The Peach Belt Conference is expanding its membership to 13 institutions after announcing it will add Montevallo and Flagler beginning with the 2009-10 academic year.

“These two institutions bring a heritage of academic excellence and competitive athletics to our conference, making them a good fit with the Peach Belt philosophy of Division II athletics,” said Dave Potter, president of North Georgia College & State University and president of the league’s board of directors for 2008-09. “We share a commitment to provide a broad educational experience for our student-athletes that challenges them to excel in their sports, in the classroom and in their communities. These additions will strengthen the conference in pursuit of these goals.”

Montevallo and Flagler will become full participating members of the Peach Belt for the 2009-10 season. As both schools are already full NCAA Division II members, no provisional period will be required and both will begin competing for Peach Belt championships next fall.

“This is one of the most important things to have happened to the Peach Belt,” said Commissioner Dave Brunk. “It is a signature day for us to welcome Montevallo and Flagler, two institutions that fit perfectly with our existing membership and give our conference the opportunity to reach alumni and fans in places we have never been before. It’s not just expansion in the number of schools we have, it’s bringing in two quality institutions that meet our academic criteria and provide real competition on the field.”

Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt has undergone several membership changes over the last five years, but the addition of Montevallo and Flagler will give the league 13 teams, the most it has ever had.

“Since day one, expansion has been part of our long-term strategy,” said Brunk. “It provides the Peach Belt the opportunity to reach into new states and new markets and to expose all of the new and exciting things we are doing as a conference to alumni and fans of both schools. We are always looking ahead as a conference and adding these two schools provides us stability and enhances our goal to be one of the elite Division II conferences in the nation.”

Founded in 1968, Flagler College is located in St. Augustine, Florida, and enrolls 2,537 students. The Flagler Saints began play in 1973, joining the NAIA in 1977 and winning seven national championships in men’s and women’s tennis. The Saints made the move to NCAA Division II in 2002 and completed that transition in 2006. Flagler has been playing as an independent since completing the transition. As a member of the Peach Belt Conference, Flagler marks the league’s return to the state of Florida for the first time since North Florida moved to Division I in 2005. Flagler will also be the only private school in the Peach Belt and the first to join since the conference’s constitution was changed to allow private schools in 2006.

The Saints field men’s teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis while women’s teams compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Founded in 1896, the University of Montevallo is Alabama’s only public liberal arts university. Montevallo enrolls about 3,100 students and offers 30 degree programs with 75 majors.

The Falcons’ athletic program began with baseball and men’s tennis in 1958 and expanded to cross country/track and basketball in 1964. Montevallo played in the NAIA until making the transition to NCAA Division II in 1995 and joining the Gulf South Conference.

Montevallo fields men’s teams in baseball, basketball, golf and soccer and sponsors women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball.

The other members of the Peach Belt are Armstrong Atlantic State, Augusta State, Clayton State, Columbus State, Francis Marion, Georgia College & State, Georgia Southwestern State, Lander, North Georgia College & State, North Carolina-Pembroke and South Carolina Aiken.

-Courtesy Peach Belt Assistant Commissioner for Communications Ken Gerlinger.