UIW Charges Full Speed in NCAA Division I, Southland Conference
UIW Sports Information
VIDEO: UIW SOUTHLAND CELEBRATION
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Excitement filled the air at the University of the Incarnate Word Monday as UIW President Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr. and Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett raised the conference flag, officially commemorating UIW's first day in the NCAA Division I Southland Conference.
Hundreds of Cardinals fans cheered at the celebration marking the first day of a new era at UIW. The university was previously a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference.
"This is a truly historic day for UIW," UIW president Dr. Lou Agnese said. "We're pleased and honored to officially become a member of the Southland Conference."
"This is an exciting time for UIW as we become a member of Southland, a high caliber Division I conference. Joining the Southland Conference is the next step in the journey Dr. Agnese envisioned for UIW over 25 years ago," UIW Athletic Director Mark Papich said.
UIW will begin the four-year shift to Division I with the Southland Conference's assistance and oversight. It is expected that UIW will begin counting as an NCAA Division I team for scheduling purposes in 2014-15, and will be fully eligible for NCAA Championship events in 2017-18. In total, UIW sponsors 21 teams in nine men's and 10 women's sports.
UIW's journey to Division I began July 20, 2012 when UIW hosted a four-person delegation from the Southland. The visit familiarized the delegation and its members with the university and Cardinals athletics.
The Southland Conference participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Abilene Christian University, Houston Baptist University and the University of New Orleans also joined the league on Monday.
The four universities join 10 other Southland Conference members, including the University of Central Arkansas, Lamar University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Oral Roberts University, Sam Houston State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.