Conference Carolinas

Conference Carolinas is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association primarily at the Division II level. It is also considered as one of the seven Division I conferences for men's volleyball. Originally formed in 1930, the league reached its modern incarnation in 1994. Member institutions are located in the southeastern United States in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Conference Carolinas membership currently consists of 16 small colleges or universities, 14 private and 2 public.

WWW Official Site

History

Conference Carolinas dates to its inception on December 6, 1930. The conference was formed then as an athletic association "for the greater advantage of the small colleges in North Carolina". The official name given back then was the North State Intercollegiate Conference but known informally as the Old North State Conference. The birthplace was the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, and the seven charter members were Appalachian, Atlantic Christian, Catawba, Guilford, Elon, High Point, and Lenoir–Rhyne.
The conference followed a policy of expansion for a period of time. Western Carolina became a member in 1933, East Carolina in 1947, Pfeiffer in 1960, Newberry in 1961, and Presbyterian in 1964, followed closely by Mars Hill.
With the acceptance of the first member from South Carolina in Newberry College, a name change became necessary. Thus on May 20, 1961 the official name of the conference was changed to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference but commonly known less formally as the Carolinas Conference.
East Carolina resigned in 1962 to join the Southern Conference and Appalachian and Western Carolina followed. Football sponsorship in the Carolinas Conference was dropped in 1975 when Lenoir–Rhyne, Newberry, Presbyterian, and Mars Hill joined the South Atlantic Conference.
Pembroke State University, now the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, became a first-time member in 1976 followed by Wingate College in 1979, and Lenoir–Rhyne rejoined in 1984.
While Guilford College withdrew in 1988, St. Andrews and Mount Olive were added that same year.
The 1989–90 academic year started a new era as Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate all withdrew to compete in the first year that the South Atlantic Conference provided championships in all sports, not just football.
The Carolinas Conference then added Belmont Abbey in 1989, Coker College in 1991, and Lees-McRae in 1993. Pembroke State left in 1992.
The 1993–94 academic year brought a change to the conference national affiliation. The conference began the process of transferring membership to the National Collegiate Athletic Association after years as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member. During the transition, it was a dual member of the NCAA's Division II and the NAIA's Division I.
The 1995–96 year brought dramatic change to the conference. First, full membership into NCAA Division II was acquired and NAIA affiliation dropped. Thus, this was the first official year of full competition and championship play for the conference in NCAA D-II status. Secondly, this was also the same year that Erskine, Longwood, and Queens were accepted as full members of the conference. With Longwood becoming the first Virginia member, another name change occurred and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference was born.
Following the 1997 academic year High Point resigned to join the NCAA D-I ranks while in 1998 Limestone soon joined and were quickly followed by Anderson in 1999.
In 2003, Longwood University left the conference to explore possibilities in NCAA Division I. Then in 2005 the CVAC added Converse College as an affiliate member before becoming a full member starting in the 2007–08 season.
With the lone Virginia school in Longwood leaving, the league decided to go back to its roots and change its name to Conference Carolinas June 1, 2007.
On June 1, 2011, King College and North Greenville University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Tennessee member in King.
In 2014–15, Emmanuel College and Southern Wesleyan University became official members of the conference and opened the conference to its first Georgia member in Emmanuel. Southern Wesleyan began official full NCAA D-II membership in 2016–17 while Emmanuel started in 2018–19.
After 57 years as a league member Pfeiffer University moved down to the NCAA D-III ranks on June 1, 2017.
Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference entered into a partnership in the 2018–19 school year by which the two leagues would operate as a single conference in field hockey and wrestling, with championships immediately conducted in both sports. The leagues agreed that CC would coordinate the wrestling championship, while the SAC would fill the same role for field hockey. Accordingly, all CC field hockey programs became de facto affiliates of the SAC, while SAC wrestling programs became de facto CC affiliates. The CC–SAC alliance is officially branded as "South Atlantic Conference Carolinas".
