ATLANTA – The Utah lacrosse program will have a home come next season as it joins the ASUN beginning in 2021-22 as an affiliate member the league announced on Friday.
"I would like to thank our administration for giving us this chance and believing in this dream, as well as ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart," said third-year head coach
Brian Holman. "We are so grateful to now have a conference home and be able to provide our team an opportunity to compete for championships. The faith that these student-athletes and their families have shown in me and in our staff is beyond words."
Utah, who is 1-of-4 independents this season, will join fellow independents Cleveland State and Robert Morris in the ASUN as affiliate members while Hampton joins the SoCon as part of a realignment to have two NCAA Tournament automatic qualifying (AQ) conferences. Air Force and Bellarmine, who are members of the SoCon, will move over to the ASUN while Detroit Mercy moves over from the MAAC to round out the six-member league.
"Today is a special day for Utah lacrosse," Deputy Athletics Director
Scott Kull said. "Brian and his staff have all worked so hard from the day they stepped foot on campus to get the program where it is today, and to finally have a home is very exciting. However, I'm especially excited for the student-athletes, who will get to compete for a conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth starting next season."
The Southern Conference (SoCon) will retain its men's lacrosse championship and NCAA AQ status by playing with a realigned group of six: Hampton, High Point, Jacksonville, Mercer, Richmond and VMI.
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