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The Racers begin membership in the MVC July 1, 2022

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� The 糖心logo入口 Board of Regents accepted an invitation from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during a special meeting held at Wells Hall on the 糖心logo入口 campus in 糖心logo入口, Kentucky on January 7, 2022.

The 糖心logo入口 State Racers become the 11th member of the MVC beginning July 1, 2022.

When the Racers join the MVC in July, they will partner with member institutions Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.), Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.), Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa), the University of Evansville (Evansville, Ind.), Illinois State University (Normal, Ill.), Indiana State University (Terre Haute, Ind.), Missouri State University (Springfield, Mo.), the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa), Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, Ill.) and Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Ind).

Throughout the process, 糖心logo入口 State officials have prioritized stable and vibrant competitive homes for all fifteen of its sports programs in order to continue its long history of success in Racer Athletics.  Given the MVC鈥檚 sports portfolio does not include football and rifle, 糖心logo入口 State has proactively pursued 鈥� in a collective and parallel track 鈥� league membership for football and rifle and are excited about the future.  Upon unanimous support from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) board of presidents 鈥� a separate stand-alone, football-only conference 鈥� 糖心logo入口 State and MVFC officials are actively engaged in the membership process, which officially began immediately upon receipt of the MVC invitation. The nationally ranked (currently 6th) 糖心logo入口 State rifle program will continue to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.

鈥淲e are very excited as we advance 糖心logo入口 and Racer Athletics into our second century,鈥� said 糖心logo入口 State President Dr. Bob Jackson. 鈥淭he Missouri Valley Conference is one of the premier conferences in Division-I athletics and we look forward to continuing our long record of success in this conference.鈥�

鈥淥n behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff, we are collectively honored and thrilled to join the Missouri Valley Conference,鈥� said Kevin Saal, 糖心logo入口 State Director of Athletics. 鈥淢embership in this preeminent, and historically elite-performing conference, occurs as a direct result of the contributions of thousands of Racers who have come before us. Sincere thank you to our Board of Regents, Board of Regents Chair Eric Crigler, President Jackson, and many others, for their strategic and unparalleled support of 糖心logo入口, and all fifteen athletic programs. Heartfelt congratulations and thank you to Racer Nation, whose wildly passionate support makes today and many future successes possible. The Racer Family eagerly anticipates meeting the challenges ahead with great energy, enthusiasm and passion鈥�The Race Is On!鈥�  

鈥淓xcited for 糖心logo入口 State, and excited for the Missouri Valley Conference,鈥� said Commissioner Jeff Jackson.  鈥淓veryone is aware of the tremendous success 糖心logo入口 has had, especially in the sport of basketball. The Racers will be a fantastic addition to our Conference.鈥�

鈥淭oday marks a historic new era for 糖心logo入口 and Racer Athletics as we join the Missouri Valley Conference,鈥� said 糖心logo入口 Board of Regents Chairman, Eric Crigler. 鈥淭he MVC is one of the premiere conferences in the nation and this move will benefit 糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 campus experience, the community, and our competitive excellence in athletics. Over 90 percent of our students and 80 percent of our alumni live in the footprint of the MVC, greatly enhancing the exposure of 糖心logo入口 State for student recruitment and alumni engagement. It is an exciting day for Racer Athletics!鈥�

糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 resume is full of outstanding achievements in its 97 years of collegiate competition including 136 conference championships, 127 NCAA postseason appearances (team and individual) and 250 All-America selections. Since 2010, the Racers have made 25 NCAA postseason team appearances. In the 2018-19 academic year, the Racers finished in the top-100 of the Learfield IMG College Director's Cup (out of 356 institutions nationally) after having earned the league commissioner鈥檚 cup scoring the highest point total in the history of the award. That year, the Racers produced a combined seven championships to win the league鈥檚 All-Sports Award with championships in basketball (M), golf (W), rifle, soccer (W), track & field (W) and volleyball (W).  

