also has two affiliate members from the Bluegrass State in University of the Cumberlands and Georgetown College.

"I am beyond thrilled that UPIKE will be joining the Appalachian Athletic Conference," said Kelly Wells, UPIKE Director of Athletics. "We are thankful to the AAC Council of Presidents, AAC Athletic Directors, AAC Administrative Staff, and Commissioner Bill Popp for the opportunity to become a member."

Currently a member of the Mid-South Conference, Pikeville will officially begin the its members on July 1, 2023.

"The transition away from the Mid-South Conference was not an easy one. However, we believe that competing in a conference that is situated closer to home with Appalachian institutions is a better fit for the University of Pikeville," said Dr. Burton Webb, UPIKE President. "The shorter distances to competitions across the entirety of the year will result in fewer missed classes and better outcomes for our student-athletes."

UPIKE sponsors 26 varsity sports with 21 to compete in the AAC. The Bears will compete in the following AAC championship sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's golf, women's golf, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, women's volleyball, men's wrestling, men's swimming, and women's swimming.

Pikeville also competes in men's bowling, women's bowling, archery, cheer, dance, and esports.

"It is our goal to ensure we are best positioned and student-athlete focused," Wells added. "We also have a responsibility to always evaluate potential opportunities and be willing to make changes when needed. Ultimately, the AAC is the best home for UPIKE and Bear Athletics. We are excited that our values align with the league's member institutions and we will benefit from the stability, location, and strength of the conference."

Here are more facts about UPIKE:

The AAC evolved from the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), an NAIA conference organized in the 1940s and dissolved in the early 1980s when institutions in the eastern part of the state seceded to form the Tennessee Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC). The Conference name changed to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2001 with the addition of Bluefield College, Montreat College, Alice Lloyd College, and Union College.

Today, the AAC is the largest conference in the NAIA with 16 full members in six southeastern states – Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The conference will have 12 affiliate members for the 2023-24 season spreading the league's footprint to two additional states – West Virginia and Florida.

In 2023-24, the full members will be Bluefield University, Brenau University, Bryan College, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Johnson University, Kentucky Christian University, Milligan University, Montreat College, University of Pikeville, Point University, Reinhardt University, SCAD Atlanta, St. Andrews University, Tennessee Wesleyan University, Truett McConnell University, and Union College. The affiliate members will be Brewton-Parker College, Georgetown College, Keiser University, Life University, Point University, SCAD Savannah, Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, University of the Cumberlands, Warner University, Webber International University, and West Virginia Institute of Technology.