South Dakota School of Mines and Technology begins RMAC membership
Will compete in cross country, golf, and track and field in 2014-15
Courtesy Bradley Blume, SDSM&T Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers are officially members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) as of Tuesday July 1, 2014, becoming the 15
th institution to be affiliated with the premier NCAA Division II conference which has members located in the states of Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah and South Dakota.
“The RMAC provides a level of sustainability for South Dakota School of Mines,” said Hardrocker Athletics Director Joel Lueken. “There is a sustainability for scheduling and for budgeting and it establishes geographical rivalries with Black Hills State (S.D.), Chadron State (Neb.) and Colorado Mines.”
The Hardrockers, along with Westminster College (Utah), were added to the RMAC earlier this year, making the league a full 16-member conference.
“It’s great that the Hardrockers finally have a home. We’ve been waiting for this day to come for a long time,” said SD Mines volleyball head coach Tiffany McCampbell. “It’s great for our student-athletes who will have more to play for now. Not only will they be hunting for conference championships, but also be eligible for post-season conference awards and academic honors.”
SD Mines will begin its second year as full members of NCAA Div. II competition this September after making the transition from the NAIA back in 2009. The Hardrocker cross country, track & field and golf programs will start participating in the RMAC this fall while the Hardrocker volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s soccer programs will join the league in 2015.
“It’s a great honor to be in a conference with such a high level of competition --- not only for our basketball programs but for the entire Hardrocker sports department,” said SD Mines men’s basketball head coach Jason Henry. “Our community will now have the opportunity to see some of the top teams and individuals at the NCAA Div. II level. We are thankful and excited about the chance to have our student-athletes competing for conference championships again.”
The Hardrocker football team will honor a two-year commitment with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) starting this fall and then join the RMAC in 2016.
“There’s a lot of excitement around here,” said Hardrocker football head coach Stacy Collins. “The RMAC is one of the best leagues in the country and is highly competitive. It’s going to be a challenge for the Hardrockers but one that we will be up for.”
Members of the RMAC are: Adams State University (Colo.), Black Hills State (S.D.), Chadron State (Neb.), Colorado Christian University, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University-Pueblo, Fort Lewis College (Colo.), Metropolitan State University of Denver (Colo.), New Mexico Highlands University, Regis University (Colo.), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Western New Mexico University, Western State Colorado University, and Westminster College (Utah), who is currently awaiting NCAA acceptance.