With the arrival of July 1, 2021, Francis Marion University has officially joined Conference Carolinas.

The Patriot athletic program had been a charter member of the Peach Belt Conference, which was founded in 1990.

The first regular-season sporting event of the upcoming academic year for Francis Marion will be a women's soccer match at Catawba College on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.  The first Conference Carolinas competition for the Patriots will occur on Friday, Sept. 10, when the men's and women's tennis teams play in the Conference Carolinas Singles and Doubles Tournament in Sumter, S.C.  The first dual-team conference match-up will be a Sept. 18 soccer doubleheader at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C.

The Francis Marion athletic program began in the fall of 1970.  For most of its early history, the Patriots competed in District Six of the NAIA (the women were under AIAW affiliation until 1982) before moving to NCAA Division II affiliation in the early 1990s.  FMU was also part of the short-lived Palmetto State Conference while still members of the NAIA.

The addition of Francis Marion brings to 13 the number of Conference Carolina members, and is a tremendous geographic fit in that it gives the league five member institutions in Eastern North Carolina and South Carolina, which will create a greater geographic balance in the conference and help with scheduling.

"I could not be more excited to officially welcome Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke (whcih is also joining) as members of Conference Carolinas," Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "This is truly a historic day for everyone associated with Conference Carolinas. Both Francis Marion and UNC Pembroke have more than proven why the decision to add them as members is a strong one over the last year as we have been preparing for their arrival. The future is extremely bright for all involved in Conference Carolinas."

"I am excited about this announcement - for our student-body, our nearly 300 student-athletes, our alumni and fans," said Francis Marion President Dr. Fred Carter. "We join a conference that includes institutions located closer to home geographically. Less travel time means less time spent out of the classrooms for our students. We are joining what we think is one of the finest Division II conferences in the country - a conference that puts an enormous emphasis on body, mind and soul in the development of student-athletes."

"I am pleased that the day has finally arrived when we make the move to our new athletic home," said FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler. "Since the initial announcement in April 2020, we have been making plans for the transition to Conference Carolinas. Leading an intercollegiate athletic department, you are always on the lookout for what can enhance your program, and this move will accomplish that. We are joining a well-established conference more in our location footprint that includes institutions we have been playing on the athletic fields for nearly 50 years. I know that all our student-athletes, coaches, fans and alumni share in my anticipation as we enter the 2021-22 year as a Conference Carolinas member institution." 
 
Conference Carolinas has a rich tradition in roots that dates back to its inception on Dec. 6, 1930. The NCAA Division II athletics conference presently has member schools located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member institutions for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year are Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville and Southern Wesleyan.

Conference Carolinas believes in the development and formation of the whole person in body, mind and soul. Our students are nationally recognized for their extraordinary success in the classroom, in the community and at the highest levels of NCAA competition.

Conference Carolinas is a sole sponsor of 23 sports, which is among the most in all of the NCAA.