After the completion of the 2018–19 athletic year, former Commissioner Alan Patterson retired and was replaced by Chris Colvin. One of the first moves made by Colvin was to move the league headquarters to Greenville, South Carolina to be more centrally located to all member institutions.
The league now has 13 members, with the most recent changes taking place in 2021. Francis Marion University joined for the first time, and the University of [North Carolina at Pembroke] returned after an absence of nearly 30 years. They were the first public schools to join CC since Longwood's 2003 departure. The most recent departure from CC was that of Limestone College, which moved to the SAC in 2020.
Many institutions have been members of the league during its rich history including Anderson, Appalachian, Barton, Belmont Abbey, Catawba, Coker, Converse, East Carolina, Erskine, Emmanuel, Francis Marion, Guilford, Elon, High Point, King, Lees-McRae, Lenoir–Rhyne, Limestone, Longwood, Mars Hill, Mount Olive, Newberry, North Greenville, Pfeiffer, Presbyterian, Queens, St. Andrews, UNC Pembroke, Western Carolina and Wingate.
Barton is the only remaining charter member followed in longevity by Mount Olive's joining in 1988.
For the 2020–21 school year, CC added acrobatics and tumbling, newly added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in that same school year, as its newest sport. Initially, five full members and one associate were to start competition, but two more associates were added before competition began.
The arrival of Francis Marion and return of UNC Pembroke were not the only changes to the conference membership in 2021. Converse admitted men to its residential undergraduate program for the first time, and also added men's sports. Converse initially planned to field seven teams, but did not field the initially announced men's volleyball team. Also in 2021–22, current SAC member Lincoln Memorial University added men's wrestling; Emory & Henry College, which sponsors that sport, started a transition from Division III to Division II, joining the SAC ; and Mars Hill University became an associate member in acrobatics & tumbling. Emory & Henry and Lincoln Memorial became de facto CC affiliates as part of South Atlantic Conference Carolinas.
Also for the 2021–22 season, CC announced a partnership with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to conduct joint men's and women's bowling championship events. Each conference organizes its regular season independently, but the postseason is called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships. CC also announced Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum as new affiliate members for bowling.
In December 2021, CC and the SAC jointly announced that they would extend their existing partnership to include two women's sports, triathlon and wrestling, with triathlon competition starting in 2022–23 and wrestling in 2023–24. At the same time, both conferences agreed that after the 2021–22 school year, the SAC would become the only one of the two conferences to sponsor field hockey. The joint men's wrestling league continued to operate through the 2022–23 season. Initial plans were for both conferences to establish their own men's wrestling leagues, but this changed in 2023, when the two conferences agreed that only CC would sponsor men's wrestling from 2023–24.
On June 24, 2022, CC added Wingate as an acrobatics and tumbling affiliate starting with that program's first season in 2023–24.
On January 26, 2023, CC announced the addition of Shorter University as its 15th member for 2024–25 school year. The addition of Shorter gave CC its sixth football-sponsoring institution, and accordingly that same day, it was also announced that CC would begin sponsoring football in 2025. Sponsoring members would include Shorter and North Greenville, whose programs played in the Gulf South Conference, Barton and Erskine, affiliates of the South Atlantic Conference, UNC Pembroke, affiliate of the Mountain East Conference, and Chowan, up until 2022 was an affiliate of the Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association. It was also announced that Chowan would begin affiliation with the Gulf South Conference for the 2023 and 2024 seasons and that Shorter would compete as a D-II football independent for the 2024 season, with Erskine switching affiliations from the SAC to the GSC that season only to take their place, in order to accommodate programs until league play could begin. On April 5, 2024, Ferrum College was announced as the conference's 16th member, as well as its seventh football program for CC's inaugural football season.
CC announced the addition of women's flag football on July 2, 2024, with the first season to take place in 2025–26. Six schools were announced as the league's inaugural members—Chowan, Emmanuel, incoming member Ferrum, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive. Before the end of 2024, two more full CC members, Barton and Erskine, announced they would also add the sport in 2025–26. Then, on April 2, 2025, three affiliates were announced as joining CC flag football for its inaugural season—Mars Hill and Wingate, already CC affiliates in acrobatics & tumbling, plus Division I member Mount St. Mary's.

