Andrew College joins NAIA

Staff Reports

CUTHBERT — Andrew College officially enters a new era Wednesday, completing its transition to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and becoming a full member of the Southern States Athletic Conference.

The move marks another milestone in the college’s rapid growth under President Dr. William Kennedy and Athletic Director Brian Skortz, who have overseen a sweeping expansion of both academic and athletic offerings in recent years.

The Fighting Tigers previously competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association before making the transition to four-year competition as an NAIA member.

The college’s athletic department has grown significantly during that transition. In addition to its traditional sports, Andrew has added men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field and women’s flag football, broadening opportunities for student-athletes.

The move to the NAIA coincides with Andrew’s transformation into a four-year institution. The college has introduced nine bachelor’s degree programs, allowing student-athletes to complete four-year degrees without transferring while expanding academic opportunities for all students.

Enrollment also has climbed dramatically during Kennedy’s tenure. Andrew reported an enrollment of 294 students in the fall of 2022 before surpassing 600 students by the fall of 2024, more than doubling the student population in two years.

Skortz, who also serves as the Fighting Tigers’ men’s basketball coach, has directed the athletic department through the transition, which included meeting NAIA membership requirements while continuing to build the college’s athletic programs.

The Southern States Athletic Conference includes institutions from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee and is regarded as one of the NAIA’s most competitive leagues.

Andrew’s football program will compete as an affiliate member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference beginning with the 2027 season, while the remainder of the Fighting Tigers’ athletic programs will compete in the SSAC.

The transition positions Andrew College to compete at the four-year level while continuing the institution’s broader effort to expand enrollment, academic programs and athletic opportunities.