July 16, 2007

The NCAA Division I Management Council Administrative Committee announced that the America Sky Men's Golf Conference has been elected as an active NCAA Division I conference effective September 1, 2007.

"The America Sky Men's Golf Conference is a unique partnership of institutions from literally across the country," said Jim Keener, Associate Athletic Director at University of Hartford and Executive Committee Chair for America Sky Men's Golf Conference. "We are pleased that the NCAA has recognized our collective commitment to support men's golf on our campuses, and we believe our association will be an important factor in the development of our programs. The formation of the America Sky Men's Golf Conference is a tribute to the hard work of the coaches and administrators at each of our schools. We look forward to our future together."

With the development of the America Sky Men's Golf Conference, member institutions will have an opportunity for its student-athletes to compete in conference action to go along with a conference championship. The America Sky Men's Golf Conference will also provide greater exposure for the membership's men's golf program as an affiliated conference.

The America Sky Men's Golf Conference will include eight institutions spanning from the East Coast to the West Coast in Binghamton University, University of Hartford, Idaho State University, University of Texas-Pan American, University of Northern Colorado, Weber State University, Utah Valley University and Sacramento State University.

A Closer Look into Member Programs: Binghamton University (Vestal, New York) earned a NCAA at-large selection in three of the last six seasons and earned America East Conference titles during the 2003 and 2005 seasons.

University of Hartford (West Hartford, Connecticut) captured three tournament titles during the 2007 season, including the America East Conference championship, and earned its 14th berth in the NCAA East Regional Tournament.

Idaho State University (Pocatello, Idaho) earned a top-10 finish at four tournaments during the 2006-07 season.

University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg, Texas) has won back-to-back National Minority College Golf Championships for the first time in program history.

University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, Colorado) captured the 2006 National Independent Men's Golf Championship and earned 11 top-10 finishes over the course of the last two seasons.

Weber State University (Layton, Utah) earned seven top-10 finishes during the 2006-07 season.

Utah Valley University (Orem, Utah) earned runner-up laurels at the 2007 National Independent Men's Golf Championships.

Sacramento State University (Sacramento, California) captured two tournament titles during the 2006-07, including the 2007 National Independent Men's Golf Championships.

The America Sky Men's Golf Conference is a single-sport conference who will declare a conference champion over the course of the next two seasons with hopes of gaining an automatic qualifier status in the 2009-10 season. Programs included in the America Sky Men's Golf Conference will vie for the first-ever championship in 2007-08 as part of the Purple & Red Invitational hosted by Weber State University in Layton, UT.