The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The SAA core members include Berry College, Centre College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, the University of the South, Southwestern University, and Trinity University

The SAA also has affiliate memberships with Maryville College for football, women's golf, and indoor track and field and Hendrix College in the sport of men's lacrosse. Maryville College will join as a full member in the year 2026-2027.

SAA Mission: 

The Southern Athletic Association provides opportunities for premier liberal arts institutions to offer a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletic program as an integral part of an exceptional learning experience.

SAA Values:

Academic Excellence: The SAA serves as an athletics community for student-athletes as they pursue academically rigorous experiences and the educational priorities that are central to selective liberal arts institutions. At the institutional level, members benefit from association, enjoying shared values and collaboration with peers. 

Athletic Excellence: The SAA aims to excel in competitiveness throughout the southern region in pursuit of significant national competitiveness. Regular season conference competition remains the primary focus for the conference, facilitating member aspirations to be nationally competitive. Conference competition presumes worthy opponents with a commitment to fair play, a level playing field, and reasonable parity of resources. 

Exceptional Culture: The SAA fosters a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere and high-quality game day experience during the regular season and conference championships. Our members are dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, encouraging rivalries that are intense and good-natured.

Co-Curricular Learning: The SAA values the unique learning that occurs in intercollegiate athletics, through practice, competition, and meaningful exposure to people and places across the conferences. Coaches play a significant role as educators of student-athletes and as collaborators with faculty. The SAA extends learning opportunities through broad-based sport offerings and meaningful playing opportunities.

SAA Contact Information

Mailing Address:
3760 Sixes Road
Suite 126-167
Canton, GA 30114