Southwestern University to Rejoin SCAC in 2027-28
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Presidents Council has approved Southwestern University’s return as a full member, starting in the 2027-28 academic year, according to a news release. Southwestern was a founding member of the conference and competed until 2025.
Southwestern’s return restores longstanding rivalries and aligns with the SCAC’s focus on regional competition, academic excellence, and a strong NCAA Division III student-athlete experience, the school said. “Southwestern University is thrilled to return to the SCAC, where our history and values are deeply rooted,” said President Laura Trombley. “This move reflects our ongoing investments in the student-athlete experience and our commitment to academic and athletic success.”
The university sponsors 20 varsity sports, including 18 aligned with the SCAC’s offerings. Approximately 500 student-athletes compete in sports such as baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and lacrosse.
SCAC Chair and Centenary College President Christopher Holoman expressed enthusiasm about the reunion. “Southwestern has long been an important part of our history,” he said. “We look forward to renewing that relationship.”
Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry also welcomed Southwestern back. “This is a significant day for our conference,” he said. “Southwestern helped shape our history, and its return reflects the strength of our shared values and vision.”
Southwestern first joined the SCAC in 1994, winning 31 conference championships before departing in 2025. The university, based in Georgetown, Texas, is the oldest college in Texas, founded in 1840. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and recognized nationally for its liberal arts education.
With the addition of Southwestern and Millsaps College in 2027, the SCAC will have 12 core members, making it among the largest NCAA Division III conferences in the country and the largest in the southern region, the league said.
The SCAC, established in 1962 as the College Athletic Conference, consists of prestigious liberal arts colleges committed to academic standards and student participation in athletics without athletic-based financial aid. Member institutions aim to provide quality facilities, coaching, and competitive opportunities for students across a variety of sports.
Current members include Austin College, Colorado College, the University of Dallas, Centenary College, Texas Lutheran University, the University of St. Thomas, Concordia University Texas, the University of the Ozarks, LeTourneau University, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, and Southwestern University.
Millsaps College, founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, is a nationally recognized liberal arts college known for academic excellence, open inquiry, and social progress. The college has been honored by several national rankings and publications for its value and educational quality.
Source: Original Article
