"We are excited to become a new member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference," said Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood, Reinhardt's president. "The strong tradition of support for the student-athlete and of service to the community attracted us to the conference. We look forward to years of positive association with the fine institutions of the AAC."

The AAC office is located in Asheville, N.C., with John Sullivan serving as commissioner. The conference is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and represents institutions located regionally in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia and North Carolina. Current AAC members include Bluefield (Va.) College, Bryan College (Dayton, Tenn.), Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, Ga.), King College (Bristol, Tenn.), Milligan College (Tenn.), Montreat (N.C.) College, Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, Tenn.), Union College (Barbourville, Ky.), the University of Virginia's College at Wise and Virginia Intermont College (Bristol, Va.). For more information on the AAC, please visit AACSports.com.

"The Appalachian Athletic Conference is very pleased to welcome Reinhardt College as its newest member," Sullivan said. "We have been impressed with the dedication to a comprehensive, competitive collegiate athletic program at Reinhardt as evidenced by President Isherwood, Vice President Roger Lee, Athletics Director Bill Popp and the entire coaching staff. We look forward to working together with the student-athletes, staff and faculty of Reinhardt while building champions of character for many years to come."

Reinhardt was a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) from 1999-2001. In 2000-01, the Eagles and Lady Eagles began their NAIA membership and joined the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference (GACC), which changed its name to the present SSAC in 2004-05.