The name "Sunshine State Conference" is suggested by Dr. Calvin C. Miller and is adopted for league use. Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is named Interim Commissioner. Dr. Thomas B. Southard, president of Saint Leo College, is named as first conference president. June 1975 – Conference constitution adopted. October 8, 1975 – First meeting of the SSC is held in Orlando. Basketball regulations and league bylaws are revised and approved. December 3, 1975 – Florida Southern defeats Eckerd, 96–84, in first SSC basketball game played in Saint Petersburg. April 8, 1976 – Dick Pace is named league commissioner. NCAA approves automatic bid for SSC basketball champion. Golf and Tennis are added to league for 1976–77, baseball and soccer are added for 1977–78. May 18, 1977 – First Sunshine State Conference men's basketball tournament held February 1, 1981 – Norm Kaye of Saint Leo is appointed as executive of SSC. Executive Committee is formed, consisting of league athletic directors. July 1, 1981 – Florida Institute of Technology joins the Sunshine State Conference. September 2, 1981 – The University of Tampa joins the Sunshine State Conference. April 15, 1982 – League adopts women's competition in basketball, cross country, slow-pitch softball, tennis, and volleyball. May 1, 1984 – University of Central Florida (formerly Florida Technological University) withdraws from the conference. Women's fast-pitch softball is adopted for league play in 1985. February 2, 1986 – Bob Vanatta, athletic director at Louisiana Tech University, is named as league's first full-time commissioner. June 13, 1988 – Barry University joins the conference. November 1990 – Conference signs a two-year contract with the Sunshine Network for seven events. February 11, 1991 – University of North Florida joins the conference, effective July 1, 1992. July 1, 1994 – Don Landry is named conference commissioner and conference relocates to Orlando. November 22, 1994 – Conference announces three-year deal to have postseason basketball tournament at The Lakeland Center. The SSC will serve as host in 1996 and 1997. December 1, 1994 – Sunshine Network announces nine-event television package for school year. June 9, 1995 – Inaugural SSC Awards Luncheon held in Orlando. February 29, 1996 – Inaugural SSC Hall of Fame/Honors banquet held in Lakeland. September 30, 1996 – University of North Florida withdraws from the Sunshine State Conference, effective June 30, 1997. October 15, 1996 – Women's crew added to Sunshine State Conference sponsored sports. December 18, 1996 – Lynn