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Horizon League to expand to 12 members, adding Robert Morris, in July

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: Marcquise Reed #2 of the Robert Morris Colonials drives to the basket against Marshall Plumlee #40 of the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)

MOON TWP., Pa. — The Horizon League and Robert Morris University announced Monday at the UPMC Events Center in Pennsylvania that the Colonials will join the Horizon League as their 12th member starting in the 2020-21 season.

Beginning July 1, the Horizon League will have 12 members, including Wright State University in Fairborn, Cleveland State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Youngstown State University and Robert Morris.

In the Horizon League, the Colonials will compete in men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s golf and softball.

“This is the next great step forward for our student-athletes and a great day in the history of Robert Morris University,” RMU President Dr. Chris Howard said.

RMU began as a men’s basketball junior college powerhouse to become one of the most multi-faceted athletic programs in the Pittsburgh region. A total of 14 of RMU’s intercollegiate athletic programs have earned at least one tournament championship, with men’s basketball leading the way with nine.

Robert Morris Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris King ’94 said, “Aligning ourselves with a nationally recognized and well-branded conference such as the Horizon League positions our athletics department to continue to gain national exposure for RMU.

RMU opened the UPMC Events Center, a 4,000-seat venue, on May 3, 2019. In the first year in the new facility in 2019-20, both the Robert Morris volleyball and women’s basketball programs claimed Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season championships, while the men’s and women’s basketball programs each won NEC Tournament championships to earn automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.

“We are excited to welcome Robert Morris University to the Horizon League family,” Horizon League Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone said. “The Colonials align with the Horizon League’s mission, vision and core values. Their addition brings competitive potential, especially in men’s basketball, the engaged and vital communities of Moon Township and Greater Pittsburgh, and membership diversity. Their addition positions the Horizon League perfectly for the future.”

The Horizon League, headquartered in Indianapolis, was founded June 16, 1979, as the Midwestern City Conference with six charter members. The HL celebrated its 41st season of operation in 2019-20.

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