Origins and Early Years (1966–1979)

USC Sumter is the only regional campus in the University of South Carolina system that actually began as Clemson University. Clemson University was established in Sumter in 1966 by active friends and alumni of Clemson University.

In the early days of Clemson University (1967–68), an Economics Professor by the name of Porter Adams decided to put together a tennis team. Adams had a long-standing love of tennis and many years of experience to back it up. The team competed for the next five years with outstanding winning seasons and regional championships each year.

The next organized sport to appear at Clemson University was basketball, then baseball entered the picture in the spring of 1972. Both sports were successful and had strong leaders with a passion for the sport to guide the program. During this time, the mascot for Clemson University at Sumter was the "Partisan," a revolutionary war type character. The colors for the school were purple and white.

By 1973, Clemson University decided it did not want to be in the regional campus business and the University was taken over by the University of South Carolina. Athletics continued to be a strong influence on campus until 1979, when interest, participation, and quick turnover of students diminished the programs.

The Fire Ants Era (2006–Present)

It was not until 2006 that athletics were re-born at USC Sumter. Blaze the Fire Ant became the new campus mascot and the official color was changed to Fire Ant Red.

Baseball and softball were introduced as the initial sports of the new Fire Ant program. Both have maintained strong, successful seasons both on and off the field. Along the way, soccer and basketball were introduced as sports, but were not maintained by the University.

• 2007–2008: Baseball and softball returned.
• 2015: Added men’s and women’s tennis.
• 2017: Introduced women’s golf and men’s soccer.
• 2019: Added men’s golf.
• 2021: Expanded to include women’s soccer and volleyball.
• 2024: Launching Cross Country, Track & Field, and Half Marathon Running.

History of Excellence

• 1971: Won the South Carolina Regional Campuses Tournament Championship.
• 1972: Finished as runner-up in the Palmetto Athletic Conference (P.A.C.).
• 1978: Eddie Gayon won the NJCAA Flight 1 Singles National Championship, becoming USC Sumter’s first national champion.
• 2008: Alan Denman, first baseman, won the NJCAA Division I Rawlings Gold Glove Award, becoming the first Fire Ant to earn this prestigious national defensive honor.
• 2015: Won the NJCAA Eastern District Championship and advanced to the NJCAA College World Series.
• Recognized by the South Carolina House of Representatives in House Resolution H.4273.
• 2025: Gian Rodriguez (Ecuador) recognized as the first ITA All American in tennis program history.