General | 12/1/2014 11:52:00 AM
MONTGOMERY, West Virginia - The WVU Tech athletic program is set to become members of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) beginning in 2015-2016.
"We are delighted that the athletic directors and Council of Presidents have unanimously approved WVU Tech for membership in the KIAC for the 2015-2016 season. The addition of Tech enhances our sports programs and make us a more competitive conference," states KIAC Commissioner Bill Melton. "In addition, WVU Tech brings another solid academic school to the KIAC with 41% of the Tech athletes majoring in the university's STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) academic programs. The addition of WVU Tech will bring our membership to a total of thirteen schools across five states."
The Golden Bears will join the following teams in the KIAC: Alice Lloyd College, Asbury University, Brescia University, Carlow University, Cinicnnati Christian University, Indiana University East, Indiana University Kokomo, Indiana University-Southeast, Midway College, Point Park University and the University of Rio Grande.
Prior to the 2012-2013 season, Tech belonged to the Mid-South Conference which was made up of schools mostly from Kentucky. During the seasons following their time with the Mid-South Conference, the Golden Bears have participated in events with the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.), the United States Collegiate Athletic Conference (USCAA) and the Appalachian Swim Conference (ASC).
In that time, Tech has earned two national titles (USCAA) for men's soccer (2013 and 2014), an A.I.I. Division I Championship for women's basketball (2012-13) and men's basketball earned runners-up in the A.I.I. Division I Championship (2012-2013).
"The ability to join the KIAC has enormous benefit for WVU Tech. Competing against regional opponents who have similar resources will be great for us and will help our programs have full schedules, play road contests in closer proximity and create natural rivalries with surrounding institutions. The unanimous vote in our favor reaffirms our institutional progress and continued commitment to provide student-athletes with a quality experience at WVU Tech," said WVU Tech Athletic Director Kenny Howell.
Tech's 13 varsity sports are made up of baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, wrestling, softball and volleyball. In 2015-2016, Tech programs will continue to participate in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)-KIAC affiliated, the USCAA and the ASC (for men's and women's swimming).
