“I am honored to welcome Loyola University Chicago to the Atlantic 10 Conference, and we look forward to working closely with an exceptional group of administrators, coaches and student-athletes,” said Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade in a press release. “Loyola’s commitment to the high-level scholastic achievement of all of its students, coupled with its excellent athletic profile, from success in basketball, soccer and volleyball to outstanding facilities and resources, is a perfect fit for the A-10. The addition expands the A-10 footprint into the Chicago market, giving the conference a presence in three of the top five media markets in the United States.”
According to a report by Matt Norlander, of CBS Sports, the A-10 expects to keep its 14 current schools, and the Big East is not currently pursuing Dayton, Saint Louis or Virginia Commonwealth.
Loyola brings a men’s basketball program into the conference that has enjoyed five straight winning seasons and made the NCAA tournament twice this century. It reached the Final Four in 2018 and played in the Sweet 16 last season.
The A-10 will be the fourth conference stop for the Ramblers.
Loyola played in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference from 1979-2001. The Dayton Flyers were also in that conference from 1988-93.
Loyola was in the Horizon League from 2001-2013. It has been in the Missouri Valley Conference for nine seasons now.
“The A-10 is widely regarded as one of the top leagues in the country for its success in competition and in the classroom,” Loyola President Dr. Jo Ann Rooney said in a statement. “This move will continue to grow our visibility at a national level, while at the same time placing us in a league with three other Jesuit institutions. We are confident this is a move that positions Loyola for even greater success, both athletically and academically, in the future.”
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