Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

IUPUI to become Horizon League’s 10th member

IUPUI v Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - DECEMBER 7: Matt O’Leary #15 of the IUPUI Jaguars blocks the shot of Vince Edwards #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on December 7, 2015 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue defeated IUPUI 80-53. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Horizon League officially announced this week that IUPUI will be replacing Valparaiso as the league’s 10th member. Valpo left to replace Wichita State in the Missouri Valley.

“We are excited to welcome IUPUI to the Horizon League family,” Horizon League commissioner Jon LeCrone said. “The Jaguars bring us tremendous competitive potential, particularly in men’s basketball, along with an engaged and energized city. Their addition solidifies our broad community partnerships in Indianapolis and is the right school at the right time.”

IUPUI -- which stands for Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis -- has been a member of the Summit League, which will be left with eight teams now that the Jaguars have departed. They’ve made it to one NCAA tournament, back in 2003, and have been a full-fledged member of Division I for 19 years. That was the year before NBA point guard George Hill enrolled. Current head coach Jason Gardner has been there for three years but has yet to record a winning season; IUPUI has not been over .500 since 2011, when Ron Hunter was still the head coach.

“We are excited about engaging with the other Horizon League member institutions to enhance the overall competitiveness of the league,” said IUPUI Director of Athletics Dr. Roderick Perry. “As an institution and athletics department, our mission, vision, and core values align closely with the Horizon League. This is an important step forward in the life of our athletics department.”