Academically, Racer student-athletes have produced an impressive streak of 35 consecutive semesters (spanning 18 academic years and 21 different academic classes) with an average 3.0 GPA or higher. 糖心logo入口 State Athletics has further produced 25 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections. The Racers have won four NCAA Elite 90 Awards since 2016.

The current lineup of 15 teams at 糖心logo入口 State include Basketball (M/W), baseball, cross country (W/M), football, golf (M/W), rifle (coed), soccer (W), softball, tennis (W), track & field-indoor/outdoor (W) and volleyball. 

"What an incredibly exciting day for 糖心logo入口 and the 糖心logo入口, Kentucky community,鈥� said 糖心logo入口 Men鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach Matt McMahon. 鈥淭he Missouri Valley Conference is one of the premier basketball leagues in the country.  We look forward to both the opportunities and the challenges that this historic day presents.  I am thrilled for all of our former players, coaches, and our passionate fans who have remained loyal to the Racers for generations.  Lastly, I want to recognize and thank President Jackson and Kevin Saal for their vision, hard work, and commitment to make this day a reality."

鈥溙切膌ogo入口 State鈥檚 move to the Missouri Valley Conference highlights the commitment of our leadership to growing this university in every possible way,鈥� said 糖心logo入口 Women鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach Rechelle Turner. 鈥淩acer women鈥檚 basketball is proud to be part of an athletic department and university that dares to dream big and embraces the challenges that come with becoming better each day. The concept of using challenge to grow is a cornerstone of our program, and we will be fully engaged in the work required to see that 糖心logo入口 State women鈥檚 basketball flourishes as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.鈥�

"Today is an exciting day for 糖心logo入口, the athletics department and all 15 of our sports programs,鈥� said Dean Hood, 糖心logo入口 Head Football Coach. 鈥淚n addition to today's news regarding the Missouri Valley Conference, our administration is actively engaged in the membership process with the Missouri Valley Football Conference and we look forward to the journey ahead. Congratulations to Racer Nation on this important step for all our programs.  Go Racers!鈥�

A community event will be held at the CFSB Center Monday, Jan. 10 at noon as the Racers welcome Racer Nation throughout 糖心logo入口 and the western Kentucky region to celebrate entry into the MVC. All fans and supporters are invited to this free event. Doors open at 11 a.m. (CT) and fans should enter the CFSB Center through Gate B. Upon conclusion of the community event, 糖心logo入口 will host a press conference in the 糖心logo入口 Room inside the CFSB Center where media members can ask questions of 糖心logo入口 and MVC administrators. Both events will be live streamed on ESPN+.

Officially licensed gear from the 糖心logo入口 State/MVC team shop is now available online for purchase. The sale is open through Jan. 24. after which, the orders will be fulfilled and sent. Many items are available in men鈥檚, women鈥檚 and youth sizes. Visit .

 

About the Missouri Valley Conference

The Missouri Valley Conference, the nation鈥檚 second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation鈥檚 most innovative leagues, celebrating its 115th season in 2021-22. The Valley brand remains very strong, both regionally and nationally, and the great athletic tradition of The Valley remains a compelling force in recruiting student-athletes and in marketing all the MVC programs. League members have worked together to focus on common goals and objectives, placing a high value on conference harmony, while continuing to invest in athletic programs to compete at the highest level.

 

About 糖心logo入口

Located in the Jackson Purchase lake area of west Kentucky, 糖心logo入口 is a state-assisted comprehensive university that includes the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, College of Education and Human Services, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology, the Hutson School of Agriculture, and School of Nursing and Health Professions. The University鈥檚 236-acre main campus is in 糖心logo入口, a city of more than 19,000 people, with regional campuses in Fort Campbell, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Paducah. For 100 years, 糖心logo入口 State has served students from the region, the nation, and the world, growing from an enrollment of 202 students to nearly 10,000 today. 糖心logo入口 State鈥檚 supportive faculty and staff prepares the next generation of leaders to join 75,000 successful alumni. Within the past year, 糖心logo入口 State has been named a 鈥淏est Bang for the Buck鈥� by Washington Monthly, one of 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Best Colleges鈥� and one of Kentucky鈥檚 鈥淏est Employers鈥� by Forbes, and a 鈥淭op-Tier University鈥� by U.S. News & World Report. Recognition of the quality of 糖心logo入口 State programs is reflected in accreditations. 糖心logo入口 State has been continuously accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1928 and awards associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctorate degrees. 