Chronological timeline

1930 – Conference Carolinas was founded as the North State Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Charter members included Appalachian State Teachers College, Atlantic Christian College, Catawba College, Elon College, Guilford College, High Point College and Lenoir–Rhyne College beginning the 1930–31 academic year.
1933 – Western Carolina Teachers College joined the NSIAC in the 1933–34 academic year.
1947 – East Carolina Teachers College joined the NSIAC in the 1947–48 academic year.
1961 – The NSIAC was rebranded as the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the 1961–62 academic year.
1961 – Pfeiffer College and Newberry College joined the CIAC in the 1961–62 academic year.
1962 – East Carolina left the CIAC to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1961–62 academic year.
1965 – Presbyterian College joined the CIAC in the 1965–66 academic year.
1968 – Appalachian State left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1967–68 academic year.
1969 – Western Carolina left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division I ranks as an NCAA D-I Independent after the 1968–69 academic year.
1972 – Newberry and Presbyterian left the CIAC to become NAIA Independents after the 1971–72 academic year.
1972 – Mars Hill College joined the CIAC in the 1972–73 academic year.
1975 – Lenoir–Rhyne left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1974–75 academic year.
1976 – Mars Hill left the CIAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1975–76 academic year.
1976 – Pembroke State University joined the CIAC in the 1976–77 academic year.
1979 – Wingate College joined the CIAC in the 1979–80 academic year.
1984 – Lenoir–Rhyne rejoined the CIAC in the 1984–85 academic year.
1988 – Guilford left the CIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference after the 1987–88 academic year.
1988 – Mount Olive College and St. Andrews Presbyterian College joined the CIAC in the 1988–89 academic year.
1989 – Catawba, Elon, Lenoir–Rhyne and Wingate left the CIAC to form part of the South Atlantic Conference after the 1988–89 academic year.
1989 – Belmont Abbey College joined the CIAC in the 1989–90 academic year.
1991 – Coker College joined the CIAC in the 1991–92 academic year.
1992 – Pembroke State left the CIAC to join the Peach Belt Conference after the 1991–92 academic year.
1993 – The CIAC was granted affiliate membership status within the National Collegiate Athletic Association, while still having membership within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the 1993–94 academic year.
1993 – Lees–McRae College joined the CIAC in the 1993–94 academic year.
1995 – The CIAC had achieved full membership status within the NCAA Division II ranks, hence leaving the NAIA in the process, beginning the 1995–96 academic year.
1995 – The CIAC was rebranded as the Carolinas–Virginia Athletic Conference in the 1995–96 academic year.
1995 – Erskine College, Longwood College and Queens College of Charlotte joined the CVAC in the 1995–96 academic year.
1997 – High Point left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 1996–97 academic year.
1998 – Limestone College and Anderson College of South Carolina joined the CVAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
2003 – Longwood left the CVAC to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an NCAA D-II Independent after the 2002–03 academic year.
2005 – Converse College joined the CVAC as an affiliate member for women’s cross country, soccer, tennis and volleyball in the 2005–06 academic year.
2007 – The CVAC was rebranded as the Conference Carolinas in the 2007–08 academic year.
2007 – Converse had upgraded to join the CVAC for all sports as a provisional member in the 2007–08 academic year.
2008 – Converse began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and CC in the 2008–09 academic year.
2010 – Anderson left CC to join the SAC after the 2009–10 academic year.
2011 – King College of Tennessee and North Greenville University joined the CC in the 2011–12 academic year.
2012 – St. Andrews left CC to join the Appalachian Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics after the 2011–12 academic year.
2013 – Coker and Queens left CC to join the SAC after the 2012–13 academic year.
2014 – Emmanuel College and Wesleyan University">Wesleyan Church">Wesleyan University joined CC as provisional members in the 2014–15 academic year.
2016 – Southern Wesleyan began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and CC in the 2016–17 academic year.
2016 – Chowan University joined CC as an affiliate member for women's golf, and men's & women's lacrosse in the 2017 spring season.
2017 – Pfeiffer left CC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the USA South Athletic Conference after the 2016–17 academic year.
