PROVIDENCE, R.I. (TheAmerican.org) – Commissioner Mike Aresco announced today the addition of Wichita State to the American Athletic Conference in men's and women's basketball and Olympic sports beginning on July 1, 2017. The American's Board of Directors unanimously voted to accept Wichita State as its newest member.
"We are pleased and proud to welcome Wichita State to The American," Aresco said. "This is a University with a strong athletic and academic heritage which shares our conference's commitment to excellence, and we look forward to having them as a member. The University has an exceptionally strong tradition of success in men's basketball and baseball. The addition of Wichita State in basketball and Olympic sports extends our conference's national footprint, enhances our national profile, and strengthens our position as a leader in intercollegiate athletics."
Founded in 1895, Wichita State University is a public university and the third-largest research university governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The University is a growing leader in innovation, creativity and collaborative learning and enrolls 14,500 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Wichita State offers 200 areas of study in seven academic undergraduate colleges, 42 master's degrees, 12 doctoral degrees and 26 certificate programs.
"Wichita State adds another impressive athletics pedigree to the American Athletic Conference, and we welcome President John Bardo and his leadership team," said UCF President John C. Hitt. "We're eager to compete against the Shockers' talented student-athletes next year."
Wichita State sponsors 15 sports – baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, men's golf, women' golf, softball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field and volleyball – all of which will compete in The American. The Shockers have been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1945.
"We want to play the best at UCF and we couldn't be more excited about the addition of Wichita State to The American, one of the six most powerful conferences in the country," said UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Daniel J. White. "We believe the Shockers raise the bar for many of our sports and contribute to our vision of building a perennial Top 25 intercollegiate athletics program."
Wichita State's men's basketball program has a storied history, winning more than 1,500 contests in its 111-year history. The school has won 11 MVC regular-season championships, including four straight, and four tournament crowns, its most recent in 2017. Under current head coach Gregg Marshall, the Shockers have won more than 260 games for a nearly .750 winning percentage.
"The addition of Wichita State is tremendous for this league," UCF Head Men's Basketball Coach Johnny Dawkins said. "To bring in a program that has had such success and been to six straight NCAA Tournaments will be great for the American Athletic Conference. What Gregg Marshall has done at Wichita State has been impressive and we are excited to have the Shockers join The American."
Marshall's teams have captured five MVC regular-season titles and two tournament crowns. He led Wichita State to the school's second-ever NCAA Final Four appearance in 2013 and was named National Coach of the Year in 2014. Marshall also guided the Shockers to the National Invitation Championship in 2011 and his teams have won 25-plus contests in eight consecutive seasons.
One of five schools to win an NCAA Tournament game in each of the last five years, Wichita State has registered 10 NCAA Tournament wins since 2013, tied for fifth-most in college basketball. Over the last four seasons, the Shockers are 59-1 in home games at Charles Koch Arena (10,506 capacity), the second most wins and second-best winning percentage behind Arizona's 66-1 record at the McKale Center. Charles Koch Arena is home to the men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs.
Wichita State's women's basketball team won three consecutive MVC regular-season and tournament titles from 2013-15 and has appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament on four occasions. The Shocker volleyball team won the MVC Tournament title for the fourth time in school history in 2016 and has earned a berth in the NCAA Championship nine of the last 10 seasons, including an appearance in the round of 16 in 2012.
On the baseball diamond, Wichita State has won more than 2,100 games and captured the 1989 College World Series crown. The team plays in 8,153-seat Eck Stadium and boasts 37 Major League Baseball players all-time.
The Wichita State men's and women's tennis programs also have experienced great success. The men's team has captured 25 MVC tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Championship on 11 occasions, while the women's program has won 18 conference crowns and earned 10 NCAA Championship berths.
Beginning July 1, 2017, the Conference will consist of the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Connecticut, East Carolina University, the University of Houston, the University of Memphis, Southern Methodist University, the University of South Florida, Temple University, Tulane University, the U.S. Naval Academy and Wichita State University. Navy is a football-only member and Wichita State will be a basketball and Olympic sports-only member.
About the American Athletic Conference
The American Athletic Conference (The American), a member of the National Collegiate Association (NCAA) was formed in 2013. With the conference office in Providence, Rhode Island, The American is currently comprised of 12 member institutions. Under the leadership of Commissioner Mike Aresco, The American sponsors 21 championships – 10 for men and 11 for women; is a member of the College Football Playoff; began new television partnerships with ESPN and CBS Sports in 2014; and has a marketing partnership with IMG College. For more information, please visit www.TheAmerican.org.
