Grand Canyon University Athletics
Incarnate Word to join WAC in 2022-23
11/12/2021 9:53:00 AM | General
San Antonio school moves from Southland to WAC for next year
Incarante Word will join the WAC for the 2022-23 academic year after accepting the WAC Board of Directors'Â membership invitation on Friday.
"The Western Athletic Conference is determined to be one of the elite mid-major conferences in the country," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "Incarnate Word is a growing institution in one of the fastest-growing markets in the country. This addition solidifies the WAC's goal to be one of the nation's strongest FCS football conferences."
The Cardinals will move from the Southland Conference to the WAC on July 1, 2022, and expand the conference to 14 members, including eight FCS members, for the 2022-23 academic year. GCU's conference will reduce to 12 members for 2023-24 after Sam Houston State and New Mexico State depart for Conference USA.
"UIW brings a stellar academic reputation, a balanced athletics program and a great geographic location to the WAC,"Â WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. "The conference's board evaluated every aspect of UIW's profile and knows it is a great fit for the conference now and for years to come."
Incarnate Word is the largest Catholic university in Texas and the fourth largest private university in Texas.
"As we have witnessed over the past several months, Division I athletics can be a changing landscape and with that change will come opportunity," Incarnate Word President Dr. Thomas M. Evans said. "The University of the Incarnate Word is committed to prioritizing what is best for our student-athletes and the mission of the university. A move to the WAC at this time puts our student-athletes in the best position to succeed academically and competitively."
The majority of GCU's history with Incarnate Word comes on the soccer pitch, where the Cardinals have been affiliate members of the WAC since 2013. The Lopes have posted an 8-2 mark in 10 all-time men's soccer meetings.
"We want to thank the WAC Board of Directors, Commissioner Jeff Hurd and all the member institutions for the opportunity to join this prestigious league and we look forward to working with them to maintain and strengthen the level of sportsmanship and competition for which the WAC is known," Evans said.
Incarnate Word will join the WAC at the same time as Southern Utah, whose move to the conference was announced on Jan. 14, 2021.
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