2017 – Chowan added men's & women's soccer into its CC affiliate membership in the 2017 fall season.
2018 – Emmanuel began full member competition within the NCAA Division II ranks and CC in the 2018–19 academic year.
2018 – Coker, Newberry and Queens rejoined CC as affiliate members for field hockey and men's wrestling in the 2018–19 academic year.
2019:
* Chowan had upgraded to join CC for all sports in the 2019–20 academic year.
* Salem University joined CC as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming & diving in the 2019–20 academic year.
2020:
* Limestone left CC to join the SAC after the 2019–20 academic year; while it would remain in the conference as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling, field hockey and men's wrestling in the 2020–21 school year.
* Two other institutions joined CC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
** Lander University for acrobatics and tumbling
2021:
* CC added what it calls "Developmental Championships" for its members in 2021–22. The conference claims to be the first in the NCAA to sponsor sub-varsity championships. According to CC, developmental teams consist of individuals who competed either sparingly or not at all at the varsity level in the season of the championship. The first such championships were held in baseball, men's basketball, and men's & women's soccer.
* Francis Marion University joined and UNC Pembroke rejoined CC in the 2021–22 academic year.
* Converse added men's sports into its athletic program, also effective with the 2021–22 academic year.
* Four institutions joined CC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
** Emory & Henry College for men's wrestling, although it would later begin competition in the following school year;
** Lincoln Memorial University for men's wrestling and men's & women's bowling;
** Mars Hill rejoined for acrobatics and tumbling;
** and Tusculum University for men's & women's bowling.
2022:
* Three institutions left CC as affiliate members, all effective after the 2021–22 academic year:
** Limestone for field hockey
** Lincoln Memorial for men's bowling
** and Queens started a transition to Division I as a new member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, thus departing from its affiliate memberships in field hockey and men's wrestling.
* Women's basketball was intended to be added to the CC developmental championships roster for 2022–23, but no competition was held in that season.
2023:
* Two institutions left CC as affiliate members, all effective after the 2022–23 academic year:
** Salem for men's and women's swimming & diving
** and Tusculum for men's and women's bowling
* Young Harris College joined CC in the 2023–24 academic year.
* Wingate University joined CC as an affiliate member for acrobatics and tumbling in the 2023–24 academic year:
* The CC and the SAC dissolved their men's wrestling partnership after the 2022–23 season, agreeing that only the CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24. Accordingly, the five full SAC members that sponsor the sport would officially become CC affiliates. Three new associates joined for that sport—Allen University, Bluefield State University, and the University of Montevallo.
* Developmental championships in women's basketball, men's volleyball, and men's wrestling were added for 2023–24. The women's basketball championship was delayed from its originally announced 2022–23 schedule.
2024:
* Lincoln Memorial left CC as an affiliate member for women's bowling after the 2023–24 academic year.
* Shorter University joined CC in the 2024–25 academic year.
* CC added women's wrestling as a sponsored sport in collaboration with the SAC. Five new associates joined for that sport—Allen, Bluefield State, Emory and Henry, Lincoln Memorial and Newberry.
* CC announced the addition of women's flag football as a sponsored sport, effective in 2025–26. Initially, then-current members Chowan, Emmanuel, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive, plus incoming member Ferrum, would form the new league. Before the end of the year, two more full members, Barton and Erskine, announced they would add flag football and play in the new CC league in its first season.
2025:
* Ferrum College joined CC beginning the 2025–26 academic year.
* CC began sponsoring football again after 50 years, with sponsoring members Barton, Chowan, Erskine, Ferrum, North Greenville, Shorter and UNC Pembroke.
* CC also added women's flag football as a sponsored sport, with sponsoring full members Barton, Chowan, Emmanuel, Erskine, Ferrum, King, Lees–McRae, and Mount Olive. Mars Hill and Wingate added flag football to their CC membership, and Mount St. Mary's also became an affiliate for that sport.
* Limestone left CC as an affiliate member for acrobatics & tumbling and men's wrestling at the end of the 2024–25 academic year, as the institution announced that it would cease operations.

