SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—The University of Northern Colorado and Weber State University have accepted invitations to join the Summit League as an affiliate member for the sport of men’s golf effective July 1, 2024, the three parties jointly announced Tuesday.
The Bears and Wildcats will be the 10
th and 11th men’s golf programs in the league joining the University of Denver, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, the University of St. Thomas, the University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University.
“We are excited to add another program from the University of Northern Colorado and welcome Weber State University and its men’s golf program to the Summit League for this upcoming academic year. The Bears and Wildcats will be great additions to one of the most competitive sports that we sponsor,” Summit League Commissioner Josh Fenton said. “I want to thank Northern Colorado athletics director Darren Dunn and Weber State director of athletics Tim Crompton for their collaboration and work to help bolster the profile of Summit League men’s golf.”
Northern Colorado, who is already an affiliate member in the sport of baseball, and Weber State are both joining the League from the Big Sky Conference where the two programs combined for 21 championships since 1970 with the Wildcats winning 18 of those, including their latest in 2022. The Bears’ three titles have all come since 2018, including one in 2023.
“I am very appreciative of the Summit League for our men’s golf affiliate membership invitation,” Dunn said. “There are great golf teams in the Summit so this affiliation will be a great fit for our men’s golf program. We look forward to competing for a Summit golf tournament championship next season.”
"We are thrilled to join the Summit League as an affiliate member in men's golf. We are deeply grateful to Commissioner Josh Fenton and all the Summit League member institutions for welcoming us,” Crompton said. “This opportunity not only provides a home for our student-athletes but also broadens the competitive horizons for our program. A special thanks to our Big Sky Conference Commissioner Tom Wistrcill and to everyone else involved for making this possible."
WHAT THE GOLF COACHES ARE SAYING
Northern Colorado head coach Clayton Sikorski
“I’m very excited to find our new home. The Summit is a very deep conference and we are looking forward to competing in such a great league.”
Weber State head coach Scott Erling
“We are grateful for the opportunity to join the Summit League in men’s golf. We are excited for the chance to compete and we look forward to being a proud member of the conference.”
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO
Nestled between the Rocky Mountains and Colorado’s stunning high plains, the University of Northern Colorado is a public, doctoral research and educational institution that is home to about 9,000 students and more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, many of which are nationally recognized. Founded as a teacher’s college in 1889, we graduated generations of educators, more than any other Colorado university. Our culture is marked by academic excellence in education, health sciences, business, the humanities and performing and visual arts.
ABOUT WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY
Weber State University is located in Ogden, Utah, 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. The University has an enrollment of 30,536 and offers over 225 degree programs, including 20 graduate degrees. Weber State’s Division-I athletics program sponsors 16 different sports, the majority of which compete in the Big Sky Conference.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., The Summit League is embarking on its 42nd year at the NCAA Division I level and offers 19 championship sports. The League's nine institutions have a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 and include five located in top 60 U.S. metropolitan populations and two land-grant universities. Full-time member institutions are the University of Denver, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska Omaha, Oral Roberts University, University of St. Thomas, University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University.
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