HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – The Southern Conference wrapped up its 2014 Spring Meetings on Friday (May 30). The four-day meetings were attended by the institutional Presidents, Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators and Faculty Athletic Representatives.
The league’s presidents and chancellors agreed to raise the conference’s exit fee to $1 million, while the fee for providing less than one-year’s notice will now move to $1.25 million. The conference’s CEO’s also approved the funding for a faculty recognition award, which will recognize one professor at a Southern Conference school annually.
In addition, the membership voted to utilize conference funds to help supplement postseason bids for men’s and women’s basketball programs that host select post-season games.
The conference finalized sites for select championships from 2014-16. Sites for women’s soccer, men’s soccer, volleyball, women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and softball were selected for the next two years. As agreed upon last year, all Southern Conference teams that are eligible for NCAA postseason play will be included in SoCon championships. Under the previous format, teams needed to qualify to compete in postseason tournaments in volleyball, women’s soccer and baseball (prior to 2014).
Dr. Linda Brady of UNCG was elected chairman of the Council of Presidents for 2014-15, while Dr. Nayef H. Samhat of Wofford was chosen to serve as the vice chairman. Commissioner Iamarino also announced the promotion of Erin O’Shea to assistant director of championships. O’Shea spent 2013-14 as the league’s intern for championships and compliance.
Wednesday night’s annual Southern Conference Honors Dinner recognized the league’s award-winners from the 2013-14 season. Among those recognized were Davidson’s De’Mon Brooks (Bob Waters Male Athlete of the Year) and Chattanooga’s Taylor Hall (Female Athlete of the Year).
Appalachian State was recognized for winning the Commissioner’s Cup, presented to the top overall men’s athletics program. Furman University claimed the Germann Cup, which is awarded to the conference’s top women’s athletics program.
Davidson College was awarded the Barrett-Bonner Award which recognizes the school with the highest percentage of student-athletes on the league’s Honor Roll. Davidson placed 60 percent of its student-athletes on the SoCon Honor Roll. The Wildcats also earned the league’s Graduation Rate Award which is presented to the school with the highest graduation rates of its student athletes over the last five years. Davidson won the award by graduating 93 percent of its student-athletes over the five-year cohort.
Wofford earned the D.S. McAlister Award which is presented annually to the school judged by the league’s administrators and head coaches to have exhibited the highest degree of sportsmanship. The award is named after Colonel D.S. McAllister of The Citadel, who served as the conference’s secretary treasurer for 38 years.
Southern Conference Championships – Future Sites
Women’s Soccer
Cullowhee, N.C. – 2014
Greenville, S.C.– 2015
Men’s Soccer
Greensboro, N.C.– 2014
Johnson City, Tenn. – 2015
Volleyball
Cullowhee, N.C.– 2015
Birmingham, Ala. – 2016
Women’s Golf
Savannah, Ga.– 2015
Tennis
Greenville, S.C.– 2015
Chattanooga, Tenn. – 2016
Softball
Chattanooga, Tenn.– 2015
Greensboro, N.C. – 2016