New Horizon for Valpo Athletes and Alumni

A storied history as a founding member of the Mid-Continent Conference came to an end this year for Valparaiso University.

But a new chapter begins for Valpo athletics in the 2007-’08 academic year, when the Crusaders begin play in the Horizon League.

And Valpo alumni will benefit.

In leaving the Mid-Con, with which the university was affiliated since 1982, Valpo joins the 10-team Horizon League that includes several familiar foes.

Six of the schools—Cleveland State, Illinois-Chicago, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wright State and Youngstown State—are former Mid-Con members. Loyola, Detroit and longtime Valpo rival Butler round out the list of Horizon League members.

“It was difficult to leave the Mid-Con in the sense we have some long-standing relationships,” Valpo Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera said. “On the other hand, it was easy because this will be so much better for our student-athletes and our alumni.”

Proximity is the key. Sixty-one percent of Valpo’s alumni base lives within the five states—Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin—that comprise the Horizon League. Seventy-one percent of Valpo’s current student base hails from these five states.

“It will be a huge advantage for our alumni, our students and our [other] fans,” said Valpo head men’s basketball coach Homer Drew, who led his teams to seven NCAA Tournament appear­ances while playing in the Mid-Con. “They’re going to be able to follow us closely because all of these places are within driving distance.”

Crusaders women’s volleyball coach Carin Avery already has seen the recruit­ing benefits of joining the Horizon League.

“In our 2008 recruiting class, we saw the difference in saying we’re in the Horizon League,” Avery said. “I don’t know if we would have [recruited two players in particular] if we weren’t in the Horizon League.”

Valpo offers 18 sports. Seventeen will compete in the Horizon League. The football program will continue to compete in the Pioneer Football League.

Editors Note: On June 1, 2007, the Mid-Continent Conference officially changed its name to The Summit League.