On Thursday, Lincoln University Missouri announced that they are changing sports conferences and adding three new sports programs.
After 13 years with the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), Lincoln is entering a full-time membership with the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).
The school is also adding baseball, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer to its athletics department.
“This is a significant day for the future of Lincoln University,” said Dr. John Moseley, President of Lincoln University.
“This puts us in a position athletically where we’ve leveled the playing field by realigning ourselves with others of similar size and similar fiscal commitment. This will also give us the opportunity to compete and recruit in areas where Lincoln already has a large alumni base,” Moseley added.
Lincoln University will be the first HBCU a part of the GLVC in 45 years, according to the commissioner of the conference, Jim Naumovich.
“This is an historic day for the GLVC,” Naumovich said. “Under the leadership of Dr. Moseley, and what he’s done for Lincoln as the university president, and Dr. Wilson with intercollegiate athletics, it will be a great fit.”
The GLVC is currently one of the largest NCAA Division II conferences in the country, featuring 15 schools and 24 sports.
The baseball program, which started in 1970, will return to Lincoln after being discontinued following the 2016 season; a fact Dr. Moseley is most excited about.
“For me personally, bringing baseball back is special. It’s a sport that’s had a lot of history here at Lincoln, so I’m excited about its return. Soccer is a growing sport and will give us a chance to have an international presence. Adding these sports, in addition to joining the GLVC, will give us more opportunities to recruit students, not just student-athletes.”
Lincoln will begin national searches for a baseball coach and a director of soccer, who will serve as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s programs. All three programs will officially start up in the fall of 2023 and will begin playing opponents in 2024-25.
