FUS Voted into Eastern College Athletic Conference

CAPE COD, Mass. – Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling and ECAC President Dan Mara are pleased to announce that Franciscan University of Steubenville and Marywood University have been voted into membership in the Eastern College Athletic Conference for the 2010-11 academic year.

The institutions have both been voted in by the ECAC Board of Directors. With the addition of those two schools, the ECAC’s membership increases to 290 colleges and universities from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois. The conference has 88 members in Division I, 17 members in Division II, and 185 members in Division III.

“We are excited we are still expanding, and that colleges and universities see the value of our services. The ECAC continues to deliver an enormous return to its members – providing championship opportunities, officiating services, and award recognition through our player of the week and all-star programs,” said Commissioner Keeling.

Franciscan University of Steubenville is a Division III university located in Steubenville, Ohio, and competes in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). The Barons sponsor 14 intercollegiate teams including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s rugby, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s volleyball. Franciscan will compete in the ECAC South region for championships.

“Franciscan is honored and excited to begin a relationship with the ECAC which has provided so many postseason opportunities, for so many student athletes, for so many years,” said Director of Athletics Chris Ledyard.

Franciscan University's men's and women's tennis, cross country and track and field will all have the opportunity to compete in the ECAC championships if eligible.

 Marywood, is a Division III university located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC). Marywood sponsors 18 intercollegiate sports teams including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s volleyball. 

“Joining the ECAC will allow many different avenues to open for our student-athletes and teams,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Dr. Mary Jo Gunning.  “Additional opportunities for postseason tournament play and for individual awards and recognition are just two of the benefits we will see.”