WAC Officially Welcomes Dixie State, Tarleton
DENVER - Today the Western Athletic Conference officially welcomes Dixie State University and Tarleton State University as members of the conference. The Trailblazers and Texans now begin the four-year reclassification to Division I.
"Since accepting inviations to join the WAC, this is a date that has been eagerly anticipated at the two schools and throughout the conference," said WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd. "On behalf of the conference, it is a great pleasure to welcome both Dixie State and Tarleton to the WAC."
Dixie State was the first of the two schools to accept an invitation to join the conference, announcing their intention on Jan. 11, 2019. Formerly a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Trailblazers were co-champions in men's basketball and were currently tied upon the top of the baseball standings when the season was suspended. Dixie State also won 20 PacWest team championships in 11 seasons before joining the RMAC. They will reunite with previous PacWest foes California Baptist and Grand Canyon in the WAC.
Tarleton accepted an invitational to the WAC on Nov. 12, 2019 after a storied history as a member of the Lone Star Conference. The Texans won 36 LSC championships, nine LSC tournament championships and 14 regional championships across 14 NCAA sports. Just last season, they earned the conference title in football, a divisional title in women's basketball and were atop the softball standings when the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
About Western Athletic Conference
The WAC was formed in 1962 and is comprised of nine member institutions – California Baptist University; Chicago State University; Dixie State University; Grand Canyon University; New Mexico State University; Seattle University; Tarleton State University; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; and Utah Valley University. The WAC crowns team and individual champions in 19 sports – eight men's and 11 women's championships. The WAC office is in the Denver metropolitan area.