ASUN Conference announces addition of Bellarmine University
The ASUN conference is welcoming new member Bellarmine University today.
ASUN Conference |
Bellarmine University, located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the newest member of the ASUN conference.
The ASUN Conference announced today the induction of Bellarmine University into the league after an unanimous vote by the ASUN Presidents Council. The Knights, who will become a member of the ASUN Conference starting with the 2020-21 season, increase the ASUN membership to 10 institutions.
"The addition of Bellarmine University to the ASUN continues the rising trend of our league," said ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart. "We are extremely proud to become teammates with a great university and the Louisville area community. Today, we celebrate a new beginning together with all students, coaches, faculty, administration, alumni, boosters and Knight fans everywhere. We appreciate the visionary leadership of President Donovan, the Board of Trustees, Athletics Director Scott Wiegandt, and the entire leadership and athletic department team at Bellarmine that made today possible. On behalf of the ASUN family, we welcome our newest member and look forward to growing this partnership as we work together in our goal of Building Winners for Life. Swords Up."
Bellarmine fields 17 sports sponsored by the ASUN, while the Knights' Men's Lacrosse program will continue as a member of the Southern Conference. Bellarmine's Men's & Women's Swimming will now participate in the CCSA with its Field Hockey and Wrestling programs moving to Division I independent status.
"I'm happy to announce that one of the first initiatives in Bellarmine's new strategic plan is being realized today," said Susan M. Donovan, Bellarmine's president. "Our athletics program will move to NCAA Division I through an invitation from the ASUN Conference. This move gives us the opportunity to compete against the best rivals in college sports, and it allows us to share the Bellarmine story with a larger audience than ever before. As we make the move to D-I, we will continue to maintain our academic rigor and pursue ways to innovate and enhance the exceptional educational experience that Bellarmine University has offered students since its founding."
With the addition of Bellarmine to the ASUN, the league resides in seven states and features nine of the top-80 media markets in the nation.
"ASUN is a perfect fit for the Knights, because - like Bellarmine - every school in the conference is committed to putting students first," said Scott Wiegandt, Bellarmine's director of athletics. "Our student-athletes already meet Division I academic standards, and our players and coaches will be ready to compete when we arrive in our new conference next year. While our facilities generally meet D-I standards, we're planning some upgrades that will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, our opponents and our fans. The improved reach offered through ASUN and ESPN will shine a brighter spotlight on Bellarmine, with more regional and national attention."
What teams compete at Bellarmine?
• Baseball
• Men's & Women's Basketball
• Men's & Women's Cross Country
• Women's Field Hockey
• Men's & Women's Golf
• Men's Lacrosse
• Men's & Women's Soccer
• Softball
• Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving
• Men's & Women's Tennis
• Men's & Women's Indoor & Outdoor Track
• Volleyball
• Wrestling
About Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University (Louisville, KY) is an inclusive Catholic university with a strong liberal arts focus that educates students – mind, body, and spirit – for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, ethical leadership, and service to improve the human condition. Founded in 1950, Bellarmine offers more than 60 majors with an undergraduate and graduate enrollment of nearly 3,500 students and has an alumni community of more than 25,000. The Bellarmine Knights field teams in 22 sports, including an NCAA Division I men's lacrosse program. Bellarmine is listed in the Princeton Review's Best 384 Colleges and is a top university in Forbes' list of America's best colleges.
The ASUN Conference is a NCAA Division I league with nine member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life by meeting the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. The ASUN includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Liberty University, Lipscomb University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of North Alabama, University of North Florida and Stetson University. The addition of Bellarmine University will bring the ASUN membership up to ten for the 2020-21 academic year.