Scots Joining Prestigious SAA

SAA Release

MARYVILLE — A monumental shift in the trajectory of Maryville Athletics has arrived with Thursday's unanimous invitation by the Southern Athletic Association for the Scots to join one of the elite conferences in NCAA Division III.
 
The move unites Maryville with long-time sporting rivals Sewanee, Rhodes, Centre and Oglethorpe as conference foes. Another familiar 21st Century opponent in Berry also moves the needle when it comes to competing annually within one of Division III's most successful and geographically advantageous conferences.
 
"The SAA is dedicated to promoting competitive excellence, fostering sportsmanship, and supporting the holistic development of student-athletes, and we are confident that Maryville College exemplifies these principles and will be a great asset to our conference," SAA Commissioner Stacey LaDew said. "The Scots commitment to both athletic and academic distinction aligns perfectly with our mission to offer a comprehensive and competitive athletic experience within a nurturing environment, and we look forward to Maryville joining the association."
 
Maryville, Rhodes and Sewanee are the only three NCAA Division III programs in Tennessee, while Centre, Berry and Oglethorpe are additional elite opponents for the Scots in all sports that are within manageable driving distance of Blount County.
 
But those reasons pale in comparison to the recognition and status the SAA invitation provides Maryville College and its athletics program in the NCAA's Division III hierarchy.
 
"Today marks another historic chapter in the Southern Athletic Association's history," remarked Jennifer Collins, Rhodes College President and Chair of the SAA President's Council. "We are delighted to welcome Maryville to the league and look forward to robust and collegial competition for years to come."


 
Foundation Laid by Scots Administration
The work done by President Bryan F. Coker and the athletics department over the past five years positioning the College to be ready and deserving of such an invitation cannot be understated. The College is thriving and growing on so many fronts amid a booming East Tennessee region, and this move shows what an important part athletics plays in the recent advancements made on College Hill.

"We are honored and excited to accept the SAA's invitation for membership and look forward to joining these colleges with whom we have longstanding and historic relationships," Coker said. "The SAA will be a fitting league for us among institutions with a strong focus on rigorous academics and high-quality athletics programs."
 
Maryville joins an SAA roster of institutions made up of Rhodes and Sewanee in Tennessee, Centre in Kentucky, Berry and Oglethorpe in Georgia, and Millsaps in Mississippi. Texas schools Southwestern and Trinity are set to join in July 2025. Former member Birmingham-Southern closed its doors in May, and Arkansas member Hendrix is departing next summer.


 
Football, Women's Golf Begin SAA Play in Fall 2025
Maryville's transition to the SAA is a phased one. Beginning in fall 2025, the Scots become affiliate members, with football and women's golf starting competition in the conference. Then in July 2026, the Scots transition to full SAA membership for all MC sports except the emerging stunt program.
 
"While there will be some periodic travel to Texas institutions in the SAA, we do not anticipate increases in missed class time," Coker said. "And unlike some of our current conference institutions, all SAA members permit Sunday play."
 
Coker said that while this was not an invitation Maryville was seeking or expecting, the College is grateful for the overture and what it says about the institution and the athletics program.
 
"We should be pleased that our current momentum and recent progress are being recognized, especially our growing student enrollment," Coker said. "And, of course, our recent successes in athletics have brought much attention."
 
Four of Maryville's five most common football opponents through the years play in the SAA. The Scots have played Centre 67 times, Rhodes 38, Sewanee 32 and Millsaps 31. Only Emory & Henry at 71 meetings is a more common all-time opponent for the Scots, but that series has been halted since 2017 with E&H's move to the Division II ranks.
 
Maryville has played Centre in men's basketball as far back as the 1919-20 season, and games against Rhodes date to the 1923-24 campaign. Baseball archives show a similar pattern of encounters.
 
The Scots already have scheduled Rhodes as their Oct. 18, 2025, Homecoming football opponent, renewing a rivalry that dates to 1961 but hasn't been played since 2004.


 
Shining Success in CCS Aided Bid
The Scots in 2023-24 won the Collegiate Conference of the South's Commissioner's Cup for women's sports – the first women's all-sports trophy in 14 years. Clarence McLean earned double All-America status in track and field and the Scots won seven major team trophies: conference regular season and tournament championships for baseball, men's basketball and women's soccer, and a conference tournament championship for softball. The women's soccer and softball teams earned NCAA tournament at-large bids.
 
"The decision to leave our current conference, the Collegiate Conference of the South, is not one at which we have arrived easily given that we are founding conference members and I have served as Founding Chair since the conference's inception," Coker said. "We are immensely proud of what we have built in the CCS, which was formed in 2022 by a split in the USA South Athletic Conference.
 
"However, we cannot ignore the strategic opportunity offered by SAA affiliation, especially in these dynamic times for small independent colleges."
 
Maryville with 19 varsity sports matches well with its new league members. Sewanee leads the way with 25, followed by Berry with 24, Centre 23, Rhodes 23, Southwestern 22, Millsaps 20, Trinity 20 and Oglethorpe 18.