Member schools

Current members

The CC currently has 16 full members; all but two are private schools. Reclassifying members listed in yellow.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Colors
Barton College	Wilson, North Carolina	1902	Disciples of Christ	1,235	Bulldogs	1930
Belmont Abbey College	Belmont, North Carolina	1876	Catholic	1,687	Crusaders	1989
Chowan University	Murfreesboro, North Carolina	1848	Baptist	708	Hawks	2019
Converse University	Spartanburg, South Carolina	1889	Nonsectarian	1,967	Valkyries	2007
Emmanuel University	Franklin Springs, Georgia	1919	Pentecostal	932	Lions	2014
Erskine College	Due West, South Carolina	1839	Reformed Presbyterian	1,132	Flying Fleet	1995
Ferrum College	Ferrum, Virginia	1913	Methodist Church\|United Methodist]	780	Panthers	2025
Francis Marion University	Florence, South Carolina	1970	Public	4,261	Patriots	2021
King University	Bristol, Tennessee	1867	Evangelical Presbyterian	1,295	Tornado	2011
Lees–McRae College	Banner Elk, North Carolina	1899	Presbyterian	917	Bobcats	1993
	Mount Olive, North Carolina	1951	Original Free Will Baptist	2,154	Trojans	1988
North Greenville University	Tigerville, South Carolina	1891	Baptist	2,304	Trailblazers	2011
Shorter University	Rome, Georgia	1873	Baptist	1,447	Hawks	2024
Southern Wesleyan University	Central, South Carolina	1908	Wesleyan	980	Warriors	2014
	Pembroke, North Carolina	1887	Public	7,674	Braves	1976; 2021
Young Harris College	Young Harris, Georgia	1886	United Methodist	1,922	Mountain Lions	2023	Purple and white

;Notes:

Affiliate members

The CC currently has 12 affiliate members, with all but three being private schools, and two being historically African-American institutions.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Colors	CC sport	Primary conference
Allen University	Columbia, South Carolina	1870	Nonsectarian	657	Yellow Jackets	2023			Southern (SIAC)
Allen University	Columbia, South Carolina	1870	Nonsectarian	657	Yellow Jackets	2024			Southern (SIAC)
Bluefield State University	Bluefield, West Virginia	1895	Public	1,313	Big Blue	2023			Central (CIAA)
Bluefield State University	Bluefield, West Virginia	1895	Public	1,313	Big Blue	2024			Central (CIAA)
Coker University	Hartsville, South Carolina	1908	Nonsectarian	1,263	Cobras	2018			South Atlantic (SAC)
Coker University	Hartsville, South Carolina	1908	Nonsectarian	1,263	Cobras	2020		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Emory & Henry University	Emory, Virginia	1836	Methodist	1,292	Wasps	2022			South Atlantic (SAC)
Emory & Henry University	Emory, Virginia	1836	Methodist	1,292	Wasps	2024			South Atlantic (SAC)
Lander University	Greenwood, South Carolina	1872	Public	4,423	Bearcats	2020		Acrobatics and tumbling	Peach Belt (PBC)
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, Tennessee	1897	Nonsectarian	6,081	Railsplitters	2021			South Atlantic (SAC)
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, Tennessee	1897	Nonsectarian	6,081	Railsplitters	2024			South Atlantic (SAC)
Mars Hill University	Mars Hill, North Carolina	1856	Baptist	1,049	Lions	2021		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Mars Hill University	Mars Hill, North Carolina	1856	Baptist	1,049	Lions	2025			South Atlantic (SAC)
'	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	3,142	Falcons	2023			Gulf South (GSC)
'	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	3,142	Falcons	2024			Gulf South (GSC)
'	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	3,142	Falcons	2024			Gulf South (GSC)
'	Montevallo, Alabama	1896	Public	3,142	Falcons	2025		Acrobatics & tumbling	Gulf South (GSC)
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg, Maryland	1808	Catholic	1,869	Mountaineers	2025			MAAC
Newberry College	Newberry, South Carolina	1856	Lutheran ELCA	1,521	Wolves	2018			South Atlantic (SAC)
Newberry College	Newberry, South Carolina	1856	Lutheran ELCA	1,521	Wolves	2024			South Atlantic (SAC)
Wingate University	Wingate, North Carolina	1896	Baptist	3,424	Bulldogs	2023		Acrobatics and tumbling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Wingate University	Wingate, North Carolina	1896	Baptist	3,424	Bulldogs	2025			South Atlantic (SAC)

