Let the “Next” Era begin, NCAA approves USCB for Full Membership

7/10/2025 3:01:00 PM

BLUFFTON -- July 10, 2025 will go down as a historic day in the lore of USCB Athletics, as it marks the moment the Sand Sharks were officially approved for full NCAA Division II status beginning with the 2025–26 school year. USCB successfully completed its third—and final—year of provisional status and received the news Thursday morning from the NCAA Membership Committee.

"This is an incredibly exciting day for USCB," said Director of Athletics Quin Monahan. "Achieving full NCAA Division II membership is the culmination of years of hard work and vision from so many people—our coaches, staff, university leadership, and especially our amazing student-athletes. I'm deeply grateful for the support we've received from our campus and Lowcountry community."

USCB Chancellor Dr. Panu welcomed the news with enthusiasm for the entire university.

"This is a defining moment for our institution—a testament to the leadership of our Athletics Department, the dedicated teamwork from all corners within the university community, and the support from the larger community and region we serve!"

As a result, all Sand Shark teams will now be eligible for postseason competition during the upcoming academic year. In 2023, the Peach Belt Conference implemented a progressive policy for schools transitioning to Division II, allowing provisional members to compete for conference championships.

"Today is a remarkable milestone—one that caps off four years of dedication, perseverance, and collaboration," said Deputy Director of Athletics Genia Montford. "From our initial application through provisional membership, this journey has been shaped by the tireless efforts of many across our campus community. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Chancellor, to the departments of Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Registrar's Office, along with the individuals who have served on the Athletics Advisory and Compliance Committees. This achievement would not have been possible without their commitment and belief in our vision. Most importantly, we celebrate what this moment means for our current and future Sand Shark student-athletes. Today begins a new chapter in Sand Shark Athletics—and we look forward to continuing to write this story, together."

The NCAA transition policy allowed USCB to make its mark early. In April, the men's golf team captured the university's first PBC title with an impressive 13-under-par team score of 851. Had the Sand Sharks been eligible for NCAA postseason play, Beaufort would almost certainly have competed in a regional tournament. The men's basketball team also seized the moment, making a Cinderella run to the conference finals before ultimately falling to in-state rival USC Aiken. Although the Sand Sharks came up short in the championship game, their performance could have warranted an at-large bid to a regional tournament.

"Today marks a proud milestone for the Peach Belt Conference as well as USC Beaufort" said PBC Commissioner Diana Kling. "Being granted full NCAA Division II membership recognizes their strong commitment to the Division II philosophy, which emphasizes a balance of academic achievement, athletic competition, and community engagement. This is evident in the fact that USCB had more than 150 student-athletes recognized on the PBC Presidential Honor Roll, won three conference championships, and earned the conference’s Connecting Communities award this year alone. The Peach Belt shares in USCB’s joy in completing the membership process and congratulates Chancellor Panu, AD Quin Monahan and the entire USCB community on achieving this major accomplishment."

"As we wrap up this part of our journey and turn to the next chapter of Sand Shark Athletics as an active NCAA DII member institution, our 'why' will continue to motivate us," said Director of Compliance Shawn Becker. "We work for our student-athletes. We want their experience to keep evolving to the next level, and we strive to enhance it every step of the way."

"I am excited for our campus to continue developing and supporting our dedicated student-athletes in all facets of what it means to be a student-athlete. I'm also excited for our coaches, who now get the opportunity to turn success in the PBC into competition at the national level. Talk about a great time to be a Sand Shark!"

When teams return to the Lowcountry this fall, there will be a renewed energy on campus, fueled by the knowledge that no more hurdles stand in the way of pursuing that coveted national championship. It's a momentous day for USCB—as a department, as an institution, and as a community. And we're only just getting started.

"This milestone opens the door to an even more competitive and transformative experience for our student-athletes, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Sand Shark Athletics," Monahan added.

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