# Sunshine State Conference

The Sunshine State Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. All of its member institutions are located in the state of Florida, which is popularly known as the Sunshine State.
The conference was originally formed in 1975 as a men's basketball conference. It has since expanded to sponsor championships in 18 sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball.
SSC institutions have won a total of 111 NCAA national team championships, including a conference record seven in the 2014–15 and 2018–19 academic years. The conference has also claimed a total of 90 national runner-up trophies.

## History

The conference was preceded by the Florida Intercollegiate Conference, which was disbanded in the mid-1960s. The Sunshine State Conference was founded in 1975 by Saint Leo University (then Saint Leo College) basketball coach & athletic director Norm Kaye. Kaye served as Commissioner the first year until Dick Pace was named Commissioner in 1976. Kaye continued as Executive Director of the Conference for an additional 12 years. Pace was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
The six charter Conference members were: Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University), Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida), Eckerd College, Florida Southern College, Rollins College, and Saint Leo College.
The Conference has seen dozens of athletes go on to have successful professional careers. Some examples include: Current PGA Tour players Lee Janzen and Rocco Mediate went to Florida Southern. Janzen won golf's U.S. Open in 1993 & 1998; on the baseball side are Tino Martinez (Tampa), Tim Wakefield (Florida Tech), Ryan Hanigan (Rollins), Bob Tewksbury (Saint Leo), and J. D. Martinez (Nova Southeastern). Wakefield tied a career high of 17 wins pitching for the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and Tewksbury was third in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award while going 16–5 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1992.

### Chronological timeline

* March 2, 1975 – Basketball conference exploration meeting is held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Main purpose of meeting is to discuss formation of an NCAA Division II mid-Florida basketball conference.
* March 16, 1975 – Second exploration meeting is held at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. The name "Sunshine State Conference" is suggested by Dr. Calvin C. Miller and is adopted for league use. Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is named Interim Commissioner. Dr. Thomas B. Southard, president of Saint Leo College, is named as first conference president.
* June 1975 – Conference constitution adopted.
* October 8, 1975 – First meeting of the SSC is held in Orlando. Basketball regulations and league bylaws are revised and approved.
* December 3, 1975 – Florida Southern defeats Eckerd, 96–84, in first SSC basketball game played in Saint Petersburg.
* April 8, 1976 – Dick Pace is named league commissioner. NCAA approves automatic bid for SSC basketball champion. Golf and Tennis are added to league for 1976–77, baseball and soccer are added for 1977–78.
* May 18, 1977 – First Sunshine State Conference men's basketball tournament held
* February 1, 1981 – Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is appointed as executive of SSC. Executive Committee is formed, consisting of league athletic directors.
* July 1, 1981 – Florida Institute of Technology joins the Sunshine State Conference.
* September 2, 1981 – The University of Tampa joins the Sunshine State Conference.
* April 15, 1982 – League adopts women's competition in basketball, cross country, slow-pitch softball, tennis, and volleyball.
* May 1, 1984 – University of Central Florida (formerly Florida Technological University) withdraws from the conference. Women's fast-pitch softball is adopted for league play in 1985.
* February 2, 1986 – Bob Vanatta, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, is named as league's first full-time commissioner.
* June 13, 1988 – Barry University joins the conference.
* November 1990 – Conference signs a two-year contract with the Sunshine Network for seven events.
* February 11, 1991 – University of North Florida joins the conference, effective July 1, 1992.
* July 1, 1994 – Don Landry is named conference commissioner and conference relocates to Orlando.
* November 22, 1994 – Conference announces three-year deal to have postseason basketball tournament at The Lakeland Center. The SSC will serve as host in 1996 and 1997.
* December 1, 1994 – Sunshine Network announces nine-event television package for school year.
* June 9, 1995 – Inaugural SSC Awards Luncheon held in Orlando.
* February 29, 1996 – Inaugural SSC Hall of Fame/Honors banquet held in Lakeland.
* September 30, 1996 – University of North Florida withdraws from the Sunshine State Conference, effective June 30, 1997.
* October 15, 1996 – Women's crew added to Sunshine State Conference sponsored sports.
* December 18, 1996 – Lynn University joins the Sunshine State Conference, effective July 1, 1997.
* July 15, 1998 – League adds women's soccer and women's golf as sponsored sports.
* August 24, 1999 – Saint Leo College becomes Saint Leo University and adopts new nickname ("Lions") and logo.
* July 1, 2000 – 25th Anniversary of the Sunshine State Conference.
* August 26, 2002 – Nova Southeastern University joins the Sunshine State Conference as a provisional member.
* May 26, 2004 – Don Landry announced retirement as SSC Commissioner, effective August 1, 2004. Landry remained acting commissioner through September 6, 2004.
* July 26, 2004 – Michael J. Marcil named SSC commissioner, effective September 7, 2004.
* September 14, 2009 – Jay Jones officially begins duties as the SSC commissioner, replacing Mike Marcil, who left the post June 30, 2009.
* April 7, 2010 – League adds men's and women's swimming as sponsored sport.
* July 1, 2013 – League adds men's lacrosse as sponsored sport.
* February 3, 2014 – Ed Pasque officially begins duties as the SSC commissioner, replacing Jay Jones, who left the post December 31, 2013.
* July 1, 2014 – League adds women's lacrosse as sponsored sport. – Palm Beach Atlantic University and Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University join Sunshine State Conference as provisional members; effective July 1, 2015.
* December 13, 2023 – The SSC announced the addition of three sports in 2024–25—beach volleyball, plus men's and women's outdoor track & field. The SSC will become the first conference outside NCAA Division I to officially sponsor beach volleyball.

