Gulf South Conference

Originally known as the Mid-South Conference, the GSC was formed by six universities in the summer of 1970: Delta State, Florence State (now North Alabama), Jacksonville State, Livingston (now West Alabama), Tennessee-Martin and Troy State. Due to scheduling problems during the 1970-71 academic year, the only league sport was football. Jacksonville State won the league's first championship. In 1971, the league changed its name to the GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE, added Southeastern Louisiana (SELA) and Nicholls State (increasing the membership to eight), and opened an office in Hammond, LA. The following year, Mississippi College and Northwestern Louisiana (NWLA, now Northwestern State) were admitted. NELA withdrew to go Division I two years later, followed by SELA and Nicholls State in 1979. The conference continued with seven teams until 1981, when the presidents admitted Valdosta State. West Georgia joined in 1983. Eight years of stability ended in 1991 when Tennessee-Martin and Troy State went Division I, briefly dropping the GSC back to seven members, before the beginning of an expansion resulting in ten new members: Lincoln Memorial (1992-93); Alabama-Huntsville, Henderson State, Central Arkansas and Mississippi University for Women (1993-94); West Florida (1994-95); and Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Montevallo and Southern Arkansas (1995-96). Jacksonville State went Division I at the end of 1992-93. Mississippi College dropped to Division III at the end of 1995-96, and was replaced by Christian Brothers to keep the Conference at 16 schools. In July 2000, the GSC welcomed Harding University and Ouachita Baptist University, making it the largest NCAA conference at any level with 18 schools.