The City Paper is reporting that Northern Kentucky University will replace the Belmont Bruins in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Northern Kentucky is currently in the Great Lakes Valley Conference out of NCAA Division II. The school has 15,000 students and is located just outside of Cincinatti.
On Thursday afternoon, the Atlantic Sun formally invited NKU to join the A-Sun. Lipscomb President Randy Lowry and athletic director Phil Hutcheson released the following statements.
“Lipscomb is pleased to welcome Northern Kentucky University to the Atlantic Sun Conference. In a conversation with Northern Kentucky University’s President James Votruba I was most impressed with the desire of Northern Kentucky University for high level athletic competition but also for a strong emphasis on the academic success of student athletes. They will the join the schools currently in the Atlantic Sun who are committed to producing ‘Winners for Life.’ Lipscomb looks forward to Northern Kentucky University’s addition to our excellent conference and meeting them in Division I play.”
Lipscomb Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson:
“On behalf of Lipscomb’s coaches and student-athletes, I would like to welcome Northern Kentucky University to the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Norse have been in the top echelon of Division II schools over the last several years and they will be a formidable opponent on the fields of play.”
Belmont is leaving the Atlantic Sun for the Ohio Valley Conference effective July 1, 2012.
The university has expressed interest in joining the OVC the last couple years, however, no position seemed fitting.
The Atlantic Sun will have 10 members and have schools in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky.
Northern Kentucky, like Lipscomb, does not have a football team. The university’s soccer team won the 2010 NCAA Division II Championship.