SMC Moves to NAIA for Four-Year Athletics

Jeremy Handel
Staff Writer

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics logoStarting this fall, SMC Pioneer teams will join the ranks of four-year athletics as the College moves to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

“This is such an incredible time for SMC and our student athletes. Making the jump from junior college to the NAIA is an amazing opportunity, and we look forward to the challenge,” said Megan Aiello, SMC’s Athletic Director.

Following SMC’s launch of four-year bachelor’s degrees, it became evident that it was also important to pursue a path to four-year athletics. This would allow student athletes to get their bachelor’s degree at SMC without giving up their athletic careers.

“It’s exciting to add four-year athletics at SMC,” said SMC President Scott Cochran. “Our students come to SMC for the small, welcoming environment and quality education. It’s great to give our student athletes the same opportunity to stay in that environment for their education, while continuing to play all four years.”

The SMC Athletics department worked for several months on a bid to join the new league, showing officials from the NAIA that the Pioneers would be a great addition. After providing detailed information about the College and its athletic programs and history, followed by visits to campus from various league officials, SMC was notified in October 2023 they were accepted.

“It was great to get that call,” Aiello said. “Our coaches were able to start planning and recruiting new student athletes based on our new status as a four-year program.”

For the 2024 – 2025 season, the Pioneers will participate in the Continental Athletic Conference, a collection of independent schools in the NAIA, before jumping to the Appalachian Athletic Conference as a full-time member for the 2025 – 2026 season.

SMC has a storied and successful history in junior college athletics. The Pioneer programs have accumulated dozens of Region 10 and division titles in the National Junior College Athletic Association and made several national championship appearances. Athletes from SMC have gone on to four-year programs at various levels and even on to professional sports careers.