The Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) was a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); which was predominantly for smaller, private colleges in western and middle Tennessee.

History The TCAC was created in 1985 from the western division of the old Volunteer State Athletic Conference. The charter members were Belmont University, Bethel College, Christian Brothers University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb University, Freed–Hardeman University, Lambuth University, Martin Methodist College, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Union University. The TCAC survived in that form until 1995 when both Belmont and Christian Brothers announced their intentions to go to the NCAA. The remaining teams formed a new conference, the TranSouth Athletic Conference which existed until the 2012–13 school year.

Chronological timeline 1985 – The Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) was founded. Charter members included Belmont University, Bethel College, Christian Brothers University, Cumberland University, David Lipscomb University, Freed–Hardeman University, Lambuth University, Trevecca Nazarene University and Union University, beginning the 1985–86 academic year. 1994 – Martin Methodist College (now the University of Tennessee Southern) joined the TCAC in the 1994–95 academic year. 1996 - The TCAC would cease operations as an athletic conference after the 1995–96 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 1996–97 academic year: Bethel (Tenn.), David Lipscomb, Freed–Hardeman, Martin Methodist (now UT Southern), Trevecca Nazarene and Union (Tenn.) to form the TranSouth Athletic Conference (TranSouth or TSAC); with Cumberland (Tenn.) and Lambuth to the Mid-South Conference (MSC); Belmont to the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent (which would later join the Atlantic Sun Conference, beginning the 2001–02 school year); and Christian Brothers to the NCAA Division II ranks and the Gulf South Conference (GSC).

Member schools Final members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentconference Belmont University Nashville 1890 Nondenominational 8,700 Bruins 1985 1996 various Missouri Valley (MVC)(2022–present) Bethel College McKenzie 1842 CumberlandPresbyterian 2,975 Wildcats 1985 1996 various Mid-South (MSC)(2020–present) Christian Brothers University Memphis 1871 Catholic 1,968 Buccaneers 1985 1996 Gulf South (GSC)(1996–present) Cumberland University Lebanon 1842 Nonsectarian 1,500 Bulldogs 1985 1996 Mid-South (MSC)(1996–2002)TranSouth (TSAC)(2002–12) Mid-South (MSC)(2012–present) David Lipscomb University Nashville 1891 Churchesof Christ 4,278 Bisons 1985 1996 TranSouth (TSAC)(1996–2001)D-I Independent(2001–03) Atlantic Sun (ASUN)(2003–present) Freed–Hardeman University Henderson 1869 Churchesof Christ 2,027 Lions 1985 1996 TranSouth (TSAC)(1996–2013)American Midwest (AMC)(2013–20) Mid-South (MSC)(2020–present) Lambuth University Jackson 1843 UnitedMethodist 800 Eagles 1985 1996 various Closed in 2011 Pulaski 1870 Public 1,000 FireHawks 1994 1996 various Southern States (SSAC)(2023–present) Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville 1901 Nazarene 2,345 Trojans 1985 1996 TranSouth (TSAC)(1996–2012)Great Midwest (G-MAC)(2012–24) Gulf South (GSC)(2024–present) Union University Jackson 1823 Baptist 4,259 Bulldogs 1985 1996 TranSouth (TSAC)(1996–2012) Gulf South (GSC)(2012–present)

Notes

Membership timeline

Sponsored sports The TCAC sponsored 9 sports for men and women including baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, softball, and volleyball. Bethel and Cumberland play football in the Mid-South Conference.

Defunct Lambuth also played football.

References