The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference will add two new schools to the conference in 2013-14, making it the largest conference in NCAA Division II.
Seton Hill University, located in Greensburg, Pa., and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown will expand the conference to 18 teams. The final decision was announced at a press conference on August 21 at the University of Pitt-Johnstown.
There was much support for the addition of the two schools to the conference, as the PSAC Board of Directors voted unanimously that it will strengthen the region competition.
Expanding to 18 teams will create greater scheduling opportunities for the whole conference. This will mean less traveling and less missed class time for PSAC student-athletes, which in return will help students stay caught up with their studies in the classroom.
Slippery Rock University Athletic Director Paul Lueken said that expanding the league will benefit the Rock.
“There will not only be more competition on the courts and playing fields, but in recruiting as well,” Lueken said. “With the addition of two more schools, who fully fund several of their sports programs with athletic scholarships, it increases the competition of trying to attract student athletes to Slippery Rock.”
Lueken does not seem worried about adding two more schools to the PSAC competition.
“We have experienced this type of expansion before with the addition of Gannon and Mercyhurst, and we have maintained our competitiveness in the
