Chicago State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll announced today that the Chicago State men's soccer team and men's and women's golf teams will join the Ohio Valley Conference as affiliate members in the fall of 2023. Men's soccer will be the OVC'S 19th-sponsored sport while CSU men's golf joins nine OVC members (Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Little Rock, Morehead State, SIUE, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin) and women's golf joins seven existing members (Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Little Rock, Morehead State, Southern Indiana, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech).
"We're very excited to have three of our programs join the Ohio Valley Conference as affiliate members," Dr. Carroll said. "It's a great opportunity for our men's soccer program to be a part of the OVC's 19th sponsored sport."
"I am excited to join the OVC," Chicago State women's golf coach
Angela Rayhill said. "I am looking forward to building relationships with the other conference school's coaches and pleased that our student-athletes have the opportunity to compete at the conference level."
In men's soccer, four OVC institutions currently field men's soccer teams: Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, SIUE and Southern Indiana. In addition to Chicago State, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word and Liberty have accepted invitations to join the OVC as affiliate members, boosting the conference to eight men's soccer programs.
"We are proud to be able to represent Chicago State University in the OVC," head men's soccer coach Norris Howze said. "I am thrilled for our program and young men to have a conference to compete in and I want to thank our AD, Dr. Monique Carroll, for her contributions to having our team as a representative in the conference. I also want to thank the other athletic directors and members for this opportunity to compete in this conference. We are looking forward to the competition."
"It is exciting to be able to start a sport from scratch," said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. "This move helps us invest in our future and makes us stronger from a membership standpoint, as well as addresses needs in the men's soccer community."
The OVC becomes the 24th Division I Conference to sponsor the sport of men's soccer and will receive an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship.
Ohio Valley Conference Men's Soccer
| School |
Nickname |
Location |
Head Coach |
| Chicago State |
Cougars |
Chicago, Ill. |
Norris Howze |
| Eastern Illinois |
Panthers |
Charleston, Ill. |
Josh Oakley |
| Houston Christian (HCU) |
Huskies |
Houston, Texas |
Ryan Pratt |
| Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Cardinals |
San Antonio, Texas |
Kiki Lara |
| Liberty |
Flames |
Lynchburg, Va. |
Kelly Findley |
| Lindenwood |
Lions |
St. Charles, Mo. |
Kris Bertsch |
| SIUE |
Cougars |
Edwardsville, Ill. |
Cale Wassermann |
| Southern Indiana |
Screaming Eagles |
Evansville, Ind. |
Mat Santoro |
ABOUT THE OVC
The Ohio Valley Conference, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2022-23, was founded in 1948, making it the eighth-oldest Division I athletic conference. Over the years OVC teams have garnered national championships in football along with national team or individual titles in the sports of rifle, cross country, track and golf. In the 1950s the OVC became a pioneer when Morehead State became one of the first non-traditionally Black mid-southern institutions to accept an African American student. Soon after the passing of Title IX legislation, the OVC began formulating plans for women's athletics which began in 1977. The OVC has long been a national leader in sportsmanship and in 1995 implemented a first-of-its-kind Sportsmanship Statement, a policy that promotes principals of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one's opponent. For more information, visit www.OVCSports.com.
About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University Athletics is composed of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994.
Follow the Cougars
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