Chronological History of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC)

March 2, 1975 - Basketball conference exploration meeting is held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Main purpose of meeting is to discuss formation of an NCAA Division II mid-Florida basketball conference.

March 16, 1975 - Second exploration meeting is held at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. The name “Sunshine State Conference” is suggested by Dr. Calvin C. Miller and is adopted for league use. Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is named Interim Commissioner. Dr. Thomas B. Southard, president of Saint Leo College, is named as first conference president. SSC Charter schools include:

Biscayne College (now Saint Thomas University)
Eckerd College
Florida Southern College
Florida Technological University (now the University of Central Florida)
Rollins College
Saint Leo College

June, 1975 - Conference constitution adopted.

October 8, 1975 - First meeting of the SSC is held in Orlando. Basketball regulations and League By-Laws are revised and approved.

December 3, 1975 - Florida Southern defeats Eckerd, 96-84, in first SSC basketball game played in Saint Petersburg.

April 8, 1976 - Dick Pace is named league commissioner. NCAA approves automatic bid for SSC basketball champion. Golf and Tennis are added to league for 1976-77 schedules.

May 18, 1977 - League adopts post-season tournament to decide basketball champion for NCAA tournament. Baseball and Soccer are added to 1977-78 schedules.

September 30, 1979 - Cross Country is added to league schedules. Ken Stibler of Biscayne College is named as SSC Executive Secretary.

February 1, 1981 - Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is appointed as executive director of the SSC. Executive Committee is formed, consisting of league athletic directors.

July 1, 1981 - Florida Institute of Technology joins the Sunshine State Conference.

September 2, 1981 - University of Tampa joins the Sunshine State Conference.

April 15, 1982 - League adopts women’s competition in basketball, cross country, slow-pitch softball, tennis, and volleyball.

May 1, 1984 - University of Central Florida (formerly Florida Technological University) withdraws from the conference. Women’s fast-pitch softball is adopted for league play in 1985.

February 2, 1986 - Bob Vanatta, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, is named as league’s first full-time commissioner.

April 16, 1987 - Saint Thomas University (formerly Biscayne College) withdraws from conference. Joe Voskerichian is named as conference supervisor of basketball officials. SSC signs one year contract with SportsChannel Florida for ten SSC televised events.

June 13, 1988 - Barry University joins the conference.

August 1, 1989 - Katrina McCormick is named first full-time information director for the SSC.

November, 1990 - Conference signs a two-year contract with the Sunshine Network for seven events.

February 11, 1991 - University of North Florida joins the conference, effective July 1, 1992.

April 15, 1991 - Dr. Ray Bernabei named SSC supervisor of soccer officials.

September 1, 1991 - Walt Riddle is named as information director for the conference.

July 1, 1993 - Walt Riddle promoted to position of assistant commissioner. The Florida Collegiate Umpires Association hired to officiate SSC baseball games. Pete Yellen named supervisor of baseball umpires.

July 1, 1994 - Following appointments take place: Don Landry, commissioner; Tim Carpenter, administrative assistant; David Jones, supervisor of men's basketball officials; John Guthrie, consultant for men's basketball officials. Conference office relocates to Orlando.

Nov. 22, 1994 - Conference announces three-year deal to have post-season basketball tournament at The Lakeland Center. The SSC will serve as host in 1996 and 1997.

Dec. 1, 1994 - Sunshine Network announces nine-event television package for school year.

June 9, 1995 - Inaugural SSC Awards Luncheon held in Orlando.

July 1, 1995 - Charlene Roush named SSC supervisor of volleyball officials; Pat Fleming named supervisor of women's basketball officials; John Guthrie named consultant for women's basketball officials. Frank Jewell and Dr. Ray Bernabei switch roles with Jewell being named supervisor of soccer officials and Bernabei being the assistant. SSC begins publication of SSC Insider magazine.

February 29, 1996 – Inaugural SSC Hall of Fame/Honors banquet held in Lakeland.

August 1, 1996 - Aaron Barter named SSC administrative assistant.

September 30,1996 - University of North Florida withdraws from the Sunshine State Conference, effective June 30, 1997.

October 15, 1996 - Women's crew added to Sunshine State Conference sponsored sports.

December 18, 1996 - Lynn University joins the Sunshine State Conference, effective July 1, 1997.

June 6, 1997 - Sunshine Network adds third annual SSC Awards Luncheon to television package.

July 15, 1998 - League adds women's soccer and women's golf as sponsored sports.

September 1, 1998 - Alan Hancock named SSC administrative assistant.

July 1, 1999 - Mike Kiernan (Baseball), Mike Carter (Volleyball), and Patric Beauchamp (Softball) named supervisors of officials. Shawn Chapman named SSC administrative assistant.

August 24, 1999 - Saint Leo College becomes Saint Leo University and adopts new nickname ("Lions") and logo.