Lighthouse’s Eddie Brown has picked up where he left off last year. Last week, the defending NSAC Player of the Year scored 26 points versus the University of Mobile JV and poured in 32 vs John Melvin (LA) in the Mako’s first conference win of the season. With those performances, the 6’0″ junior from Pensacola, Florida is named the NSAC Player of the Week.
Congrats, Eddie!
After years of planning, negotiation, and collaboration, the New South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce that it will add football as its next sport beginning in the fall of 2025.
“It think football will bring a major focus to us,” said NSAC President Joel Williams, AD and head football coach at Atlantis University. “It think that people are going to catch on to the vision of what the New South is trying to do. Football is a great commodity for a school to have and makes enrollment more attractive.”
“It’s been a long time in coming because we wanted to do it right,” added commissioner Mike Davis. “Several of our current members already have football and wanted a home for their team. They will now have that as well as a competitive spot for their other sports.”
Current members with football programs include The Apprentice School, Atlantis, John Melvin University (Louisiana), Lighthouse Christian College, South Carolina Central Christian College, and Westgate Christian University. John Melvin Christian College (Florida) is adding football next year.
Talks continue with a number of other schools across the South who are considering joining as well. Watch for updates at newsouthconference.com/football.
Photo by Riley McCullough on Unsplash
The New South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce that Barber-Scotia College (Concord, NC) has accepted its invitation to join effective with the 2025-26 academic year.
B-SC President Chris V. Rey, JD remarked, “We are thrilled to join the New South Athletic Conference. This membership opens doors for Barber-Scotia College to engage with a new generation of student-athletes and advance our institutional goals.”
NSAC Commissioner Mike Davis noted, “After visiting the campus and meeting with President Rey and the Board of Trustees earlier this year, I was impressed by their vision and leadership. The commitment to rejuvenating Barber-Scotia College aligns well with our conference’s values. The NSAC Board of Directors is pleased to welcome the Sabers into the conference.”
NSAC Commissioner Mike Davis {left} with B-SC President Chris Rey at Rey’s inauguration ceremony on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
The New South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce the addition of track & field to its lineup of sports, beginning in 2024-25.
“With several new member schools offering track, it was a natural addition to the conference,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Track and field will be our second spring championship along with baseball. It’s exciting to provide these new opportunities for our members and their student-athletes.”
Beacon College, John Melvin University, SC Central Christian University, and Westgate Christian University will each field teams this coming year, with a conference championship to be held April 12, 2025 in Columbia, SC, hosted by SC Central.
Photo by Braden Collum on Unsplash
The New South Athletic Conference is pleased to welcome Westgate Christian University of Houston, Texas effective immediately. The NSAC Board of Directors voted unanimously this past Tuesday to accept Westgate’s application for the 2024-25 season.
Westgate Christian University, along with its Board of Trustees, administration, staff, and student athletes, expresses deep gratitude to the NSAC for welcoming us as members. We eagerly anticipate competing with institutions that prioritize their student athletes. This opportunity is an honor we will value and protect. Thank you for this special moment. Go Ravens! #ProtectTheGate
Statement from WCU Athletics
“I have been impressed in my conversations with the WCU staff that they are committed to excellence on and off the field,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Expanding our conference footprint into Texas is a big step, but one which we believe will pay dividends when it involves quality people like those at Westgate. We look forward to many years of competition and cooperation together.”
WCU will compete in track and field in its first NSAC season with more exciting announcements to come in the near future.
Welcome Ravens!
On Tuesday, the NSAC Board of Directors elected to accept Southeast Christian College of Leesburg, Florida by a unanimous vote.
A new educational institution, SECC had a “soft” opening for early enrollees in January and will welcome more than 100 students for its grand opening this fall. The college is an extension of the Christian Preparatory Schools in Central Florida.
“We are honored and privileged to be a part of the New South Athletic Conference,” said head men’s basketball coach Dwayne Walker. “Thank you for the warm and welcoming environment that all the member schools have displayed to us here at SECC. We are looking forward to the rewarding experience of competing in the 2024-2025 men’s basketball season. ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29).”
