Lee University Cleared To Join NCAA Division II Transition Process
Birmingham, AL—For the second year in a row, the Gulf South Conference served as a sponsoring Conference affiliate for a prospective NCAA Division II member.
Lee University (TN) became the latest institution to throw its hat into the Division II ring this past Friday when the NCAA Division II Membership Committee approved its application for membership. The approval starts the three-year transition process. The Flames will remain an active affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) this season. Beginning in 2013-2014 and continuing through the 2014-2015 academic years, LU will operate as a NCAA “provisional status” member while moving towards membership in the Gulf South Conference. Lee is expected to be placed into the GSC’s league schedules in 2013-14 as part of its transition efforts.
Lee University President Paul Conn expressed his excitement in his institution’s approval and its future as a GSC member. “Nate Salant, Commissioner of the GSC called Friday night to congratulate us. He and his staff have been very helpful through this process. He already is thinking of Lee as if we were already full members of the conference, and I am convinced more than ever that the Gulf South is going to be the best possible Division II conference in the country for us. Some people call it “the SEC of Division II,” and I can see why it has such a great reputation.”
"We are delighted that Lee University has been accepted into the NCAA D-2 Membership Process and congratulate President Paul Conn and the entire Lee community," said GSC Commissioner Nate Salant. "Our expansion committee rated Lee very highly and for all of the right reasons: strong academics focused on graduating its student-athletes with meaningful degrees; a commitment to and history of not only competing for regional and national championships, but winning them; a CEO who has been there for 26 years and overseen a remarkable annual increase in enrollment; and, a level of community, alumni and on-campus support comparable to the best in the Gulf South Conference."
"Lee's teams will begin playing in the GSC during the 2013-14 academic year, but will not be eligible for GSC or NCAA post-season play until 2015-16. GSC fans are in for a very positive experience when they travel to Lee, and can expect top-notch competition when Lee's teams travel to our current membership.
"Given that we always have an eye on getting more football-playing schools, one of the things we would like to see Lee do is start football in the near future, and we've strongly encouraged them to do so," Salant continued. "Obviously, that's not a decision that's made overnight, and it will take a few years to get it in place, but with our without football, Lee will be a very strong GSC member."
The Division II Membership Committee released other good news for the GSC on Friday as Conference Provisional Members Shorter University and Union University (TN) were elevated to the Year Candidacy 2 stage of the membership process. SU and UU will play in each of the GSC’s league schedules this season and are on track to become full NCAA members in 2014-15.
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