## Member schools
### Current members

The SSC currently has 11 full members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined |
| Barry University | Miami Shores | 1940 | Catholic | 6,958 | Buccaneers | 1988 |
| Eckerd College | St. Petersburg | 1958 | Presbyterian | 1,993 | Tritons | 1975 |
| Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach | 1926 | Nonsectarian | 8,370 | Eagles | 2015 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | 1883 | United Methodist | 3,283 | Moccasins | 1975 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne | 1958 | Nonsectarian | 8,358 | Panthers | 1981 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | 1962 | Nonsectarian | 3,520 | Fighting Knights | 1997 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Davie | 1964 | Nonsectarian | 20,948 | Sharks | 2002 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | 1968 | Christian | 3,829 | Sailfish | 2015 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park | 1885 | Nonsectarian | 2,709 | Tars | 1975 |
| Saint Leo University | St. Leo | 1889 | Catholic | 2,788 | Lions | 1975 |
| University of Tampa | Tampa | 1931 | Nonsectarian | 10,566 | Spartans | 1981 |

#### Notes

* ↑ All cities are located in the State of Florida.
* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
* ↑ The Embry–Riddle men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC two years after becoming a full member for other sports (2017–18).
* ↑ The Lynn men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1998–99).
* ↑ The Nova Southeastern men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC two years after becoming a full member for other sports (2004–05).
* ↑ The Palm Beach Atlantic men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2016–17).

### Former members

The SSC had three former full members, all but one were public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current conference |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando | 1963 | Public | 68,571 | Knights | 1975 | 1984 | Big 12 |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | 1969 | Public | 16,309 | Ospreys | 1992 | 1997 | Atlantic Sun (ASUN) |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens | 1961 | Catholic | 1,750 | Bobcats | 1975 | 1987 | The Sun |

#### Notes

* ↑ All cities were located in the State of Florida.
* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
* ↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
* 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
* ↑ The North Florida men's and women's basketball teams joined the SSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (1993–94).
* ↑ Currently an NAIA athletic conference.

### Membership timeline

Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (other sports)

## Conference facilities

| Institution | Arena | Capacity |
| Barry | Health and Sports Center | 1,938 |
| Embry–Riddle | ICI Center | 1,968 |
| Eckerd | McArthur Center | 1,000 |
| Florida Southern | Jenkins Field House | 2,500 |
| Florida Tech | Clemente Center | 1,500 |
| Lynn | de Hoernle Center | 1,000 |
| Nova Southeastern | Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center | 5,500 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic | Rubin Arena | 2,000 |
| Rollins | Warden Arena | 2,500 |
| Saint Leo | Marion Bowman Activities Center | 2,000 |
| Tampa | Bob Martinez Sports Center | 3,432 |

## National Championships

Sunshine State Conference schools have won 118 NCAA Division II National Championships.

