May 11, 2013About Us
Founded in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference has risen from a single sport organization to the Division II “Conference of National Champions.” Since its inception, the conference has grown steadily in sports played, membership and national prominence.
Sunshine State Conference schools have won NCAA national championships (80 total) in baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball, and are nationally recognized in men’s and women’s cross country and men's and women's swimming, as well as women’s rowing. The first NCAA Division II national championship won by an SSC school was in the spring of 1978. The Florida Southern College baseball team captured the national crown that year.
The SSC has led all 22 Division II conferences in the NCAA Academic Success Rate every year it has been measured. Each year, over 800 student-athletes are named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll with GPA's over 3.20 on a 4.00 scale.
Through a wide range of initiatives, the SSC, its member institutions and student-athletes are actively involved in the Florida community. On a conference-wide basis, the SSC SAAC participates in an annual community service project at Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida in addition to fundraising efforts conducted annually for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
MEMBER INSTITUTIONS
Barry University
Location: Miami Shores, FL
Nickname: Buccaneers
Joined SSC: 1988
Enrollment: 8,500
Founded: 1940
Colors: Red, Black and Silver
President: Sr. Linda Bevilacqua
Athletic Director: Mike Covone
Senior Woman Administrator / Associate AD: Dr. Bridget Lyons
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Eileen McDonough
Sports Information Director: Dennis Jezek, Jr.
Athletic Website: GoBarryBucs.com
| Eckerd College
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Nickname: Tritons
Joined SSC: 1975 (Charter Member)
Enrollment: 1,840
Founded: 1958
Colors: Teal, Blue and White
President: Dr. Donald R. Eastman III
Athletic Director: Dr. Bob Fortosis
Senior Woman Administrator / Assistant AD: Michelle Piantadosi
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Anthony Brunello
Sports Information Director: Ben Schlesselman
Athletic Website: eckerdtritons.com
|
Florida Southern College
Location: Lakeland, FL
Nickname: Moccasins
Joined SSC: 1975 (Charter Member)
Enrollment: 1,935
Founded: 1883
Colors: Scarlet and White
President: Dr. Anne Kerr
Athletic Director: Pete Meyer
Senior Woman Administrator / Associate AD: Marie Scovron
Faculty Athletics Representative: Malcolm Manners
Assistant AD/Athletic Communications: Ben Greenberg
Athletic Website: fscmocs.com | Florida Tech
Location: Melbourne, FL
Nickname: Panthers
Joined SSC: 1981
Enrollment: 14,649
Founded: 1958
Colors: Crimson and Gray
President: Dr. Anthony J. Catanese
Athletic Director: Bill Jurgens
Senior Woman Administrator/Assistant AD: Jen Seidel
Sports Information Director: Ryan Jones
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Frank Webbe
Athletic Website: floridatechsports.com |
Lynn University
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Nickname: Fighting Knights
Joined SSC: 1997
Enrollment: 2,010
Founded: 1962
Colors: Royal Blue and White
President: Dr. Kevin M. Ross
Athletic Director: Kristen Moraz
Senior Woman Administrator / Assistant AD: Sara Quatrocky
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Ralph Norcio
Sports Information Director: Chad Beattie
Athletic Website: lynnfightingknights.com | Nova Southeastern University
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nickname: Sharks
Joined SSC: 2002
Enrollment: 29,154
Founded: 1964
Colors: Navy and Gray
President: Dr. George Hanbury
Athletic Director: Michael Mominey
Senior Woman Administrator / Associate AD: Kelley Kish
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Steve Russo
Assistant AD/Media Relations: Keith Smith
Athletic Website: nsusharks.com |
Rollins College
Location: Winter Park, FL
Nickname: Tars
Joined SSC: 1975 (Charter Member)
Enrollment: 3,300
Founded: 1885
Colors: Blue and Gold
President: Dr. Lewis Duncan
Athletic Director: Pennie Parker
Senior Woman Administrator / Assistant AD: Dr. Margie Sullivan
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Joan Davison
Assistant AD/Athletic Communications: Nate Weyant
Athletic Website: rollinssports.com | Saint Leo University
Location: Saint Leo, FL
Nickname: Lions
Joined SSC: 1975 (Charter Member)
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1889
Colors: Green and Gold
President: Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr.
