Newswise — Butler University will join the Atlantic 10 Conference beginning with the 2013-2014 season, President James M. Danko announced today.
“Butler University is pleased to be the newest member of the Atlantic 10 Conference,” Danko said. “The universities in this conference are strong academically and they value the student-athlete experience. Butler fits well with them and we look forward to being part of their tradition of excellence.”
The move will cover all Butler athletic teams except football, which will remain in the Pioneer League, and women’s golf. The Atlantic 10 does not host women’s golf, so Butler will look to another conference for that sport.
Danko said the move makes sense for Butler academically and financially. The Atlantic 10 ranked third among all Division I conferences in the most recent NCAA graduation rates, with 89 percent of student-athletes graduating.
“Moving to the Atlantic 10 allows us to associate and compete with institutions with outstanding academic profiles and values,” Butler Athletic Director Barry Collier said. “They value the experience of the student-athlete.”
Although some competitions may be further in distance, the out-of-class time for our student-athletes will be reduced because many A-10 games are scheduled for weekends and not all schools in the conference play each other every year.
“Our student success in the classroom will never be compromised,” Collier said.
Joining the Atlantic 10 also increases Butler’s visibility beyond the Midwest, which means greater student recruitment opportunities, Danko said.
A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade described Butler as “a perfect fit” for the conference. Butler “brings a tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, integrity and personnel,” McGlade said. “As a conference driven by national prominence in men’s basketball, Butler further strengthens our league. Complementing their success in men’s basketball is a broad-based sports program that will compete well in the A-10.”
Danko thanked Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone and the schools in the Horizon League for their support. Butler was a charter member of the Midwestern City Conference (later renamed Midwestern Collegiate Conference and then Horizon League).
The league formed in 1979 with Butler, Evansville, Loyola, Oklahoma City, Oral Roberts and Xavier. Butler was in the Indiana Collegiate Conference from 1950 to 1978 and was an independent in 1978-79. From 1946-50, Butler was in the Mid-American Conference.
About the A-10The Atlantic 10 Conference was formed in 1976, is currently comprised of 14 member institutions and sponsors 21 championship sports. The mission and goal of the Atlantic 10 is to preserve, protect, and enhance the academic and athletic pursuits of the membership. The conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for more than 6,000 student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The member institutions of the Atlantic 10 are the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University, Temple University, and Xavier University.
About Butler UniversityChallenging and enabling students to meet their personal and professional goals has guided Butler University since 1855. Today, Butler is a nationally recognized comprehensive university that blends the liberal arts with first-rate pre-professional programs. It seeks to prepare each graduate not simply to make a living but to make a life of purpose, in which personal flourishing is intertwined with the welfare of others. Butler is known for its vibrant campus, superior academics and dedicated faculty. The University enrolls more than 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students in six academic colleges: Business, Communication, Education, Fine Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Located just six miles from downtown Indianapolis, Butler’s urban setting affords students internship opportunities that provide excellent graduate school and career preparation.
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