PSAC and Shepherd University Hold Introductory Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W. Va. --- Shepherd University hosted a press conference in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference officials regarding Shepherd joining the league in 2019-20 Wednesday afternoon in the Scarborough Library on Shepherd’s campus in Shepherdstown, W. Va.
PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray, Shepherd’s President Dr. Mary J. C. Hendrix and Shepherd’s Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush spoke at the event.
"With great excitement, we gather here today to announce our intentions to join the PSAC in the Fall of 2019," Winbush added, "Spending the entire spring semester reviewing our conference affiliation as well as budgets, travel, schoalrships etc. we knew this was the perfect move for the institution and athletic department."
"Having the opportunity to bring in an athletic program and university like Shepherd to our membership is outstanding," Murray said. "Shepherd is a perfect match for us fitting nicely geographically and academically."
Shepherd will join the PSAC at the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year. The Rams will be eligible for regular season competition and participation in PSAC Championships immediately.
"From a Presidents perspective, the transition to the PSAC provides a better experience for our student-athletes in terms of reduced travel time for competitions allowing them more time in the classroom," Hendrix added, "We are delighted, the PSAC is one of the top conferences in terms of GPA and academic success."
Commissioner Murray added, "Considering the great athletic programs Shepherd has, in addition to being strong academically, we are proud to welcome an institution of this caliber."
Shepherd will sponsor 13 of the PSAC’s 23 sports and is located only 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
The Rams captured eight conference titles during their five-year tenure with the Mountain East Conference. In 2015, Shepherd’s football team earned a trip to the NCAA DII Football Championship Game.
"I want to publically thank the coaches for their support of this move, university adminstration, and the community in making this possible," Murray said.
Long-known as the NCAA's largest conference, the PSAC will enter the 2018-19 academic year with 17 members with the departure of Cheyney University on June 30, 2018. The PSAC sponsors the second-most championship sports in Division II with 23.