May 2, 2012
Butler University To Join Atlantic 10 Conference
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-10
The 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 University
Challenging 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.
-- release courtesy of Butler University Relations