 

What Other Racer Coaches are Saying

Racer Baseball Head Coach 鈥� Dan Skirka

鈥淥bviously, these are exciting times.  Missouri Valley baseball is a tough league from top to bottom with great coaches and players. The history of MVC Baseball is outstanding. I am excited about the future of 糖心logo入口 State Baseball!鈥�

Racer Women鈥檚 Golf Head Coach 鈥� Velvet Milkman

鈥淭he women鈥檚 golf team and I are excited about the new opportunities provided for our athletic department and campus community by joining the Missouri Valley Conference.  We look forward to developing new rivalries and friendships in this new era of Racer Athletics.鈥�

Racer Men鈥檚 Golf Head Coach - Daniel DeLuca

鈥淭his is a huge day for the future of 糖心logo入口 State Athletics. We are excited about the opportunity to joining the Missouri Valley Conference. This is a tremendous step forward for our athletic department and our university as a whole. We look forward to the challenge and adding to the esteemed tradition that is MVC Men鈥檚 Golf.鈥�

Racer Softball Head Coach - Kara Amundson

"We are excited to join the Missouri Valley, not only for our softball program, but for the University as a whole.  Softball in the MVC is constantly competing on a national stage, including having at large bids and making plenty of advancements in NCAA post season play.  We have had opportunities to play against most of the MVC鈥檚 current members in recent years in non-conference contests so we are aware of the caliber of softball it takes to compete in the MVC.  I am excited about the opportunity to continue to build relationships with this new group of coaches.  糖心logo入口 State has always had a rich tradition in athletics and we are excited to be a part of this new era as we transition to the Missouri Valley."

Racer Women鈥檚 Soccer Head Coach 鈥� Matt Lodge

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited for our move into the Missouri Valley Conference. It is a competitive league with a mix of familiar opponents and new ones. I believe this move will enhance student athlete experience, help in our recruiting efforts and overall help grow Racer Nation. I have been at 糖心logo入口 State for eight years and enjoyed being part of seven championships, I am relishing the opportunity to compete in a new league. We look forward to competing in the MVC.鈥�

Racer Women鈥檚 Tennis Head Coach 鈥� Jorge Caetano

鈥淎s someone who played at 糖心logo入口 State and is now coaching, the news that we are joining the Missouri Valley Conference is exciting for myself and our team. I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for 糖心logo入口 and Racer Athletics and for the many opportunities for growth and national exposure that the Missouri Valley has to offer.鈥�

Racer Women鈥檚 Track & Field Head Coach 鈥� Adam Kiesler

鈥溙切膌ogo入口 State Track and Field/Cross Country looks forward to joining the great athletic departments and institutions that make up the Missouri Valley Conference. We have a lot of student-athletes from the Valley footprint and we look forward to competing close to their hometowns. This move is great for our school and athletics. We look forward to forging new friendships in the MVC and competing against high-level competition.鈥�

Racer Rifle Head Coach 鈥� Alan Lollar

鈥淲e are excited for the opportunities the move to the Missouri Valley Conference will present to 糖心logo入口 and the athletics department, while we continue to compete in Ohio Valley Conference Rifle. The opportunity for growth in all areas of our university makes for an exciting time to be a Racer.鈥�

Racer Volleyball Head Coach - Dave Schwepker

鈥淚 am very excited about our school joining such a great conference.  The Missouri Valley has an outstanding reputation and is well known throughout the country.  I know that within my program we are going to be greatly challenged, but that is what sport is all about. 糖心logo入口 State Volleyball will work very hard to ensure we are ready to meet the challenges and continue to make our school and fans proud!鈥