NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Sun Belt Conference announced on Wednesday that the league will sponsor men's soccer again starting Fall 2022. Georgia Southern and eight other institutions will become members of the newly re-formed soccer conference.
 
Current Sun Belt members Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, and Georgia State will be joined by incoming members James Madison, Marshall, and Old Dominion. Kentucky, South Carolina, and West Virginia are joining the Sun Belt as affiliate members for men's soccer only.
 
"These elite programs will lend instant credibility and help establish the Sun Belt as one of the nation's premier men's collegiate soccer conferences," said Commissioner Keith Gill. "They each bring their unique traditions and histories of excellence. We welcome them and look forward to a bright future on the pitch."

"This is an exciting time for our program and for Sun Belt Men's Soccer," said Georgia Southern men's soccer head coach John Murphy. "We are proud to be part of such a outstanding group of teams and look forward to a very competitive 2022 season starting this fall. With the collective vision, ambition and quality of all nine programs, I believe that this conference will develop into one of the best in Division I men's soccer in the coming years."
 
The Eagles will open up conference play on September 17 against Old Dominion at Eagle Field as the two programs will face for the second time ever. The first match-up was in 2018 and ended in a 2-2 tie in Norfolk, Va.
 
GS will also host Georgia State, James Madison, and West Virginia in home contests. The Eagles will travel to South Carolina, Kentucky, Marshall, and Coastal Carolina during the season.
 
The Sun Belt Conference men's soccer membership will boast some of the sport's most accomplished programs. The nine teams have combined for more than 100 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.

Marshall claimed the 2020 NCAA Championship, becoming the first unseeded team to accomplish the feat in nearly 15 years. South Carolina is one of just 24 programs all-time to make 20 or more NCAA Tournament appearances, finishing as national runners-up in 1993.

The Sun Belt Conference was founded in 1976 and began sponsoring football in 2001. The Sun Belt will now sponsor 18 NCAA Division I sports and annually awards nearly $134 million in financial aid to more than 4,600 student-athletes. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Sun Belt membership will be comprised of App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.