Originating in 1951 to administer and promote intercollegiate athletics, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has evolved into one of the NCAA's most heralded conferences.
The first major advancement came in 1977, when based on a growing interest, the league reorganized to provide a structure for its women's programs. Only three years later, lacking a standard competitive division, the league voted to reclassify the entire conference to NCAA Division II.
In a groundbreaking move for the league, Shepherd University joined the PSAC in 2019-20, expanding its membership to 18 institutions. Located in northeast West Virginia, Shepherd became the PSAC's first full-time member outside of the Commonwealth. Now with 17 members, the PSAC remains the largest conference in Division II and offers championship opportunities in 23 sports, which ranks fourth among Division II Conferences.
Highly competitive on a regional and national level, PSAC schools annually combine to send nearly one-third of its teams into NCAA postseason play. Ultimately, the membership's success has yielded 59 NCAA team and 309 individual title winners.
While proud of its athletic accomplishments, the league also has evolved into one of Division II's finest from an academic standpoint. In 2023-24, 4,037 of the league's student-athletes were honored as "Scholar-Athletes" for maintaining a grade-point average of 3.25 or better. That total represents a number that is four times higher than when PSAC Scholar-Athletes were first recognized in the mid-1990s.
PSAC membership has undergone significant changes over the last 20 years. In addition to adding Shepherd, the conference experienced expansion on two other recent occasions. Gannon and Mercyhurst Universities joined the league in 2008 while the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown and Seton Hill University became members in 2013.
In June of 2025, the PSAC announced that it had extended an invitation to Lackawanna College to become the conference's 18th member institution, provided that Lackawanna's application to NCAA Division II is approved in the coming years.
Although all 17 current institutions are members of Division II, four conference schools also compete at the Division I level in select sports. PSAC schools enroll over 110,000 students and claim approximately one million alumni, including over 560,000 who reside in Pennsylvania.
The PSAC is governed by the presidents of the 17 member institutions. It employs a Commissioner, two Associate Commissioners, and an Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications at its headquarters in Lock Haven, Pa.
PSAC Commissioners
Steve Murray - 1997-98 - Interim, 1998-present
Charles "Tod" Eberle - 1989-1997
Don Kelley - 1983-1989
PSAC Staff
Commissioner: Steve Murray
Senior Associate Commissioner: Carlin Chesick
Associate Commissioner: Will Adair
Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications: Bryan Kast
Communications Intern:
Media Relations Contact Information
Bryan Kast
Cell: 717-283-7155
Office: 570-484-2884
Email: bkast@psacsports.org
Conference Membership
Former PSAC Member Institutions
| School |
Time in PSAC |
PSAC Championships |
| Cheyney University |
1951-2018 |
20 |
| LIU Post - Associate Member |
2008-2013 |
|
| Mercyhurst University |
2008-2024 |
16 |
Championships
PSAC Championship History by Institution
Most Recent PSAC Champions by Institution
All-Time PSAC Champions
PSAC National Champions By Year
NCAA Men's Championship History – nine PSAC men's sports teams have won NCAA Division II titles
NCAA Women's Championship History - 42 PSAC women's sports teams have won NCAA Division II titles
Awards
Dixon Trophy – The F. Eugene Dixon Trophy is awarded by the PSAC to the member institution whose athletic program earns the best overall finish in conference championships and/or regular-season play.
PSAC Sportsmanship Award – The PSAC Sportsmanship Award was initiated in the 2008-09 academic year and is given annually to one male and one female student-athlete that best exemplifies the spirit of sportsmanship and who has demonstrated the values of respect and integrity through a specific action ideally directed toward an opponent.
PSAC Award of Merit - The PSAC Award of Merit, awarded to individuals with an affiliation with a league school, either as an alumnus, coach or administrator, is given for outstanding and extraordinary accomplishments or services that bring exceptional recognition and honor to the conference.
NACDA Directors' Cup – The NACDA Directors' Cup is awarded each year to the top athletics program in each NCAA Division and the NAIA. The Division II Cup includes finishes in 14 sports, seven men's and seven women's. Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and women based on finishes at each respective NCAA tournament or event.
George Heaslip Award- The PSAC George Heaslip Award, which is chosen annually by the league's sports information directors, is named in honor of the late Cheyney University Sports Information Director George Heaslip. This award recognizes a media professional for his or her meritorious service while covering the conference's student-athletes, coaches and teams.
Academic Success
Pete Nevins Scholar-Athletes of the Year- The PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards are presented to the top student-athletes who have achieved at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while competing at an outstanding athletic level. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year are chosen by the league's sports information directors and were renamed in 2007 to honor East Stroudsburg's long-time sports information director, Pete Nevins.
PSAC Top 10 - The Top 10 Awards, selected by the PSAC's sports information directors, recognize student-athletes who distinguish themselves in the classroom, as well as in the arena of competition. To be a candidate for the Top 10 Awards, a student-athlete must have achieved a minimum of a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (as of Fall 2009 awards) and must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials.
PSAC Champion Scholar Awards - PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 awards and honor the student-athlete with the top grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's 23 team championship finals.
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans – The College Sports Information Directors of America honors student-athletes for academic and athletic success each school year. Awards are available for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Many other sports are eligible through the At-Large program.
NCAA Elite 90 Awards - The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA championships across all three divisions - I, II and III.
Top Team GPA Awards - The Top Team GPA Awards, released at the conclusion of the academic year, honor the teams with the top cumulative team grade point average in each of the sponsored sports within the PSAC.