Photo by: Andrew Fielding
The University of Denver will join the Western Athletic Conference beginning in the 2012-13 season, according to DU athletics officials during a press conference held this afternoon in Magness Arena.
The conference was highlighted by speeches about the significance of DU’s acceptance to the WAC by Chancellor Robert Coombe, Peg Bradley-Doppes, vice chancellor for athletics and recreation, and WAC commissioner Karl Benson.
“The tremendous enthusiasm and support from today definitely causes me to know for sure that this is the perfect fit for the WAC and the University of Denver,” said Benson.
The University of Denver will join the WAC at the beginning of the 2012-13 season alongside fellow new entrants University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas State University.
The following Pioneers teams will switch from the Sun Belt Conference to the WAC: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s swimming and diving, women’s soccer, gymnastics and volleyball.
“This was a day that we all envisioned, but we didn’t know when it would happen, but we had the dream, and the dream is now a reality,” said Bradley- Doppes. “It’s great to be a Pioneer every day, but today is special.”
The rationale behind the move was described by geographical appeal, cutting down financial costs of travel, minimizing student athletes missing academic classes and the name recognition associated with the WAC, according to a short video put out by DU athletics on the new affiliation.
“The WAC is a tremendous fit with those Western roots, and it’s a tremendous fit
with our students, our alumni and with our fans, and so we are absolutely thrilled
to become a member of the Western Athletic Conference,” said Coombe.
The WAC includes 19 sports in total: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s baseball, men’s football, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, women’s softball, women’s swimming and diving and women’s volleyball.