### Championships by year

| Year | Titles | Team |
| 1965-66 | 1 | Rollins tennis (M) |
| 1966-67 | | |
| 1967-68 | | |
| 1968-69 | | |
| 1969-70 | 1 | Rollins golf (M) |
| 1970-71 | 1 | Florida Southern Baseball |
| 1971–72 | 1 | Florida Southern Baseball • Rollins tennis (M) |
| 1972-73 | | |
| 1973-74 | | |
| 1974-75 | 1 | Florida Southern Baseball |
| 1975-76 | | |
| 1976-77 | | |
| 1977–78 | 1 | Florida Southern Baseball |
| 1978-79 | | |
| 1979-80 | | |
| 1980-81 | 4 | Florida Southern Baseball • Florida southern Basketball (M) • Florida Southern golf (M) • Tampa Soccer (M) |
| 1981-82 | 1 | Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 1982–83 | | |
| 1983-84 | | |
| 1984-85 | 2 | Florida Southern Baseball• Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 1985-86 | 1 | Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 1986-87 | 1 | Tampa golf (M) |
| 1987–88 | 3 | Florida Southern Baseball • Tampa golf (M) • Florida Tech soccer (M) |
| 1988–89 | | |
| 1989-90 | 2 | Florida Southern golf (M) • Barry soccer (W) |
| 1990-91 | 3 | Florida Southern golf (M) • Rollins tennis (M) • Florida Tech soccer (M) |
| 1991-92 | 1 | Tampa Baseball |
| 1992-93 | 3 | Tampa Baseball • Barry soccer (W) • Florida Southern softball |
| 1993–94 | 1 | Barry soccer (W) • Tampa soccer (M) |
| 1994-95 | 2 | Florida Southern Baseball • Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 1995-96 | 2 | Florida Southern golf (M) • Barry Volleyball (W) |
| 1996-97 | 1 | Lynn tennis (W) |
| 1997-98 | 4 | Tampa Baseball • Florida Southern golf (M) • Lynn soccer (W) • Lynn tennis (W) |
| 1998–99 | 1 | Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 1999-2000 | 2 | Florida Southern golf (M)• Florida Southern golf (W) |
| 2000–01 | 3 | Florida Southern golf (W) • Rollins tennis (M) • Lynn tennis (W) |
| 2001–02 | 3 | Rollins golf (M)• Florida Southern golf (W) • Barry Volleyball (W) |
| 2002–03 | 1 | Rollins golf (W) |
| 2003–04 | 1 | Rollins golf (W) |
| 2004–05 | 3 | Florida Southern Baseball• Rollins golf (W) • Barry volleyball (W) |
| 2005–06 | 2 | Tampa Baseball, Rollins golf (W) |
| 2006–07 | 6 | Tampa Baseball • Barry golf (M) • Florida Southern golf (W) • Tampa soccer (W) • Lynn tennis (M) • Tampa volleyball (W) |
| 2007–08 | 1 | Rollins golf (W) |
| 2008–09 | 2 | Lynn baseball • Nova Southeastern golf (W) |
| 2009–10 | 3 | Florida Southern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (W) • Barry tennis (M) |
| 2010–11 | 2 | Nova Southeastern golf (W) • Barry tennis (W) |
| 2011–12 | 2 | Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (W) |
| 2012–13 | 6 | Tampa baseball • Barry golf (M) • Lynn golf (W) • Nova Southeastern rowing • Lynn soccer (M) • Barry tennis (M) |
| 2013–14 | 3 | Barry golf (M) • Lynn golf (W) • Barry tennis (W) |
| 2014–15 | 7 | Tampa baseball • Florida Southern basketball (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Barry rowing • Lynn soccer (M) • Barry tennis (M) • Tampa volleyball |
| 2015–16 | 5 | Nova Southeastern baseball • Saint Leo golf (M) • Rollins golf (W) • Florida Southern lacrosse (W) • Barry rowing |
| 2016–17 | 3 | Barry tennis (W) • Barry golf (W) • Florida Southern golf (M) |
| 2017–18 | 2 | Barry tennis (W) • Lynn golf (M) |
| 2018–19 | 7 | Barry soccer (M) • Tampa volleyball • Florida Tech golf (W) • Lynn golf (M) • Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W) • Tampa baseball |
| 2019–20 | | |
| 2020–21 | 2 | Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W) |
| 2021–22 | 4 | Tampa lacrosse (M) • Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W) • Tampa Volleyball (W) |
| 2022–23 | 4 | Nova Southeastern basketball (M) • Nova Southeastern golf (M) • Nova Southeastern swimming (W) • Barry tennis (M) • Barry tennis (W) |
| 2023–24 | | |

### Championships by school

| School | NCAA Titles | Most Recent |
| Florida Southern | 30 | 2017 — men's golf |
| Barry | 28 | 2023 — men's and women's tennis |
| Tampa | 18 | 2021 — volleyball |
| Lynn | 14* | 2019 — men's golf |
| Nova Southeastern | 13 | 2024 — women's swimming & diving, women's tennis |
| Rollins | 12 | 2016 — women's golf |
| Florida Tech | 3 | 2019 — women's golf |
| Saint Leo | 1 | 2016 — men's golf |
| North Florida | 1 | 1994 — women's tennis |

### Controversy

On July 17, 2007, NCAA vacated Lynn's 2005 Women's Division II Softball Championship due to extra benefits given to two players. The NCAA found that former coach Thomas Macera gave two Lynn softball players cash payments totaling more than $3,000. Lynn was also placed on probation for two years. As of 2019-20 Lynn University has won 15 national championships at the Division II level, but now the NCAA recognizes only 14 of them because of the unsanctioned actions.

