The Appalachian Athletic Conference evolved from the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC), an NAIA conference organized in the 1940s and dissolved in the early 1980s when institutions in the eastern part of the state seceded to form the Tennessee Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC). The Conference name changed to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2001 with the addition of Bluefield University, Montreat College, Alice Lloyd College, and Union Commonwealth University.

In 2019, the Conference became the largest NAIA-affiliated conference with 16 full members in seven southeastern states. Currently, the AAC now has 14 full members: Bluefield (Va.), Brenau (Ga.), Bryan (Tenn.), Columbia (S.C.), Columbia International (S.C.), Johnson (Tenn.), Milligan (Tenn.), Montreat (N.C.), Pikeville (Ky.), Reinhardt (Ga.), Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.), Tennessee Wesleyan, Truett McConnell (Ga.), and Union Commonwealth (Ky.). Carolina University (N.C.) will join the AAC as a full member in 2027-28. The AAC has 13 affiliate members as well: Carolina (N.C.) Cumberlands (Ky.), Keiser (Fla.), Kentucky Christian, Life (Ga.), Point (Ga.) Rio Grande (Ohio), SCAD Savannah (Ga.), St. Thomas (Fla.), Tennessee Southern, Warner (Fla.), Webber International (Fla.), and West Virginia Tech. Andrew College (Ga.) and Faulkner University (Ala.) will join the AAC as affiliate members for football in 2027-28.

Guiding Principles

Vision

That we would be a top-tier affiliated collegiate athletic Conference that fully supports the overall educational programs of its members by providing high quality athletic competition which enhances the academic and character development of its students.

Mission

The mission of the Conference is to promote the education and development of students and to provide athletic competition among its member institutions for the purpose of designating champions in sponsored sports, to increase visibility of its members to their publics, and to promote the highest ethical standards of character, conduct, sportsmanship, and fair play.

Values

We recognize the value of athletic competition on our campuses for the purposes of developing character and school spirit and aim to live out the NAIA five core values on the field of play, on our campuses, and in our communities:

· respect,

· responsibility,

· integrity,

· servant leadership,

· sportsmanship.