“Since our first conversations, it was apparent to me that Southeast was a perfect addition for the NSAC,” said conference commissioner Mike Davis. “My extensive conversations with Dwayne and with college president Dr. Harry Anderson were productive and uplifting, as well as indicative that they are doing the right things in the right way. I am excited to welcome them aboard.”
The Eagles have agreed to host one of the two basketball classics this coming season pitting the six members of the NSAC South Division against each other. The Leesburg Classic will take place January 24-26 in SECC’s recently renovated gym. SECC is making plans now to add more sports in 2025-26.
Welcome Eagles!
The New South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce that Beacon College of Leesburg, Florida will become the league’s 11th member effective immediately.
The Blazers employ a unique teaching model as the first college in the nation accredited to award bachelor’s degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities and ADHD.
“We are extremely excited to be a part of the New South Athletic Conference,” said athletic director Gabe Watson. “We are looking forward to engaging in spirited rivalries in this new opportunity.”
“Beacon College athletics has become well known in Florida as a competitive program in its short history,” said NSAC Commissioner Mike Davis. “Having gotten to know Gabe over the past year, I can say that Beacon athletics is in good hands, and we are proud to welcome the Blazers to the league.”
The Blazers also sport a high-profile head coach. NBA veteran Sam Vincent is beginning his third season at the helm of the men’s basketball program. Beacon sponsors women’s basketball, golf, and track & field as well.
Beacon is a full Division 1 member of the USCAA.
After previously approving John Melvin University of Crowley, Louisiana for membership, the New South Athletic Conference Board of Directors extended an invitation to JMU’s sister institution, John Melvin Christian College of Pace, Florida, to join for the 2024-25 season.
JMCC will formally open this fall and sponsor teams in men’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and possibly softball.
“We are blessed with the opportunity to be part of a great conference with high-quality competition,” said Jean Melvin Angeron, Co-Founder of JMCC. “The NSAC is a great fit for our mission to help students advance academically, athletically, and spiritually.”
“It was natural for us to accept both institutions,” said NSAC Commissioner Mike Davis. “We look forward to ‘Excelling Together’ for years to come.”
The New South Athletic Conference continues to grow, and now is pleased to welcome South Carolina Central Christian College as a member for the 2024-25 academic year.
SC Central is a startup in greater Columbia, South Carolina with a charter school and a post-grad program in its heritage and now transitioning to a four-year institution.
“South Carolina Central Christian College is excited about the future of our athletic program,” said athletic director Demond Logan. “Our journey has just begun, and we would like to thank the New South Athletic Conference for allowing us to become part of a conference that aligns with our goals and mission as a small institution of higher learning. S4C’s focus is to give our student-athletes opportunities to excel academically while providing opportunities to excel and be recognized for their athletic achievements.”
“It was a pleasure to meet President Dr. Paula Shelby and Demond recently as we discussed the vision and mission of our institutions,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “I see a lot of synergy. I’m happy to welcome the Gladiators to the league.”
SC Central will sponsor men’s basketball, football, and volleyball when they open this fall in Cayce.
In a unanimous vote, the New South Athletic Conference Board of Directors has approved the membership of John Melvin University for the 2024-25 season.
JMU, located in Crowley, Louisiana, was founded in 2021 and named in honor of John Melvin, the late brother of college co-founder Jean Melvin Angeron. The first classes were held in 2022.
Jean’s husband David serves as JMU’s president and athletic director. “John Melvin University is excited to join the New South Athletic Conference,” said President Angeron. “We look forward to competing with these great institutions across the Southeastern U.S. We feel the NSAC is a great fit for us, and we are blessed with the opportunity to join their mission of giving student-athletes opportunities to excel and be recognized for their achievements on the court, on the field, and in the classroom.”
“I am thrilled to welcome the Millers to the New South Conference,” said NSAC Commissioner Mike Davis. “Even as a very young institution, it was clear to our board that JMU is doing the right things in the right way to be a viable and successful university academically and athletically. It has been a pleasure working through the membership process with David and his staff, and we look forward to a long and prosperous future together.”
John Melvin University currently sponsors men’s basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, and football, with more sports planned.
