ATLANTA, Ga. - The ASUN Conference officially welcomed its newest member, Bellarmine University, on July 1st. Bellarmine announced its acceptance of the ASUN's membership invitation at a press conference in June 2019.

"July 1 marks Bellarmine's first official day as a member of the ASUN Conference," Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. "On behalf of the entire ASUN family, I can share that the excitement surrounding Bellarmine's move into our conference continues to grow. We had a tremendous day on campus June 18th a year ago and now the membership takes effect. Congratulations to the Knights and the Bellarmine family - welcome to the ASUN."

The Knights, who compete in Baseball, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Cross Country, Men's & Women's Golf, Men's & Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's & Women's Tennis, Men's & Women's Track & Field and Volleyball, will be immediately eligible for all ASUN Championships beginning in 2020-21. Due to its transition from Division II competition, Bellarmine will first be eligible for NCAA Division I Championship competition beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.

"This is an exciting and historic time to be a Bellarmine Knight," Bellarmine President Dr. Susan M. Donovan said. "Our move to Division I will elevate our game as we compete against the best rivals in college sports. At the same time, the increased visibility of Division I will allow us to share the Bellarmine story with a larger audience and offer an excellent Bellarmine education to more students than ever before." 

"Joining the ranks of NCAA D-I is the realization of a long-term, university-wide goal, and it's the recognition of seven decades of athletics excellence at Bellarmine," Athletic Director Scott Wiegandt said. "As we take this step, it is important to remember that we're only able to make the stride because we're standing on the shoulders of the many who have come before us. In our 71st year of competition, I relish the opportunity of competing at the D-I level and building new rivalries. I also would like to publicly thank the ASUN Conference, Commissioner Ted Gumbart and all of the member institutions for welcoming us so warmly to a new league. 

The students-first attitude of the ASUN and its members makes the conference a great fit for Bellarmine University, and I look forward to a great transition." 
With the addition of Bellarmine to the ASUN, the conference resides in six states and features eight of the top-80 media markets in the nation.

Bellarmine Sport Program Highlights
• Bellarmine's Men's Basketball owns a historic run of success in the last decade, posting at least 20 wins every season, including 30-win seasons in 2011, 2015 and 2017. The Knights captured the 2011 Division II National Championship and have advanced to the D-II Tournament in 12-straight seasons.

• Bellarmine's Volleyball program has posted three consecutive 20-win seasons, including a 23-9 record and an NCAA at-large bid in 2017. The Knights are led by Head Coach Jenni Grzebin, who has been at the helm since 2013.

• The Women's lndoor Track & Field squad has won three Conference Indoor Championships and produced 19 All-Americans all-time. Yashira Rhymer-Stuart claimed the 2019 Division II Indoor High Jump National Championship and finished second at the D-II Outdoor Meet.

• The Baseball program has earned a berth into the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional from 2017-19. All-time, Bellarmine has made nine trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing as far as the Regional Championship in 2013.

• Bellarmine's Men's Golf team has reached the NCAA Finals four times with the most recent trip coming in 2016. Prior to that, the team made appearances in 1993, 2010 and 2013.

• In six of the past 11 seasons, Bellarmine's Women's Soccer has qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Men's Soccer program has registered three-straight double-digit win seasons, including setting a new program record for wins in 2019 with 16 and advancing the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.
Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.) is an inclusive Catholic university with a strong liberal arts focus that educates students – mind, body, and spirit – for meaningful lives, rewarding careers, ethical leadership, and service to improve the human condition. Founded in 1950, Bellarmine offers more than 60 majors with an undergraduate and graduate enrollment of nearly 3,500 students and has an alumni community of more than 25,000. The Bellarmine Knights field teams in 22 sports, including an NCAA Division I men's lacrosse program. Bellarmine is listed in the Princeton Review's Best 384 Colleges and is a top university in Forbes' list of America's best colleges.
 

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ABOUT THE ASUN CONFERENCE
The ASUN Conference, a member of NCAA Division I, boasts nine member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The ASUN meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. The ASUN includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Bellarmine University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Liberty University, Lipscomb University, University of North Alabama, University of North Florida and Stetson University.