Lone Star Conference Release
Google Map of Lone Star Conference Schools (With Expansion)
AUSTIN, Texas – Since 1999 the Heartland Conference has served as home to St. Edward's University's athletic department. However, Wednesday SEU Director of Athletics Debbie Taylor announced that the Hilltoppers will join seven other Heartland Conference schools in accepting an invitation to the Lone Star Conference, effective for the Fall of 2019.
The storied NCAA Division II LSC – which was founded in 1931 – carries a membership of 11 institutions but plans to expand to 19. The league extended invitations to eight of the nine Heartland Conference members with the exception of Newman.
Taylor said that among the positives for SEU joining the LSC is the strength of 19 institutions with regional proximity.
"The stability of a 19-member conference supports the university's commitment to providing a great DII experience with championship opportunities," said Taylor. "Additionally, the geographic location of the membership should reduce travel as well as academic time missed, which aligns with our commitment to academic success."
Existing members of the Lone Star Conference include the only founding member remaining, Texas A&M-Commerce, along with veteran members: Texas A&M-Kingsville (1954), Angelo State (1968), Eastern New Mexico (1984), Cameron (1996), Texas Woman's (1989), West Texas A&M (1993), Tarleton State (1994) and Midwestern State (1995).
The LSC's most recent entries were former Heartland member UT Permian Basin and Western New Mexico; both institutions began affiliation in 2016.
"We currently compete with members of the Lone Star Conference in our non-conference schedule as well as in NCAA regional tournaments, so our schedules will not look much different from what they are now," Taylor said.
From a fans' standpoint, the expansion adds four schools within a 210-mile radius of the hilltop, creating the potential opportunity for additional in-state rivalries. From closest to furthest from SEU, among that five-school list includes: Tarleton State (143, Stephenville, Texas), Angelo State (179, San Angelo, Texas), Texas A&M-Kingsville (180, Kingsville, Texas) and Texas Woman's (210, Denton, Texas).
SEU was a founding member of the Heartland Conference, which began in 1999. The Hilltoppers will compete for two more seasons in the conference.
Taylor said the school and athletic department owe appreciation and respect to the Heartland Conference and that she looks forward to seeing SEU participate as a member for the next two school years.
"As a founding member of the Heartland Conference we are happy that we will continue to be associated with our current colleagues," Taylor said. "There is a lot of mutual respect and healthy rivalry that we wouldn't want to lose."
The Lone Star Conference office is located in Richardson, Texas. The commissioner of the league is Jay Poerner.
"We look forward to a long and collegial relationship with the members of the Lone Star Conference," said Taylor.
