HAMPTON, Va. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference has added Hampton University as a full member effective with the 2018-19 academic year, it was announced this morning at a press conference in the Student Center Theater on Hampton’s campus. Hampton’s membership begins July 1, 2018 and increases the Big South membership to 12 next fall with the addition of USC Upstate yesterday.



“On behalf of the entire membership of the Big South Conference -- student/athletes, coaches and presidents, we are pleased and very excited to welcome the community of Hampton University to the conference,” said Mary Grant, Big South President and UNC Asheville Chancellor. “Hampton’s rich history and tradition both athletically and academically aligns perfectly with the ideals and core values of the Big South Conference.”



The Pirates sponsor 17 varsity sports at the Division I level, 16 of which are sponsored by the Big South: football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, softball, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s volleyball. Only men’s lacrosse will not compete in the Big South. Hampton will be immediately eligible for conference championships, while its football program will officially start its Big South association no later than 2019.



“The move to the Big South Conference is just another part of an exciting year at Hampton University,” said Hampton President Dr. William R. Harvey. “Institutions in the Big South are located in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, which means that our student athletes will spend less time traveling and more time in classes on campus. This keeps the proper focus on academics, which is our chief reason for being. The smaller geographic footprint will also reduce travel expenses. Another important consideration is the large number of alumni located in the Big South region.”



Hampton’s athletics history dates back to the mid-1970s and includes memorable NCAA Tournament moments in 2001 when the No. 15-seeded Pirates upset No. 2-seeded Iowa State, as well as making consecutive NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances in 2014-15. The women’s basketball team is currently ranked No. 24 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, and has won five-straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships and six in the last eight years. On the football field, the Pirates have made five FCS Championship postseason appearances (1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006), as well as making five trips to postseason play as a NCAA Division II member.



A total of 162 student-athletes achieved a 3.0 grade-point average in 2016-17, and notable Hampton alumni include Rick Mahorn (NBA), Francena McCorory (Track and Field – 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist), Yvette Lewis (Track and Field – Olympics), Justin Durant (NFL) and Chris Baker (NFL) .



“This is a big day for the Big South! We are so pleased that Hampton University is joining the Big South family,” added Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander. “We have always been impressed by Hampton’s academics and athletics accomplishments under Presdent Harvey’s visionary leadership. We appreciate his interest and support of the Big South and look forward to working with him and the rest of Hampton’s leadership to support our student-athletes. The Big South is a better conference with Hampton -- athletically, academically, and in providing outstanding opportunities for our student-athletes.”



With the addition of Hampton, the Big South Conference will now have four members based in Virginia (Hampton, Liberty, Longwood, Radford), four in South Carolina (Charleston Southern, Presbyterian College, USC Upstate, Winthrop), as well as four based in North Carolina (Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, UNC Asheville). The conference will begin exploring impacts of the recent membership expansion on scheduling and championship formats for the upcoming 2018-19 season.



ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ( www.hamptonu.edu/)

For 150 years Hampton University has been THE Standard of Excellence in higher education. Founded in 1868 by Brig. Gen. Samuel Chapman Armstrong, Hampton University has a long successful history of offering a strong academic program of educating the “head, heart and hand,” and emphasizing the development of character. This foundation has been built upon by Dr. William R. Harvey, who has served as Hampton’s president for 40 years, during which time the university has experienced accelerated growth and achieved notable accomplishments.



Location: Hampton, Va.

Founded: 1868

Enrollment: 4,768

Colors: Blue and White

Nickname: Pirates

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 35 (30 Division I)

All-Time Conference Championships: 93

President: Dr. William R. Harvey

Director of Athletics: Eugene Marshall Jr.

Senior Woman Administrator: Paula Jackson

Faculty Athletic Representative: Novelle Dickenson

Director of Sports Information: Jim Heath

Institution’s Website: www.hamptonu.edu

Athletic Department’s Website: www.hamptonpirates.com

Twitter: @HUAthletics1868

Facebook: @HamptonUSports1868

