General | 7/12/2019 2:35:00 PM

TYLER, Texas – The University of Texas at Tyler Department of Athletics announced that the NCAA Division II Membership Committee approved UT Tyler to move into the second year of the NCAA Division II Membership Process on Friday.
 
On Friday afternoon, UT Tyler President Dr. Michael Tidwell and Director of Athletics Dr. Howard Patterson received a call from the Division II Membership Committee congratulating the University on its success in year one of the transition.
 
Patterson commented, "Today is good day.  We are excited the NCAA DII Membership Committee voted to allow UT Tyler to begin year two of the Provisional Membership process.  A lot of work has gotten us to this point and we look forward to continuing to do those things that will make us a valued member of the NCAA Division II and the Lone Star Conference.   A special thanks to President Tidwell and the members of the Athletic Department, especially James Bonnette, Assistant AD for Compliance.  Also special thanks to those on campus who are helping the University move toward full DII status, especially members of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Compliance Committee.   We are look forward to a full NCAA Division II Schedule from here on out and getting to know our new Lone Star Conference family."
  
The Division II Membership Process is a three-year process in which an institution is required to show the Division II Membership Committee a commitment to the Division II model. UT Tyler hosted members of the committee on campus earlier in 2019 where faculty and staff explained and demonstrated the commitment to excellence in the classroom and the field or court of play. In addition, UT Tyler's Assistant Athletic Director James Bonnette educated student-athletes, staff, and many departments across campus on Division II rules and the scholarship process.
 
Head Women's Soccer Coach and Senior Woman Administrator Stefani Webb commented, "This is incredible news for UT Tyler as we are working toward becoming full members of NCAA Division II.  We are so excited to be joining a powerhouse conference and representing the standard of excellence that we have here at UT Tyler at the Division II level.  We are all looking forward to continuing to recruit student athletes that will represent us well not just in this transition but as we become full members."

The success in year one, allows UT Tyler to move forward into year two of the three-year transition. In year two, UT Tyler will continue to showcase that the University has dedicated the resources required to run a successful Division II program.
 
Year two marks the first where UT Tyler's 17 athletic programs will compete in full NCAA Division II competition. On July 1, 2019, UT Tyler officially became a member of the Lone Star Conference. The Lone Star Conference officially expanded to 19 member institutions with the addition of Dallas Baptist University, Lubbock Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University, Texas A&M International University, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, and University of Texas at Tyler.
 
With 19 members, the LSC is the biggest conference in NCAA Division II.  The LSC, founded on April 25, 1931, started as a five-member conference of Texas-based schools and with the latest expansion will become a 19-member league with 14 members in Texas, two in Oklahoma, two in New Mexico, and one in Arkansas. 

"This is a historic day for the Lone Star Conference as we welcome eight new members and become the largest and most dynamic conference in NCAA Division II," said LSC Commissioner Jay Poerner on July 1. "Individually and collectively, our 19 member institutions embody the very best in Division II with a shared commitment to community, academics and athletics excellence."

The LSC will conduct conference championships in 18 sports (nine men and nine women). Men's championships include football, cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, golf and tennis. Women's titles are determined in volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, softball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis and golf.