MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker and Director of Athletics Dr.
Andrew Wu announced Tuesday that the College will depart from the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) and return to the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS).
Maryville, a founding member of the CCS, will rejoin the Conference in time for the 2027 fall sports season, returning to a familiar Conference home as the landscape of intercollegiate athletics continues to evolve.
"We are honored to reunite with our very good friends in the CCS," said Coker, who previously served as Founding Chair of the CCS. "The Collegiate Conference of the South is growing and thriving in this disruptive era for intercollegiate athletics. We know the CCS and its member institutions well, and we are certain that the CCS's future looks incredibly bright."
Coker noted that Maryville's decision to join the SAA in 2024 was appropriate at the time, but changes across the conference have prompted the College to reassess its long-term alignment.
"While the SAA was the right conference choice for Maryville in 2024, we believe the CCS is the best option for us now and for the future," Coker said. "We were honored to join and compete amongst the SAA's institutions, and we wish the conference all the best, moving forward."
Since Maryville first committed to the SAA, the conference has experienced membership changes. Hendrix College withdrew from the conference in 2025, while Southwestern University and Millsaps College will step away at the conclusion of this academic year. These shifts have led to a geographic footprint that presents additional considerations for team travel and scheduling.
The decision also reflects the College's focus on providing a competitive athletic experience that complements Maryville's academic mission, while maintaining a sustainable and balanced approach to collegiate athletics.
"Our top priority has always been to provide our student-athletes with an exceptional collegiate experience; one that challenges them competitively while honoring the rigorous academic and personal commitments central to a Maryville College education," Wu said.
"While we have deep gratitude and respect for the Southern Athletic Association, its leadership, and its member institutions, returning to the Collegiate Conference of the South is the right strategic alignment for the Scots in a time of continuous change in collegiate athletics. We're looking forward to reuniting with our colleagues in the conference we helped found earlier this decade."
The CCS will welcome Maryville back as the Scots prepare for the transition ahead of the 2027-28 academic year. Affiliate memberships for football and women's golf are being finalized ahead of this transition.
