Allegheny athletics announces return to Presidents' Athletic Conference

After 38 years, Allegheny College athletics will return to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, the college and the PAC announced Monday.

Allegheny will be the league’s 11th full-time member and will officially join July 1, 2022.

Gators athletics will finish its commitment to the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference. Most of the teams in the conference are located in Ohio.

Allegheny was a founding member of the NCAC in 1984.

“Allegheny College is excited to re-enter the Presidents’ Athletic Conference next year,” said Dr. Hilary L. Link, Allegheny College president.

“This return aligns with all three of the strategic priorities that make up our Renaissance Vision for Allegheny College’s future. These priorities include engaging more fully with our local context, owning and articulating our unique interdisciplinary academic brand, and focusing on holistic student success — to make the best Allegheny experience the typical Allegheny experience. The PAC’s mission of promoting athletics and the pursuit of academic excellence is a great fit for Allegheny.”

Allegheny previously was a member of the PAC from 1958-84 when it won more than 45 team championships, earned the school’s first team national championship (1983 men’s golf), and had five student-athletes win NCAA Division III individual national titles.

Link said that rejoining the PAC will offer several enhancements to the experience for student-athletes, including reduced travel time to athletic competitions.

“Moving to the PAC gives our student-athletes more local visibility and support, more time to spend on their studies and co-curricular activities, and more opportunity to achieve success in the classroom and on the field or court,” Link said.

“It also connects us more closely with our local community, providing increased support for our athletic teams at away competitions by bringing our students and local community members to cheer them on, and increases school spirit by re-creating local rivalries and energy in our stands.”

Allegheny sponsors 21 athletic teams in the NCAA: football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball

The Gators athletic programs will join those from current PAC members Westminster, Washington & Jefferson, Bethany, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Chatham, Franciscan, Geneva, Grove City, Thiel, Saint Vincent and Waynesburg.

“As commissioner of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, it is both an honor and a distinct privilege to officially welcome Allegheny College back to the PAC as the league’s 11th full-time member,” said Joe Onderko, PAC commissioner.

“Allegheny is nationally-known as one of the Top 100 liberal arts colleges in America, while the Gator athletic department boasts a history of success both on and off the playing field, from winning the 1990 NCAA Division III Football National Championship to producing a steady line of All-Americans and Academic All-Americans in a number of sports. This history of success both in the classroom as well as the athletic arena makes them a logical partner with our conference, which has strived for and boasted academic and athletic excellence since 1955.”