PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has announced that Point Park University has officially been approved for DII provisional membership beginning on July 11, 2024. The Pioneers will begin play this fall in the Mountain East Conference

Point Park will now undergo the three-year reclassification process with full NCAA Division II membership expected in the 2027-28 academic year. The reclassification process includes opportunities for education, assessment and growth as Point Park begins integrating the Division II philosophy, a strategic positioning platform and best practices to be a model Division II institution.

"It was always clear to me that making the move to NCAA was critical for the growth and future of Point Park," said Dr. Chris W. Brussalis, President. "I am excited for our student-athletes, who will have the opportunity to excel against stronger competition and see travel time reduced by 65 percent. But I also believe this will provide opportunities for us to increase our presence in Downtown Pittsburgh, as we continue to build support for a new Community Events Center. That Center would be home for many of our sporting events as well as an asset for the community."

Point Park Athletics will become a member of one of the most competitive conferences at the DII level, the Mountain East Conference. The MEC will have 11 members with the addition of Point Park University. The Pioneers will participate in 15 of the MEC's 23 sponsored sports beginning in the Fall of 2024. Point Park Athletics will also be adding men's and women's wrestling as well as men's and women's lacrosse over the next two years.

Mountain East Conference Commissioner Reid Amos spoke on the NCAA's decision to accept Point Park. "We are thrilled that Point Park University has been accepted into the NCAA Division II membership process, and we look forward to the Pioneers competing as a member of the Mountain East Conference beginning in the fall," said Amos. "Throughout our league's membership process and Point Park's application process with the NCAA, it has become clear the Point Park strongly aligns with the values, goals, and collective mission of the Mountain East Conference and its member institutions. We are excited to expand our footprint into the Pittsburgh market, and I anticipate that Point Park will become a highly competitive MEC member. Today is a great day as we officially welcome Point Park to the Mountain East."

"This is an incredibly exciting day for Pioneer Athletics and the entire Point Park University community. Our coaches, athletic staff, student-athletes, and athletic alumni are ready for this huge step forward," said Scott Swain, Vice President of Athletics. "To join NCAA Division II and the Mountain East Conference is the proper next step for our institution after the great athletic success we have had.  The future is very bright for Point Park Athletics and we plan to embrace those successes with our entire Pioneer Family."

Many coaches at Point Park were very excited for the change as they believe it will have a great impact on not only the student-athletes but also Point Park University as a whole.

"The decision improves our image and our brand as an entire university, but most importantly, it improves the student-athlete experience," said Loren Torres, Head Baseball Coach. "Although the NAIA has been home for us during our entire half-century existence, most of the teams that we originally competed against have left for the NCAA, making us one of only two NAIA schools in Pennsylvania.

Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Tim Creamer is familiar with the transition to the NCAA as he went through this transition while he was a coach at Seton Hill. Creamer stated, "This is an exciting time for Point Park Athletics, moving into the Mountain East Conference and NCAA Division II level will benefit all our student-athletes in so many ways. From a Cross Country and Track and Field perspective this move will not only give our teams exciting new challenges and goals but push them to compete at an even higher level than ever before. We can't wait to be a part of the MEC and NCAA."

Student-athletes are the ones at the core of the transition, and many are thrilled to be going to the NCAA and the Mountain East Conference.

Senior women's basketball and track and field member Emma Pavelek was asked about her thought on the transition. Pavelek had to say, "As someone who has attended Point Park for a few years now, I am thrilled because of all the new opportunities moving to the NCAA is going to bring to the school. I think it is so cool that we get to add new sports to our athletics and have even more teams to support and cheer on!"

Pavelek then went on to state, "New things are always exciting, and I think being able to play new teams in a new conference in new places is something all of us athletes are looking forward to. It is also fun that a lot of us athletes got to be a part of the best of both worlds, NAIA and now NCAA. It is a cool combination that not every college athlete can say they were lucky enough to experience." 

Point Park will now officially begin the transition from the NAIA and the River States Conference (RSC) to NCAA DII and the Mountain East Conference (MEC).