;Notes:

Former members

A total of 19 schools are former CC members, with 15 of them being private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those in use during the final year each institution was a member.

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
Anderson University	Anderson, South Carolina	1911	Baptist	4,008	Trojans	1998	2010	South Atlantic (SAC)
Appalachian State University	Boone, North Carolina	1899	Public	20,641	Mountaineers	1930	1968	Sun Belt
Catawba College	Salisbury, North Carolina	1851	United Church of Christ	1,207	Indians	1930	1989	South Atlantic (SAC)
Coker College	Hartsville, South Carolina	1908	Nonsectarian	1,087	Cobras	1991	2013	South Atlantic (SAC)
East Carolina College	Greenville, North Carolina	1907	Public	28,021	Pirates	1947	1962	American
Elon College	Elon, North Carolina	1889	Nonsectarian	7,127	Phoenix	1930	1989	Coastal (CAA)
Guilford College	Greensboro, North Carolina	1837	Quakers	1,198	Quakers	1930	1988	Old Dominion (ODAC)
High Point University	High Point, North Carolina	1924	United Methodist	5,860	Panthers	1930	1997	Big South (BSC)
Lenoir–Rhyne College	Hickory, North Carolina	1891	Lutheran ELCA	2,312	Bears	1930; 1984	1975; 1989	South Atlantic (SAC)
Limestone College	Gaffney, South Carolina	1845	Christian	1,840	Saints	1998	2020	N/A
Longwood University	Farmville, Virginia	1839	Public	4,612	Lancers	1995	2003	Big South (BSC)
Mars Hill College	Mars Hill, North Carolina	1856	Baptist	1,072	Lions	1972	1976	South Atlantic (SAC)
Newberry College	Newberry, South Carolina	1856	Lutheran ELCA	1,242	Wolves	1961	1972	South Atlantic (SAC)
Pfeiffer University	Misenheimer, North Carolina	1885	United Methodist	1,185	Falcons	1960	2017	USA South
Presbyterian College	Clinton, South Carolina	1880	Presbyterian	1,231	Blue Hose	1964	1972	Big South (BSC)
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian	2,063	Royals	1995	2013	Atlantic Sun (ASUN)
	Laurinburg, North Carolina	1958	Presbyterian	887	Knights	1988	2012	Appalachian (AAC)
Western Carolina University	Cullowhee, North Carolina	1889	Public	11,877	Catamounts	1932	1969	Southern (SoCon)
Wingate College	Wingate, North Carolina	1896	Baptist	3,440	Bulldogs	1979	1989	South Atlantic (SAC)

;Notes:

Former affiliate members

The CC had five former affiliate members; all were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	CC sport	Primary conference
Limestone University	Gaffney, South Carolina	1845	Christian	1,840	Saints	2020	2022	Field hockey	N/A
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, Tennessee	1897	Nonsectarian	5,118	Railsplitters	2021	2022	Men's bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Lincoln Memorial University	Harrogate, Tennessee	1897	Nonsectarian	5,118	Railsplitters	2021	2024	Women's bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian	2,063	Royals	2018	2022	Field hockey	Atlantic Sun (ASUN)
Queens University of Charlotte	Charlotte, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian	2,063	Royals	2018	2022	Men's wrestling	Atlantic Sun (ASUN)
Salem University	Salem, West Virginia	1888	Private for-profit	870	Tigers	2019	2023		Independent
Salem University	Salem, West Virginia	1888	Private for-profit	870	Tigers	2019	2023		Independent
Tusculum University	Tusculum, Tennessee	1794	Presbyterian	1,494	Pioneers	2021	2023	Men's bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)
Tusculum University	Tusculum, Tennessee	1794	Presbyterian	1,494	Pioneers	2021	2023	Women's bowling	South Atlantic (SAC)