## Mayors' Cup Champions

The Mayors' Cup was originally presented following the 1986–1987 academic year to recognize the annual SSC all-sports champion. The men's division recognizes competition in eight sports: soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, lacrosse and baseball. The Women's Mayors' Cup recognizes competition in ten sports: volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, golf, tennis, lacrosse, softball and rowing.
| Year | Men's | Women's |
| 1987 | Tampa | Florida Southern |
| 1988 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| 1989 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| 1990 | Tampa | Florida Southern |
| 1991 | Tampa | Barry |
| 1992 | Florida Tech | Tampa |
| 1993 | Tampa | Tampa |
| 1994 | North Florida | North Florida |
| 1995 | North Florida | Florida Southern |
| 1996 | Florida Southern | North Florida |
| 1997 | Florida Southern | Barry |
| 1998 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| 1999 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| Year | Men's | Women's |
| 2000 | Florida Southern | Barry |
| 2001 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| 2002 | Florida Southern | Barry |
| 2003 | Rollins | Rollins |
| 2004 | Rollins | Rollins |
| 2005 | Lynn | Florida Southern |
| 2006 | Lynn | Barry |
| 2007 | Barry | Florida Southern |
| 2008 | Florida Southern | Nova Southeastern |
| 2009 | Barry | Rollins |
| 2010 | Rollins | Rollins |
| 2011 | Barry | Florida Southern |
| 2012 | Florida Tech | Rollins |
| Year | Men's | Women's |
| 2013 | Saint Leo Florida Southern | Tampa |
| 2014 | Saint Leo | Tampa |
| 2015 | Lynn | Rollins |
| 2016 | Saint Leo | Nova Southeastern |
| 2017 | Florida Tech | Saint Leo |
| 2018 | Florida Southern | Florida Southern |
| 2019 | Lynn | Tampa |
| 2020 | Not Held-Covid | Not Held-Covid |
| 2021 | Not Held-Covid | Not Held-Covid |
| 2022 | Florida Southern | Tampa |
| 2023 | Saint Leo | Tampa |
| 2023 | Nova Southeastern | Tampa |

## Sports

Conference sports :
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
| Baseball | Y | |
| Basketball | Y | Y |
| Beach volleyball | | Y |
| Cross country | Y | Y |
| Golf | Y | Y |
| Lacrosse | Y | Y |
| Rowing | | Y |
| Soccer | Y | Y |
| Softball | | Y |
| Swimming & Diving | Y | Y |
| Tennis | Y | Y |
| Track & field outdoor | Y | Y |
| Volleyball | | Y |
SSC is adding Beach Volleyball, Men's Outdoor Track, and Women's Outdoor Track championships in 2024–25.

### Men's sponsored sports by school

| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & diving | Tennis | Track & field outdoor | Total SSC sports |
| Barry | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 |
| Eckerd | Y | Y | | Y | | Y | | Y | | 5 |
| Embry–Riddle | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | 8 |
| Florida Southern | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Florida Tech | Y | Y | | | Y | Y | Y | | | 5 |
| Lynn | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Nova Southeastern | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | | Y | 7 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | 8 |
| Rollins | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | 7 |
| Saint Leo | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y* | 8 |
| Tampa | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | 8 |
| Totals | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 85 |
* Saint Leo is resuming Outdoor Track and Field in 2025-26

### Women's sponsored sports by school

| School | Basketball | Beach volleyball | Cross country | Golf | Lacrosse | Rowing | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & diving | Tennis | Track & field outdoor | Volleyball | Total SSC sports |
| Barry | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Eckerd | Y | Y | | Y | | | Y | Y | | Y | | Y | 7 |
| Embry–Riddle | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Florida Southern | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Florida Tech | Y | | | | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | | Y | 6 |
| Lynn | Y | | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Nova Southeastern | Y | | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Rollins | Y | | | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | 9 |
| Saint Leo | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | | Y | Y | | Y | Y* | Y | 10 |
| Tampa | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Totals | 11 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 108 |
* Saint Leo is resuming Outdoor Track and Field in 2025-26

### Other sponsored sports by school

| School | Men | Men | Women |
| School | Track & field indoor | Volleyball | Track & field indoor |
| Barry | | IND | |
| Embry–Riddle | PBC | | PBC |
| Florida Southern | IND | | IND |
* ↑ De facto Division I sport. The NCAA's top-level national championship is open to members of Divisions I and II.

### Discontinued Sports

Florida Tech= Football, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Rowing
Rollins= Football, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
St. Leo= Men's Swimming, Women's Swimming
Tampa= Football, Men's Tennis, Men's Wrestling