Northern Colorado added to Big Sky

The presidents of the eight Big Sky Conference institutions voted Tuesday to add the University of Northern Colorado as the league's ninth member.

The University of Northern Colorado will officially join the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2006, and begin athletic competition in August 2006. The Big Sky will be comprised of Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington University, Idaho State University, The University of Montana, Montana State University, Northern Arizona University, Portland State University, Sacramento State University and Weber State University.

Tuesday's vote occurred at the Big Sky's Spring Meetings in Portland, Ore.

Northern Colorado President Kay Norton, Athletic Director Jay Hinrichs, Associate Athletic Director Linda Spradley and faculty representative Dr.

Robert Heiny attended the meetings.

"In Northern Colorado, we've found an institution that fits the footprint of the Big Sky Conference," said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. "Northern Colorado is very similar to the other schools in our conference. It is a school with a great academic and athletic tradition, and fits both geographically and academically.

"Northern Colorado is committed to the Big Sky and we've already developed a great partnership. Our presidents were very impressed with Northern Colorado from the beginning of this process and are excited about the future of our league with the addition."

Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, and was founded in 1889 as the State Normal School. Northern Colorado competed in the Division II North Central Conference from 1978-2003. Itmoved to Division I during the 2003-04 campaign, and competed in the Division I-AA Great West Football Conference in 2004, and as an independent in other Big Sky core sports.

As part of its agreement for membership in the Big Sky, Northern Colorado will add men's and women's indoor track and field, as well as men's cross country. UNC has also agreed to fund 63 football scholarships by the 2007 season.

Northern Colorado will compete in a full regular-season Big Sky schedule in 2006-07. UNC will face certain restrictions competing in Big Sky Championships where an automatic bid to an NCAA tournament is at stake until it is fully eligible to accept an automatic berth.

In December, the Big Sky institution presidents decided to take a closer look at adding Northern Colorado. A team of Big Sky representatives visited the Greeley campus in early February, and completed a site visitation report that was presented to the presidents.

The Big Sky is expanding for the first time since the summer of 1996 when Sacramento State, Portland State and Cal State Northridge were added after Boise State and the University of Idaho left the conference. Northridge joined the Big West following the 2000-01 season.

The Big Sky Conference was established in 1963 by six charter members: Idaho, Idaho State, Gonzaga, Montana, Montana State and Weber State.