 
What They Are Saying About the Scots in the SAA
 
Dr. W. Ken Bell
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I am very excited about Maryville College moving to the SAA. Renewing some of the Scots' historic rivalries and moving to the top tier of Division III athletic competition is a well-deserved reward for our students, coaches and fans. Go Scots!"
 
Jason D. Brooks '97
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I am thrilled and enthusiastic about the College's decision to join the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). This will create new opportunities for our student-athletes to succeed both on and off the field. The SAA is a competitive conference that aligns with our vision of balancing athletics and academics. This change enhances the caliber of our already strong athletics program and demonstrates our ongoing dedication to 'do good on the largest possible scale.' I am very excited about the positive effects this change will have on Maryville College Athletics."



Kaitlyn Carringer-Adams '19
Maryville College Cross Country Head Coach
 
"I am excited for the opportunities and competition that our team at Maryville College will gain joining the SAA. This transition will help widen our recruiting realm and push our teams to the next level of competitiveness. I am looking forward to the future and growth of our athletic programs!"
 
C. Michael Davis, Board Chair
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I am so pleased that Maryville College has been invited to join the SAA athletic conference. Becoming a member of the SAA enables Maryville College to continue to attract high caliber athletes and ultimately enhance the overall college enrollment. I want to give special thanks to the College administration, and especially to Director of Athletics Sara Quatrocky, for making this exciting opportunity possible."
 
Steve Diggs '88
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"Maryville College has a long tradition of competitive athletic programs across multiple sports, and as a former football player, I'm proud to see the way those traditions are continuing and growing. Moving to the SAA will only further enhance these opportunities for our student-athletes as they will now compete alongside highly recognized and respected liberal arts institutions in the South. I'm excited about the future for the Scots!"
 
Kyle Duke '97
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I am very excited about Maryville College's move to the SAA. The past few years, Maryville College Athletics has been on an upward trajectory, building on a great history of athletics at the college. The move to the SAA will challenge Maryville College Athletics to continue to raise the bar, but all the pieces are in place to do that. As a former MC student-athlete, I'm excited to watch the Fighting Scots compete in one of the best conferences in NCAA Division III athletics."


 
Ben Fox
Maryville College Football Head Coach
 
"We can't wait to experience the next chapter of Maryville College Athletics and Maryville Football. To join a conference with our in-state traditional rivals is thrilling for our players, coaches, alumni and fans. Our program will be ready for the challenge that awaits us in the fall of 2025, but we are solely focused on becoming the best version of ourselves that we can become in advance of our final season of competition in the USA South."

Greg Gheen '83
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"As a Board member and former student-athlete at MC, I celebrate this move to the SAA. The College has a long and proud history in academics and athletics, and this affiliation will further strengthen and elevate our reputation in both of those important areas, positioning us for even greater success."

Jennifer McCafferty-Fernandez '94
Maryville College Board of Directors

"The victories my teammates and I had against the schools of the SAA are among the most memorable of my athletic career, so I'm excited future Scots will be able to experience these rivalries and compete at the highest level of Division III. But this isn't an affiliation that impacts only student-athletes, coaches, and fans; membership in the SAA will raise the visibility and reputation of the entire College, positively affecting all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. I look forward to this new era at Maryville College."


 
Jill Moore
Maryville College Softball Head Coach
 
"It's an exciting time for Maryville College and our athletics program. Coming off such a successful year as an athletics department, being invited to join the SAA makes it even better. I'm proud of the hard work our student-athletes put into the classroom and on the field, and for that to be recognized is a great achievement for them."
 
Alvin J. Nance '79
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I'm very excited about the move to the Southern Athletic Association. This will raise the level of competition for our student-athletes. I can remember playing teams from Millsaps, Centre, Rhodes and Sewanee, and it is great to see the renewing of these traditional rivalries."


 
Raul Placeres '05
Maryville College Men's Basketball Head Coach
 
"Really thrilled about joining the SAA. Rekindling some old rivalries within the state and with out-of-state programs will be exciting for our program. We look forward to creating new memories while continuing to compete for championships and NCAA tournament appearances."

Erin Palmer Polly '99
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"I have fond memories of playing soccer against teams like Centre, Rhodes, Sewanee, and other schools in the Southern Athletic Association, back before Maryville College was a member of an athletic conference. I consistently have been impressed by these schools from an athletic standpoint as well as from an academic standpoint. I am incredibly proud to see Maryville College join the ranks of these incredible institutions and look forward to watching our Scots take the conference by storm. Go Scots!"
 
Adam Ray '97
Maryville College Board of Directors
 
"This is wonderful news and precisely the right approach. Incurring additional travel expenses, if it happens, doesn't outweigh the benefits from competing at a higher level, attracting a different type of student-athlete, and creating the type of competitive/attractive atmosphere some of us (alumni athletes) have wanted for decades. You have my FULL support."