;Notes:

Membership timeline

DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1930 till:2030
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors =
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
id:AssocOS value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only
id:OtherC1 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference
id:OtherC2 value:rgb # 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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bar:1 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1931 text:Appalachian State
bar:1 color:Full from:1931 till:1943
bar:1 color:FullxF from:1943 till:1945
bar:1 color:Full from:1945 till:1968
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1943 text:Barton
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1945 till:1946
bar:2 color:Full from:1946 till:1951
bar:2 color:FullxF from:1951 till:2025
bar:2 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:3 color:Full from:1930 till:1989 text:Catawba
bar:3 color:FullxF from:1943 till:1944
bar:3 color:Full from:1944 till:1975
bar:3 color:FullxF from:1975 till:1989
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1931 text:Elon
bar:4 color:Full from:1931 till:1942
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1944 till:1946
bar:4 color:Full from:1946 till:1975
bar:4 color:FullxF from:1975 till:1989
bar:5 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1931 text:Guilford
bar:5 color:Full from:1931 till:1943
bar:5 color:Full from:1945 till:1975
bar:5 color:FullxF from:1975 till:1988
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1931 text:High Point
bar:6 color:Full from:1931 till:1933
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1933 till:1938
bar:6 color:Full from:1938 till:1943
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1943 till:1945
bar:6 color:Full from:1945 till:1951
bar:6 color:FullxF from:1951 till:1997
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1930 till:1931 text:Lenoir–Rhyne
bar:7 color:Full from:1931 till:1942
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1944 till:1946
bar:7 color:Full from:1946 till:1975
bar:7 color:FullxF from:1984 till:1989 text:
bar:8 color:Full from:1933 till:1942 text:Western Carolina
bar:8 color:FullxF from:1942 till:1945
bar:8 color:Full from:1945 till:1969
bar:9 color:Full from:1947 till:1962 text:East Carolina
bar:10 color:FullxF from:1961 till:2017 text:Pfeiffer
bar:11 color:Full from:1961 till:1972 text:Newberry
bar:11 color:AssocF from:1972 till:1973
bar:11 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end
bar:12 color:Full from:1965 till:1972 text:Presbyterian
bar:12 color:AssocF from:1972 till:1973
bar:13 color:FullxF from:1972 till:1973 text:Mars Hill
bar:13 color:Full from:1973 till:1975
bar:13 color:FullxF from:1975 till:1976
bar:13 color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:
bar:14 color:FullxF from:1976 till:1992 text:Pembroke State
bar:14 color:FullxF from:2021 till:2025 shift: text:UNC Pembroke
bar:14 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:15 color:FullxF from:1979 till:1989 text:Wingate
bar:15 color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:
bar:16 color:FullxF from:1988 till:end text:Mount Olive
bar:17 color:FullxF from:1988 till:2012 text:St. Andrews
bar:18 color:FullxF from:1989 till:end text:Belmont Abbey
bar:19 color:FullxF from:1991 till:2013 text:Coker
bar:19 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:end
bar:20 color:FullxF from:1993 till:end text:Lees–McRae
bar:21 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2025 text:Erskine
bar:21 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:22 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2003 text:Longwood
bar:23 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2013 text:Queens (N.C.)
bar:23 color:AssocOS from:2018 till:2022
bar:24 color:FullxF from:1998 till:2020 text:Limestone
bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end
bar:25 color:FullxF from:1998 till:2010 text:Anderson
bar:26 color:AssocOS from:2005 till:2007 text:Converse
bar:26 color:FullxF from:2007 till:end
bar:27 color:FullxF from:2011 till:end text:King
bar:28 color:FullxF from:2011 till:2025 text:North Greenville
bar:28 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:29 color:AssocOS from:2014 till:2016 text:
bar:29 shift: color:FullxF from:2016 till:end text:Southern Wesleyan
bar:30 color:AssocOS from:2014 till:2018 text:
bar:30 shift: color:FullxF from:2018 till:end text:Emmanuel (Ga.)
bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2016 till:2019 text:Chowan
bar:31 color:FullxF from:2019 till:2025
bar:31 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:32 shift: color:AssocOS from:2019 till:2023 text:Salem
bar:33 shift: color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:Lander
bar:34 shift: color:FullxF from:2021 till:end text:Francis Marion
bar:35 shift: color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:Emory & Henry
bar:36 shift: color:AssocOS from:2021 till:end text:Lincoln Memorial
bar:37 shift: color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2023 text:Tusculum
bar:38 shift: color:FullxF from:2023 till:end text:Young Harris
bar:39 shift: color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:Allen
bar:40 shift: color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:Bluefield State
bar:41 shift: color:AssocOS from:2023 till:end text:Montevallo
bar:42 shift: color:FullxF from:2024 till:2025 text:Shorter
bar:42 color:Full from:2025 till:end
bar:43 shift: color:Full from:2025 till:end text:Ferrum
bar:N color:yelloworange from:1930 till:1961 text:NSIAC
bar:N color:blue from:1961 till:1995 text:CIAC
bar:N color:yelloworange from:1995 till:2007 text:CVAC
bar:N color:blue from:2007 till:end text:Conference Carolinas
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text:^"Conference Carolinas membership history"

> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.

Sports

When Barton became the sixth member to sponsor men's volleyball in 2011–12, Conference Carolinas became the fourth official scholarship-granting conference in NCAA men's volleyball. It also became the first all-sports conference ever to sponsor men's volleyball as a scholarship sport, and is also the first men's volleyball conference to consist solely of Division II members. No D-I all-sports conference sponsored the sport until the Big West Conference launched a men's volleyball league in the 2018 season.
Conference Carolinas sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:

Sport	Men's	Women's
Acrobatics & tumbling
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cross country
Flag football
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Track & field indoor
Track & field outdoor
Volleyball
Wrestling

In men's wrestling and women's triathlon, Conference Carolinas and the South Atlantic Conference have operated as a single league known as South Atlantic Conference Carolinas, holding joint conference tournaments in each sport. SACC will start sponsoring women's wrestling in 2023–24. SACC also operated in field hockey until the two conferences agreed that only the SAC would sponsor that sport starting in 2022–23. As noted previously, the men's wrestling championship was operated by CC through 2022–23; initially, the SAC was to establish its own men's wrestling league, but the two conferences later agreed that only CC would sponsor that sport from 2023–24.
In bowling, Conferences Carolinas and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference made a partnership to make a men's and women's bowling championship. Each conference will organize its regular season independently but the postseason will be called Conference Carolinas/Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Bowling Championships.

Other sponsored sports by school

In addition to the above:

Belmont Abbey fields varsity teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling, men's bowling, and men's triathlon. It also considers its band, cheerleaders, and dance team to be varsity athletes.
Chowan fields a coeducational esports team, and also considers its cheerleaders to be varsity athletes.
Converse fields a coeducational esports team, and its equestrian program is also coeducational, although only women compete in NCAA-recognized events.
Emmanuel fields teams in four non-NCAA sports. Three teams are coeducational: archery, bass fishing, and clay target shooting. The fourth is in men's bowling. It also considers its cheerleaders to be varsity athletes.
Erskine fields a men's beach volleyball team, as well as coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of bass fishing and rodeo.
King fields a coeducational esports team, plus coeducational teams in the non-NCAA sports of cycling and bass fishing. It also considers its cheerleaders and dance team to be varsity athletes.
Lees–McRae fields a varsity team in the non-NCAA sport of cycling. It also considers its cheerleaders to be varsity athletes. Unlike other CC members that field esports teams, Lees–McRae treats its esports program as a club sport.