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ABAC 4.5.3 Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents officially approved Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) for membership at its meeting on October 2. The membership is effective July 1, 2024.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College officially joined the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) on July 1, 2024, and began competition during the 2024-25 academic year after earning unanimous approval from the SSAC Board of Presidents. 

Tracy Brundage, ABAC President

“Joining the NAIA is a giant step for ABAC as we continue our transition to four-year athletics for all our sports,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “We are excited about moving to a higher level of competition, and we look forward to establishing new rivalries with the teams in our conference.”

 “We are excited about this new chapter for our athletic program and to being a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference. Mike Hall and his team do a tremendous job and the conference’s record for success speaks for itself. We look forward to being a part of a league with these great programs.”

Charles Wimberly, ABAC Athletic Director

 “We are so excited to be in the NAIA and the Southern States Conference and for our athletic programs to be competing on the four-year stage,” said ABAC athletic director Charles Wimberly. “This will give our student athletes the opportunity to play all four years of their athletic careers at ABAC. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of ABAC and its growth into the future for our student athletes and our college.”

“Teams from this conference have achieved a level of success that speaks to the strength of the SSAC as a whole. As I’ve met and gotten to know people from around the league, it’s easy to see why. These programs do things the right way and we look forward to being a part of that.”

 Mike Hall, SSAC Commissioner

 “We are very excited to welcome Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to the SSAC. Dr. Brundage and Chuck Wimberly did an outstanding job in gaining approval from the University System of Georgia for NAIA and SSAC membership. Their coaches and student-athletes are going to be a tremendous asset to our conference and a very nice fit geographically.”

Quick Facts 
Location: Tifton, Ga.
Founded: 1906
Enrollment: 3,769
President: Dr. Tracy Brundage
Nickname: Fillies & Stallions
School Colors: White, ABAC Green, ABAC Gold
Sponsored Sports: (M&W) Cross Country, (W) Soccer, (M&W) Basketball, (M) Golf, (M&W) Tennis, Baseball, Softball
Website: https://athletics.abac.edu/
ABAC's program of intercollegiate athletics operates under the auspices of the President and designees.

About the NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ (NAIA) Champions of Character program provides training to ensure student-athletes know, do and value the right things in all aspects of life. The intent of the program is for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to fully embrace the standards of its five core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has developed a Champions of Character program that includes:

  • Ongoing character education for all student-athletes.

  • Professional development for coaches and athletics administrative staff.

  • Emphasis on hospitality and game management of athletics events and conduct in competition.

  • Servant leadership activities that promote athletic community engagement and leadership on campus.

  • Ongoing oversight and assessment of progress of the program’s effectiveness by both Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the NAIA.

Source: https://athletics.abac.edu/sports/2024/10/9/champions-of-character.aspx

About the SSAC
 
The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) is one of the premier NAIA conferences, founded in 1999, with 13 member institutions across Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The Montgomery, Ala.-based conference sponsors 20+ intercollegiate sports, culminating in 20+ neutral-site conference championship events held annually throughout the Southeastern region of the United States.

Source: https://ssacsports.com/