The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) announced today that Texas Lutheran University has accepted an invitation to join the Conference.
“We are pleased and honored that Texas Lutheran University will join the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference beginning July 1, 2013,” said Austin College president Marjorie Hass, who currently serves as the chair of the SCAC Board of Directors. “Managing the membership of an athletic conference is challenging work. It is wonderful to know that another private, liberal arts and sciences college from the southwest region with an engaging curriculum and similar commitment to the philosophy of the NCAA Division III athletics program will join the Conference. The addition of Texas Lutheran will bring the SCAC membership back to eight, which will be helpful to the overall scheduling of the Conference. We look forward to
many competitive contests in the future.”
Currently a member of the American Southwest Conference, Texas Lutheran will join the SCAC at the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year, becoming the eighth member of the reconstructed league.
“This is an exciting opportunity for TLU athletics,” said Texas Lutheran University President Stuart Dorsey. “We are honored to be invited to join a conference of institutions that have such an outstanding reputation for academics and athletics success. We believe that the SCAC is an excellent fit for TLU.”
Texas Lutheran, which is located in Seguin, Texas (34 miles east of San Antonio), joins Austin College of Sherman, Texas; Centenary College of Shreveport, Louisiana; Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado; the University of Dallas of Irving, Texas; Schreiner University of Kerrville, Texas; Southwestern University of Georgetown, Texas; and Trinity University of San Antonio, Texas. Centenary’s membership in the SCAC begins in 2012-13 while Schreiner and Texas Lutheran come aboard in 2013-14.
Dorsey cited several factors that led to the decision to join the SCAC, including TLU’s similarity with the conference schools in size, mission, curriculum, and athletics philosophy.
“TLU, like the other SCAC schools, provides an excellent educational experience for all of our students, including our student-athletes,” Dorsey said. “We’re proud that TLU has been recognized repeatedly through the years by US News & World Report and other national publications as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the region. Membership in the SCAC also will allow TLU to re-establish some historical rivalries.”
Dorsey stressed that TLU will continue to emphasize and support excellence in its athletics program.
“SCAC competition will be keen, and we intend to challenge for conference championships in all sports. Intercollegiate athletics is an important part of the fabric of TLU, and we have a long, rich history of team championships and outstanding individual performances that we wish to continue.”
“The addition of Texas Lutheran University marks a significant step in the advancement of the SCAC,” said SCAC commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. “Less than eight months ago, we began the process of seeking new members who fit the profile we consider to be a special and unique blend of academics and athletics. With the additions of Centenary College of Louisiana, Schreiner University and now Texas Lutheran University, we feel like we are well on our way to achieving that goal.”
“We are excited that Texas Lutheran has agreed to become a member of our conference and welcome them into the SCAC family.”
