Presidents' Athletic Conference adds Franciscan University as full member

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference is expanding to double digits.

Franciscan University will join the PAC as its 10th full-time member, the conference announced Tuesday morning. The league’s Presidents’ Council voted on the decision last week.

Located in Steubenville, Ohio, Franciscan was already an affiliate member of the PAC in men’s and women’s lacrosse. The Barons will compete as part of the PAC in women’s golf and indoor and outdoor track and field in 2019-20, then in the remainder of their sports in 2020-21.

“We are thrilled to welcome Franciscan University of Steubenville as the newest PAC full member,” PAC commissioner Joe Onderko said in a statement. “The PAC Presidents’ Council was very impressed with the school’s academic stature and student-centered focus in a faith-based learning environment, as well as its commitment to continuing to develop a broad-based, successful NCAA Division III athletic program.

“We believe they will make a seamless transition to our PAC culture, and look forward to them competing in all PAC championships beginning in the 2020-21 academic year.”

.@PAC_Athletics Commish Joe Onderko makes it official: @FranciscanU will become the league's 10th full member! Welcome @BaronVonSteubie. pic.twitter.com/qDpULGXtt9

— Presidents’ Athletic Conference (@PAC_Athletics) April 16, 2019

Aside from men’s and women’s lacrosse, Franciscan’s other sports teams currently play in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.

“Varsity athletics is an integral part of the Franciscan University educational experience,” Franciscan’s president, the Rev. Sean Sheridan, said in a statement. “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.”

The other nine full-time PAC schools are Bethany, Chatham, Geneva, Grove City, Saint Vincent, Thiel, Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and Westminster, while Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve are affiliate members in football.

Chatham and Geneva joined the PAC as full-time members in 2007, the last two schools to do so. Thomas More withdrew from the PAC after the 2017-18 school year.