The Empire 8 Conference is pleased to announce the addition of Medaille College effective with the 2022-23 academic year.
"With the addition of Medaille College, the Empire 8 has further established itself as one of the premier conferences in Division III athletically and educationally," said St. John Fisher College President Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, who serves as the Chair of the Empire 8 President's Council. "This expansion will allow the conference and its members to enhance their footprint into Western New York and the Buffalo Region as they continue to find ways to augment their student-athletes' overall experience."
Medaille College is located in Buffalo, New York and provides a personalized learning experience to its diverse student body of both traditional undergraduate and post-traditional graduate students. Medaille students engage in a high-impact, experiential educational process that prepares them for the workplace. With campuses in Buffalo and Rochester, Medaille also offers one of the most robust online programs in Western New York.
"Medaille College is excited to join the Empire 8 athletic conference," said Medaille College President Dr. Kenneth Macur. "While we will miss the relationships we've developed with our outstanding colleagues in the AMCC, we are excited to be included with some of the best DIII private colleges in New York. Medaille College has a long tradition of commitment to DIII athletics and student-athletes. The multi-million dollar investment we are making in our new athletic complex along with the move to the Empire 8 underscore our vision for being a premier competitor and a college of choice for amazing student-athletes."
Medaille currently sponsors 19 Division III sports, with 17 set to compete in the Empire 8. With the addition of Medaille, the E8 will be comprised of 10 members all located in New York State. The conference currently sponsors 23 NCAA Division III sports.
Medaille has enjoyed a rich athletics history with tremendous success at the conference and national level, including:
- 26 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Regular Season Championships
- 22 AMCC Tournament Championships
- 19 NCAA Tournament Teams and 8 NCAA Tournament Wins
- 221 First Team All-Conference players, 13 All-Americans and 4 Academic All-Americans
- 29 Conference Coaches of the Year, 36 Players of the Year and 20 Newcomers of the Year
"Medaille College is a natural fit for the Empire 8," said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "They are a competitive academic institution with great leadership at all levels and outstanding facilities that fits into our geographic footprint. Moreover, like Empire 8, Medaille is committed to the critical educational role that intercollegiate athletics plays in higher education as we shape tomorrow's leaders."
Founded in 1998, the Empire 8 has developed into one of the premier NCAA Division III athletic conferences, both on the field and in the classroom. With the addition of Medaille in the fall of 2022, the conference will consist of Alfred University, Elmira College, Hartwick College, Houghton College, Keuka College, Medaille College, Nazareth College, Russell Sage College, St. John Fisher College, and Utica College.
"Our athletic department is honored to receive the invitation to join the Empire 8 Conference," said Medaille College Director of Athletics Susan Roarke. "The Empire 8 has an outstanding record of being one of the top Division III conferences with their success of student-athletes in the classroom and on the playing fields. We look forward to building new relationships and rivalries within the conference."
ABOUT MEDAILLE COLLEGE
School: Medaille College
Location: Buffalo, New York
Founded: 1937
Enrollment: 2,200
Nickname: Mavericks
Colors: Navy, Gold and Light Blue
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
President: Dr. Kenneth Macur
Director of Athletics: Susan Roarke
Athletics Website: www.medaillesports.com
Empire 8 Conference Sponsored Sports (17): Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Field Hockey, Men's Golf, 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, Women's Volleyball.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com and YouTube
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