Former GLVC rival Purdue Fort Wayne (previously known as IPFW) reuniting with NKU in Horizon League

NKyTribune staff

A former Great Lakes Valley Conference rival is reuniting with Northern Kentucky University in the Horizon League.

Purdue Fort Wayne announced Tuesday at a press conference that it is leaving the Summit League to join the Horizon League, beginning in the 2020-21 academic year. The Horizon League Board of Directors approved the university’s application for membership this week.

Purdue Fort Wayne will officially join the Horizon League on July 1, 2020. The school will continue as a member of the Summit League for the 2019-20 academic year.

Once known as IPFW (Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne), Purdue Fort Wayne will bring the Horizon League’s membership to 11 schools. Purdue Fort Wayne is located at the center point of the Horizon League, an average of 170 miles from each member.

“We are excited to welcome Purdue Fort Wayne to the Horizon League family,” said Horizon League commissioner Jon LeCrone. “The Mastodons align with the Horizon League’s mission, vision, and core values and is located in the middle of our geographic footprint. Their addition will bring competitive potential, especially in men’s basketball, and an engaged and vitalized community. Purdue Fort Wayne is the right school at the right time.”

Since leaving the GLVC and NCAA Division II in 2001, Purdue Fort Wayne competed first as an independent (2001-07) and eventually landed membership in the Summit League. Among the schools in the Summit League are North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Denver.

“This is a wonderful day for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and fans,” said Purdue Fort Wayne Chancellor Ronald L. Elsenbaumer. “Our student-athletes and coaches are ready and eager to compete at the highest levels, and this move will provide incredible opportunities for them to shine. We are honored to join such an impressive group of universities in a league that is such a perfect fit for us.”

“I know our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans are bursting with pride and excitement as we begin the transition into a new League and new levels of competition,” said Kelley Hartley Hutton, athletic director at Purdue Fort Wayne. “We are incredibly grateful to our donors and friends who have provided financial support to help offset the costs of transitioning to a new athletics conference.”

The Horizon League currently includes Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, IUPUI, Milwaukee, NKU, Oakland, Illinois-Chicago, Wright State and Youngstown State.

(Information compiled from the Horizon League, Purdue Fort Wayne and staff reports)