BIRMINGHAM, Ala./MOBILE, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference (GSC) announced that Spring Hill College has accepted a full membership offer to join the league effective July 1, 2027 and begin athletic competition in the 2027-28 academic year. Spring Hill and the GSC held an in-person celebration on campus Wednesday, March 25.
“Today we are proud to officially welcome Spring Hill College as our newest full member. Spring Hill College has been a respected affiliate member, and we are excited to bring their entire athletic department into the GSC,” said Dr. Carl A. Stockton, chairman of the GSC Board of Directors and AUM Chancellor. “The Badgers bring a rich tradition of both academic and athletic excellence that reflects the common values of the Gulf South Conference. We look forward to reigniting old rivalries and forming new ones.”
Spring Hill College will compete in 15 conference-sponsored sports in the Gulf South. Women’s sports will include basketball, cross country, golf, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, outdoor track & field, and soccer. The Badgers have competed as a GSC affiliate member in men’s and women’s soccer and women’s golf since the 2014-15 academic year, winning the 2018 regular season title and tournament titles in men’s soccer. With its addition, Spring Hill becomes the fifth Alabama-based member, joining UAH, AUM, Montevallo and West Alabama.
“This is a defining moment for Spring Hill College and our entire community,” said Dr. Mary H. Van Brunt, President of Spring Hill College. “Joining the Gulf South Conference reflects the strength of our athletic programs and our commitment to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience rooted in our Jesuit mission. We are excited for the opportunities ahead and proud to align with institutions that share our values of excellence, integrity and service.”
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Since becoming a full NCAA Division II member in 2018, Spring Hill has won 16 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) tournament championships, highlighted by seven consecutive volleyball titles (2018-25). In addition, men’s tennis and men’s golf each won titles in 2025 while softball was crowned tournament champs in 2024 and 2025. Spring Hill has contended for the SIAC Commissioner Cup in each of the last two seasons, finishing second in the 2024-25 men’s and women’s standings, while capturing the 2023-24 SIAC Women’s Commissioner Cup.
“Spring Hill College has already demonstrated its ability to compete and succeed within the Gulf South through its affiliate membership, and we are excited to expand that relationship,” said GSC Commissioner Matt Wilson. “Their addition strengthens our league both competitively and geographically, and we look forward to the impact their student-athletes, coaches and fans will have across the conference.”
The 2024-25 athletic season was one of the best on record for Spring Hill in its NCAA Division II-era, as the Badgers placed 125th overall in the Learfield Directors Cup Division II standings, as volleyball, softball and men’s tennis all made trips to the NCAA postseason. As a result, Spring Hill not only led the SIAC but also fared better than a number of current GSC members.
“We are thrilled to take this next step for Spring Hill athletics,” said Spring Hill College Athletic Director Joe Niland. “The Gulf South Conference is one of the premier conferences in NCAA Division II, and this move positions our student-athletes to compete at the highest level while continuing to excel in the classroom and in the community. This is an exciting new chapter for our programs, our coaches and our Badger family.”
Enrolling nearly 900 students annually, Spring Hill College has the No. 1-ranked four-year nursing program in the state of Alabama, and U.S. News & World Report listed Spring Hill College at No. 12 among Regional Colleges in the South.
The Gulf South Conference is a charter member of NCAA Division II. The 2026-27 academic year will be the league’s 57th season of competition since being established in the summer of 1970. Since its inception, GSC teams have celebrated 56 national championships and more than 160 regional titles. Its student-athletes meanwhile have captured 75 individual NCAA national crowns and have claimed 362 CoSIDA/College Sport Communicators Academic All-America honors.