The Western Athletic Conference announced that the University of Missouri-Kansas City has accepted an invitation for membership to join the conference effective July 1, 2013.
UMKC becomes the ninth member of the conference in 2013-14, joining California State University, Bakersfield; Chicago State University; Grand Canyon University; University of Idaho; New Mexico State University; Seattle University, The University of Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley University.
“We are extremely pleased with the addition of UMKC to the WAC family,” said WAC Interim Commissioner Jeff Hurd. “It not only solidifies our membership for the 2013-14 season, but also gives us a strong core of institutions that will help the WAC reestablish itself as a top Division I conference.”
UMKC will bring all 16 of its sports – men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, and volleyball – to the WAC and will begin competition with the upcoming 2013-14 season.
“We decided to accept the invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference because of the strong potential alignment it offers with our strategic objectives related to community engagement and financial strength,” said UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton.
A press conference will be held at UMKC on Thursday, Feb. 14 where officials from both the WAC and UMKC will discuss the move in more detail.