Bellarmine University’s president, Dr. Susan M. Donovan, announced today that she
has accepted an invitation for the university to join the
ASUN Conference. The move will elevate the
university’s athletic programs to NCAA Division I status beginning next summer. Bellarmine
will be the only private DI university in Kentucky, and one of the few Division I
Catholic universities in the South. Donovan, joined on campus for the announcement
by ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, said the move
is the first major achievement of an initiative contained in the university's
new strategic plan, approved last month by Bellarmine's Board of Trustees. With the addition of the
Bellarmine Knights in the 2020-21 season, the ASUN Conference will have 10 members
spread across 7 mostly southeastern states, from Florida to New Jersey. The conference
has been an ESPN broadcast partner since 1989, with game
coverage airing on ESPN+. “The addition of Bellarmine University to the ASUN continues
the rising trend of our league,” said Gumbart. “We are extremely proud to become teammates
with a great university and the Louisville-area community. Today, we celebrate a
new beginning with students, coaches, faculty, administration, alumni, boosters and
Knights fans everywhere. We appreciate the visionary leadership of President Donovan,
the Board of Trustees, Athletics Director Scott Wiegandt, and the entire leadership
and athletic department team at Bellarmine that made today possible. On behalf of
the ASUN family, we welcome our newest member and look forward to growing this partnership
as we work together in our goal of Building Winners for Life. Swords Up!” Bellarmine
fields 17 sports sponsored by the ASUN Conference. Additionally:
- Men’s lacrosse, which has been a DI program since 2005, will continue as a member
of the Southern Conference.
- Men’s and women’s swimming will participate in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association.
- Field hockey and wrestling will compete in DI with independent status.
"I'm happy to announce that one of the first initiatives in Bellarmine's new strategic
plan is being realized today," said Donovan. "Our athletics program will move to NCAA
Division I through an invitation from the ASUN Conference. This move gives
us the opportunity to compete against the best rivals in college sports, and it allows
us to share the Bellarmine story with a larger audience than ever before. As we make
the move to DI, we will continue to maintain our academic rigor and pursue
ways to innovate and enhance the exceptional educational experience that Bellarmine
University has offered students since its founding." Donovan stressed that the move
to DI is just one aspect of the university's new strategic plan, which has six priorities:
- Delivering a transformative student experience
- Becoming a model for academic innovation
- Expanding enrollment and geographic reach
- Committing to equity and inclusion
- Becoming a fully engaged partner in Louisville and the region
- Ensuring affordability and access while being good stewards of the university's resources
"ASUN is a perfect fit for the Knights, because - like Bellarmine - every school in
the conference is committed to putting students first," said Scott Wiegandt, Bellarmine's
director of athletics. “Our student- athletes already meet Division
I academic standards, and our players and coaches will be ready to compete when we
join our new conference next year. While our facilities generally meet DI standards,
we're planning some upgrades that will enhance the experience for our student-athletes,
our opponents and our fans. The improved reach offered through ASUN and ESPN will
shine a brighter spotlight on Bellarmine, drawing more regional and national attention.” The
Knights will compete for one more season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, a DII
conference that Bellarmine helped launch in 1978. “Joining NCAA Division I will help
Bellarmine raise its regional and national profile,” said Fischer. “That will help
Bellarmine continue to grow and Bellarmine’s growth is great news for Louisville because
we want to continue
to attract talented, ambitious young people to come here, get their degree and then
stay here to start careers, businesses and families. Bellarmine’s success fuels Louisville’s
success.” For more information about Bellarmine's plans to transition to DI athletics,
visit
/bellarmine-rising.
About ASUNThe ASUN Conference is a NCAA Division I league committed to Building Winners for
Life by meeting the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and
athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. The ASUN includes
a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the
region: Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University,
Liberty University, Lipscomb University, New Jersey Institute of Technology,
University of North Alabama, University of North Florida and Stetson University. The
addition of Bellarmine University will bring the ASUN membership up to 10 institutions
for the 2020-21 academic year.
About BellarmineBellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.) is an inclusive independent Catholic university
with a strong liberal arts focus that educates students in mind, body, and spirit
for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, ethical leadership, and service to improve
the human condition. Founded in 1950, Bellarmine offers more than 60 majors with an
undergraduate and graduate enrollment of nearly 3,500 students and has an alumni community
of more than 25,000. The Bellarmine Knights field teams in 22 sports,
including an NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse program. Bellarmine is listed as a top
U.S. university by publications including The Princeton Review, Forbes and U.S. News
and World Report.
