Tower & Times Sprint 2009 - University of Rio Grande

Rio Grande
Rio Grande Joins Mid-South Conference
Beginning in the fall of 2009,
the University of Rio Grande
athletic teams will compete in
the Mid-South Conference, leaving
the American Mideast Conference.
Rio Grande has competed in the
AMC since its inception in 1998. The
AMC formed out of the old Mid-Ohio
Conference, which Rio Grande joined
in 1971. Before that, Rio played in
the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (KIAC).
The Mid-South Conference is one
of the most competitive and highly
respected conferences in the NAIA.
The move will constitute a jump in
divisions for the men’s and women’s
basketball teams, which had been
NAIA Division II since the 2000-01
season. Basketball is the only sport
that has two divisions in the NAIA.
Rio leaves the AMC/MOC with
a number of championships. The
RedStorm have won 10 conference
or division championships in
men’s soccer and will now have
the likes of national power
Lindsey Wilson to tangle
with for Mid-South crowns.
Baseball won two titles in the
MOC (1974 and 1978), softball
tied for the AMC South Division
championship in 2006 and 2008 with
Ohio Dominican, women’s basketball
copped three MOC titles in 1990-91,
1992-93 and 1993-94 and AMC Tournament
Championships in 1999
and 2000 respectively. Women’s
cross country won the 1997 MOC
title and women’s track and field
went back-to-back in 1993 and
1994. Rio volleyball won four
MOC titles (1987, 1991-1993) and
men’s basketball captured 10 titles
as well as the 2001 and 2003 AMC
Tournament crowns. Men’s cross
country won an outright MOC
championship in 1992 and men’s
track and field won MOC titles in
1990 and 1993.
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Tower & Times • Spring 2009
The Mid-South has 15 members
overall, but seven schools are members
in football only and two others
play football and compete in track
and field. The teams which Rio will
compete against include: Bethel (TN)
(M/W track only), Campbellsville,
Georgetown (KY) College, Lindsey
Wilson, Pikeville College, Shorter
College (M/W track only), St. Catharine’s,
The University of Cumberlands
(KY), and WVU-Tech.
Mid-South Conference Commissioner
Mike Pollio is pleased to have
Rio Grande as a part of the conference.
“We are very excited to have
a first class school like Rio Grande
join what is considered one of the
best conferences in the nation,” Pollio
said. “When we toured Rio Grande
we were very impressed by the class
and professionalism of everyone
including the President, A.D. and the
coaches. Rio is a welcome addition to
the Mid- South Conference.”
Athletic Director Jeff Lanham, as
well as the entire athletic department,
is excited and looking forward to the
move. “The opportunity for the University
of Rio Grande to participate
in the Mid-South Conference is very
exciting!” Lanham said. “We believe
we are moving from one of the top
NAIA D II leagues in basketball to
one of the top NAIA D I leagues in
the country. Our coaches are very
thrilled about the move.”
Lanham talked about Rio’s past
and returning to play the majority of
their conference games in the Bluegrass
State as it did when his father,
Art, was coaching Rio Grande back
into the 1960’s. “We belonged to
the KIAC during the ‘60’s and are
now returning to familiar ground,”
Lanham said. “This has generated enthusiasm
in our athletes, students and
alumni, and will rekindle old rivals
for Rio.”
Lanham said that it has been a
smooth transition to this point. “The
A.D.’s, coaches and administration
have been very helpful and have welcomed
us with open arms,” he said.
“We are moving from the team in
a league which is the farthest team
south to a league where we are the
farthest team north.”
“Our fall and spring sports will
benefit from the move to the south,”
Lanham added.
Lanham also talked concerning the
competitiveness of the Mid-
South and about the increased
exposure Rio Grande will now
have in the neighboring state of
Kentucky. “The MSC is very competitive
and we are looking at this as a
challenge to all of our programs,”
Lanham said. “The philosophy
and commitment to the students/
athletes by the schools in the Mid-
South Conference fit Rio’s goals. Our
exposure in Kentucky will benefit
our admissions goal to expand their
recruiting in the state of Kentucky.”
Lanham added that the Mid-South
is also heavily involved in the Champions
of Character Initiative, which is
something Lanham believes strongly
in. “The Mid-South Conference, as
does the University of Rio Grande,
follows the Champions of Character
Initiatives.”
Competition in the Mid-South
Conference for Rio Grande will begin
with the Fall Sports Season of 2009-
2010. ◆