| Athletics Conferences History |
| Conference USA | 1995-Present |
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| Conference USA unveiled its name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995, in Chicago. Mike Slive was named the first commissioner. |
| In April 1995, with the help of University President Aubrey Lucas and Athletics Director Bill McLellan, Southern Miss became one of the charter members of the new conference. C-USA began its inaugural season with basketball play; the football teams began conference play in 1996. With the establishment of the conference came a tremendous amount of national exposure, including a series of contracts with Fox Sports, CSTV, ESPN and ESPN's subsidiaries. |
| Conference USA officially received a new look July 1, 2013, while maintaining the same commitment to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities. |
| Eight institutions, including the return of charter member Charlotte along with FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion and UTSA, joined with East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB and UTEP. |
| More about Conference USA... |
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| Metro Conference | 1975-1995 |
| The Metro Conference, originally called the Metro Six, was formed July 13, 1975. Southern Miss was a member of the conference from 1982 until 1995 when Conference USA formed. Other members of the conference included Florida State University, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, University of South Florida, University of Louisville, Tulane University, University of Memphis, University of Cincinnati and Virginia Commonwealth University. |
| Men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. Women participated in basketball, cross country, golf, swimming and diving, track and field, tennis and volleyball. |
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| Gulf States Conference | 1948-1975 |
| In 1948, MSC joined Spring Hill College of Mobile, Ala., and seven Louisiana institutions to form the Gulf States Conference. The football team found great success in the new conference, winning three championships before withdrawing from the GSC in 1952. The reason MSC withdrew is because Athletics Director Reed Green wanted to turn the Southerners into a major competitor in college football, and he believed independent status would free him to add more prominent names to the schedule. Also in 1952, MSC joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). |
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| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 1930-1947 |
| MSC joined the SIAA in December 1930 and remained in the conference until 1947. Membership in SIAA ensured that only four-year institutions would appear on the football team's schedules. |