Athletic Director: Francis X. Reidy
Senior Woman Administrator / Associate AD: Vicki Fredrickson
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Carol Walker
Sports Information Director: Evan Ortiz
Athletic Website: saintleolions.com |
University of Tampa
Location: Tampa, FL
Nickname: Spartans
Joined SSC: 1981
Enrollment: 6,600
Founded: 1931
Colors: Scarlet, Black and Gold
President: Dr. Ronald L. Vaughn
Athletic Director: Larry Marfise
Senior Woman Administrator / Assistant AD: Cher Pittenger
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Eric Vlahov
Sports Information Director: Tom Kolbe
Athletic Website: tampaspartans.com | |
SSC CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY
March 2, 1975 - Basketball conference exploration meeting is held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Main purpose of meeting is to discuss formation of an NCAA Division II mid-Florida basketball conference.
March 16, 1975 - Second exploration meeting is held at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. The name “Sunshine State Conference” is suggested by Dr. Calvin C. Miller and is adopted for league use. Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is named Interim Commissioner. Dr. Thomas B. Southard, president of Saint Leo College, is named as first conference president. SSC Charter schools include:
• Biscayne College (now Saint Thomas University)
• Eckerd College
• Florida Southern College
• Florida Technological University (now the University of Central Florida)
• Rollins College
• Saint Leo College
June 1975 - Conference constitution adopted.
October 8, 1975 - First meeting of the SSC is held in Orlando. Basketball regulations and league bylaws are revised and approved.
December 3, 1975 - Florida Southern defeats Eckerd, 96-84, in first SSC basketball game played in Saint Petersburg.
April 8, 1976 - Dick Pace is named league commissioner. NCAA approves automatic bid for SSC basketball champion. Golf and Tennis are added to league for 1976-77 schedules.
May 18, 1977 - First league postseason basketball championship.
February 1, 1981 - Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is appointed as executive of SSC. Executive Committee is formed, consisting of league athletic directors.
July 1, 1981 - Florida Institute of Technology joins the Sunshine State Conference.
September 2, 1981 - University of Tampa joins the Sunshine State Conference.
April 15, 1982 - League adopts women’s competition in basketball, cross country, slow-pitch softball, tennis, and volleyball.
May 1, 1984 - University of Central Florida (formerly Florida Technological University) withdraws from the conference. Women’s fast-pitch softball is adopted for league play in 1985.
February 2, 1986 - Bob Vanatta, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, is named as league’s first full-time commissioner.
June 13, 1988 - Barry University joins the conference.
November 1990 - Conference signs a two-year contract with the Sunshine Network for seven events.
February 11, 1991 - University of North Florida joins the conference, effective July 1, 1992.
July 1, 1994 - Don Landry is named conference commissioner and conference relocates to Orlando.
November 22, 1994 - Conference announces three-year deal to have post-season basketball tournament at The Lakeland Center. The SSC will serve as host in 1996 and 1997.
Dec. 1, 1994 - Sunshine Network announces nine-event television package for school year.
June 9, 1995 - Inaugural SSC Awards Luncheon held in Orlando.
February 29, 1996 – Inaugural SSC Hall of Fame/Honors banquet held in Lakeland.
September 30, 1996 - University of North Florida withdraws from the Sunshine State Conference, effective June 30, 1997.
October 15, 1996 - Women's crew added to Sunshine State Conference sponsored sports.
December 18, 1996 - Lynn University joins the Sunshine State Conference, effective July 1, 1997.
July 15, 1998 - League adds women's soccer and women's golf as sponsored sports.
August 24, 1999 - Saint Leo College becomes Saint Leo University and adopts new nickname (“Lions”) and logo.
July 1, 2000 - 25th Anniversary of the Sunshine State Conference.
August 26, 2002 - Nova Southeastern University joins the Sunshine State Conference as a provisional member.
May 26, 2004 - Don Landry announced retirement as SSC Commissioner, effective August 1, 2004. Landry remained acting commissioner through September 6, 2004.
July 26, 2004 - Michael J. Marcil named SSC commissioner, effective September 7, 2004.
September 14, 2009 - Jay Jones officially begins duties as the SSC commissioner, replacing Mike Marcil, who left the post June 30, 2009.