JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We first brought you the story on a potential pathway for the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University to one day add tackle football, as their home conference — the Atlantic Sun — enters a first-of-its-kind partnership with the United Athletic Conference, formerly known as the Western Athletic Conference.
But what does this mean for the current sports teams at both schools?
Starting in July, the ASUN and UAC will officially form a consortium - a unique strategic alliance in college athletics.
“Very forward-thinking,” UNF vice president of intercollegiate athletics Nick Morrow said. ”Nobody’s doing it like this in the country, but on paper it makes a lot of sense - and now we’re going to see it come to fruition.”
While UNF and JU will remain two of the nine ASUN members, their teams will now see crossover competition with programs from the eight UAC schools.
“The greatest change you’ll feel is a more focused student-athlete experience because the travel isn’t as significant,” JU senior vice president and athletic director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said.
Even though the Ospreys and Dolphins will now be part of a broader footprint through the alliance, costs are expected to decrease - thanks to reduced travel, less missed class time, and an overall improvement in student-athlete well-being.
“It’s still a broad geography,” Atlantic Sun Conference commissioner Jeff Bacon said. ”One league stretches from Florida to Kentucky, the other from Texas to Kentucky - but there’s a little more separation, a little more regionality.”
“Our job as a Division I athletic department is to bring exposure to the university,” Morrow said. ”We can drive enrollment, experience, and engagement like no one else on campus. Now our brand reaches Texas, and we’re already in places like Nashville and Louisville. From an admissions standpoint, that’s a big advantage.”
With the addition of the University of West Florida this fall, half of the ASUN’s member schools will now be based in Florida.
“I think there will be a lot of excitement,” Ricker-Gilbert said.
So why form a strategic alliance instead of fully merging like the SEC or Big Ten? It comes down to NCAA Tournament access.
“At our level of Division I athletics, what’s really precious is automatic qualification into the NCAA Tournament,” Bacon said.
“Now you’re going through fewer schools to earn that automatic qualifier,” Morrow said. ”That’s important, because that’s where you gain exposure - competing on that national stage.”
The road to the NCAA Tournament - competing in the ASUN men’s and women’s basketball championships - will remain in Jacksonville for the next four years.
“We may stay at 17 schools for a long time - we’ll see,” Bacon said. ”But we are in a growth-oriented mode. If the right opportunity comes along, and the fit and value are there, we’re open to expanding.”
Both conferences will continue to be headquartered in Jacksonville, with ASUN commissioner Jeff Bacon overseeing the alliance.