Hepburn to Serve as Chair-elect of SSAC

Brunswick, GA – On June 14 the SSAC Executive Committee elected College President Valerie A. Hepburn, PhD, to be the future chair of the athletic conference. Her term as chair-elect begins July 1, 2012. The SSAC is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division 1 conference representing 15 schools and universities in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee. Dr. Mark Foley, President of the University of Mobile (Alabama), is the chairman of the conference.

“The SSAC is an extremely strong conference in the NAIA, noted for commitment to student scholarship as well as to athletics. Even though the College of Coastal Georgia is just being fully accepted in the conference, following the one-year period of probation for new members, we are already being tapped for leadership,” Dr. Hepburn said. “In return, we will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best of the best – experienced, successful collegiate athletic programs by well-respected institutions that are regularly ranked nationally, both academically and athletically.”

When the College application for SSAC membership was accepted in July 2011, SSAC Commissioner Dr. Kurt Patberg said the addition of Coastal Georgia would contribute to the SSAC’s goal of being one of the top NAIA conferences. He noted in the July 3 announcement, “All of our dealing with their leadership has shown a true level of organization, commitment and professionalism as they enter this new era of athletic competition.”

“It is an honor for our President to be installed into this position in the SSAC,” Dr. William “Bee” Carlton, Athletic Director of the College, said. “This is tangible evidence that the league’s members recognize the future contributions our institution will make to the conference and the abilities and wisdom Dr. Hepburn will bring to the leadership of the conference and the NAIA. It is very significant recognition for her and for the College.”

SSAC sports include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball. Coastal Georgia does not currently offer varsity baseball and soccer, but the sports were recommended by the College’s Athletics Futures Committee, chaired by Reg Murphy, and will be added as the athletic program grows.

In addition to the College of Coastal Georgia, the SSAC represents Auburn University-Montgomery (AL), Belhaven University (Jackson, MS), Brenau University (Gainesville, GA), Brewton-Parker College (Mt. Vernon, GA), Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, GA), Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL), Lee University (Cleveland, TN), Loyola University (New Orleans), Southern Polytechnic (Marietta, GA), Southern Wesleyan University (Central, GA), University of Mobile (AL), Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL), Truett-McConnell College (Cleveland, GA), and William Carey University (Hattiesburg, MS).

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