STEUBENVILLE - On Tuesday morning, April 16, Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) commissioner Joe Onderko announced the addition of Franciscan University of Steubenville as the newest full member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference, beginning in the 2020-21 academic year. Franciscan will leave the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference following the 2019-20 season.
 
Currently, Franciscan competes as an affiliate member of the PAC in men's and women's lacrosse and beginning in the 2019-20 academic year, will be an affiliate member in women's golf, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. Full membership for all of Franciscan's 17 NCAA sports will begin in the fall of 2020.
 
"It is both an honor and a distinct privilege to officially announce the addition of Franciscan University of Steubenville as the newest full member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC)," remarked PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko. "Since its founding in 1955, the PAC has been dedicated to the principles of presidential oversight and the strong belief that academic and athletic success is not mutually exclusive, and we believe Franciscan Baron athletics will provide a perfect fit for our conference culture. We are very pleased to officially welcome them today as the 10th full member of the PAC, competing in all PAC championships beginning in the 2020-21 academic year."
 
"Varsity athletics is an integral part of the Franciscan University educational experience. Our athletic program is well known for creating a faith-centered environment that promotes ongoing personal conversion and the development of Christian virtues and character. We are excited that this integration of mind and spirit will continue with our new affiliation in the Presidents' Athletic Conference," remarked Franciscan's president, Fr. Sean Sheridan, TOR.
 
"Franciscan University is excited about our full membership in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. We have been playing against so many PAC schools for years in many of our sports, and we look forward to continuing and strengthening those friendly rivalries. The PAC is a great fit for Franciscan University, and we are committed to being an active and collaborative member, working with all of the other great schools in the conference to provide a high-quality Division III athletic experience for our student-athletes," said David Schmiesing, Vice President of Student Life
 
Franciscan brings 17 varsity sports to the PAC in 2020-21 and for the first time since becoming full members of the NCAA, all of the Baron NCAA teams will compete under the same conference affiliation.
 
In the fall of 2008, Franciscan athletics was in its second year as a provisional member of the NCAA and accepted membership into the AMCC. Since that time, the following sports have competed in the AMCC: baseball (2008-11), men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's lacrosse (2017-18), men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball. The men's and women's track and field teams have competed as part of the Colonial States Athletic Conference since the 2016 outdoor season. Men's rugby will continue to compete as part of USA Rugby and in the Three Rivers Rugby Conference.
 
In the 11-year history with the AMCC, the Barons have captured 20 Coach of the Year Honors, 22 Player of the Year winners, and 19 Newcomer of the Year honorees while winning 21 team championships.
 
"We have thoroughly enjoyed our experience with our Allegheny Mountain family," remarked director of athletics Mike Holmes. "We have had a good working relationship with the schools and some competitive contests with the members. I am confident we will continue to work together in non-conference competition to continue those relationships."
 
"As we look forward to full membership in the PAC in 2020, we are grateful to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference which has been our home for more than a decade," remarked Schmiesing. "The support of the AMCC presidents and athletic directors, and especially the guidance of Commissioner Donna Ledwin, was essential to Franciscan University's re-launch of our intercollegiate athletics program and entry into the NCAA Division III."
 
"The Presidents' Athletic Conference represents such a desirable fit for Franciscan," continued Holmes. "Geographic reasons are obvious. Our students will miss less class and we will save a great deal of our travel budget for our conference contests going forward. Beyond the advantage of proximity, we will be able to enjoy associations with schools that share some aspects of our academic profile and mission."
 
About the Presidents' Athletic Conference
Located in New Wilmington, PA, the Presidents' Athletic Conference is an NCAA III conference currently comprised of schools from western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
 
It's nine full time member institutions are: Bethany College (Bethany, WV), Chatham University (Pittsburgh, PA), Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA), Grove City College (Grove City, PA), St. Vincent College (Latrobe, PA), Thiel College (Greenville, PA), Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, PA), Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, PA), and Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA).
 
The PAC currently sponsors 23 intercollegiate sports that compete in the NCAA Division III. Student-athletes participate in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's volleyball, and men's wrestling.
 
What They Are Saying
 
"Joining the PAC is extremely beneficial for Franciscan to join like-minded institutions that are on a similar mission as us. It will help our student-athletes in the classroom as well not having to miss as many classes during the season due to the shorter drive time to away games."
 
—Jim Walker – Head Softball Coach
 
"The move to the PAC will be an amazing opportunity for Franciscan University. The institutions in the PAC have been great competitors for our programs. Their sportsmanship is always appreciated and it is an honor to compete against these wonderful programs."
 
—Scott Greve – Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach
 
"Having only been at FUS for a short time, but with a long history in the PAC, I think this is an OUTSTANDING MOVE for Baron Athletics. Specifically, for baseball, our geographic centricity to the PAC schools will be very beneficial to our student athletes with respect to travel.  It is an honor for me personally to re-join the baseball coaches group—they are all first-class competitive men with high integrity. GO BARONS!"
 
—Rick Carver – Head Baseball Coach
 
"We are thrilled to be joining the PAC. We can't wait to compete and join great colleges and universities closest to us. This is a huge step in strengthening and growing our soccer program."
 
—Christian Bobak – Head Men's Soccer Coach
 
"This move is a solid step forward for Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletics.  Having our sports scattered over few different conferences was tough to establish an Institutional viability in the athletics arena.  We now have something to sink our teeth into from a recruiting, competition and championship standpoint.  From a track & field perspective, this move opens doors for our men and women to be able to face competition that will challenge them far beyond what they have currently seen.  It also brings their competitions closer to campus and makes it easier for a fan base to follow them to meets and cheer on their favorite team.  I can't thank Mike Holmes enough for all he has done to make this happen in his time here.  As always, it is a Great Day to Be a Baron!"
 
—Vince Oliver – Head Men's and Women's Track and Field Coach
 
"Joining the PAC is huge for us to have a conference in our first year and a clear path to make the NCAA championship now with their automatic qualifier."
 
—Mitch Morelli – Head Women's Golf Coach
 
"This is a big step for the development of the men's basketball program and the department as a whole. The PAC is full of schools that not only share our academic values but our faith values as well. The geography between these schools will allow us to create local rivalries which makes college basketball fun. It will also help to get local people involved with Franciscan basketball – whether it is from the Ohio Valley or the Pittsburgh area – and that is what I have wanted since day one with this team."
 
—Joe Wallace – Head Men's Basketball Coach
 
"We are excited to be competing in the PAC as affiliates this season, and looking forward to full membership in 2020!"
 
—Maura Conant – Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
 
"It is very exciting that Franciscan University will be full members of the PAC. Administratively, it will be far more efficient for our entire athletic program that all of our teams will be in one conference. At the same time, we are entering a more competitive conference across all sports."
 
—Pete Rosaschi – Head Men's Lacrosse Coach
 
"Joining the PAC provides the swim and dive team a wonderful community of fellow swimmers in which to develop as a program."
 
—Chris Zedick – Head's Women's Swimming and Diving Coach