The addition of 14 athletic programs across five of Alabama’s community colleges have been announced in recent weeks, giving local athletes more options to play closer to home as early as Fall 2022. The programs bring colleges participating within the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) from 108 to 122 and an increase of approximately 200 student athletes.

“Several sports, including cross country and golf, have skyrocketed over the last few years, so it’s an exciting time to bring programs that were previously underrepresented to our community college communities, giving students in those areas an opportunity to compete at home and giving the communities the opportunity to support their students in these sports,” stated Dean Myrick, ACCC Commissioner.

Calhoun, Enterprise State, Gadsden State, Northwest-Shoals and Southern Union have each announced additional athletic programs. The sports include men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball at Calhoun; men’s and women’s cross-country/golf and volleyball at Enterprise State; men’s and women’s cross-country at Gadsden State and Southern Union; and baseball and softball at Northwest-Shoals.

Myrick said a continued effort to add programs gives the ACCC a greater presence in the State and NJCAA. Examples are an increase from zero women’s golf programs to eight in the last few years, as well as an increase in men’s golf programs from three to 11.  Cross-country has increased from zero to seven for the fall of 2022.