Texas Wesleyan University and two other Texas schools will move to the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Texas Wesleyan, Northwood University, and Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) – all longtime members of the Red River Athletic Conference – will join SAC next year.

The announcement was made jointly by the schools’ presidents – Texas Wesleyan’s Frederick G. Slabach, SAGU’s Kermit Bridges, and Northwood’s Kevin Fegan on Tuesday.

Texas Wesleyan, as well as Northwood and SAGU, have enjoyed their tenure with RRAC, but are looking forward to what the new relationship will offer, Slabach said.

“This move isn’t just about joining a more competitive conference,” Slabach said. “The closer proximity of other conference schools gives our student-athletes the benefit of spending more time in class and less time on the road.”

Having 10 schools in the SAC means the conference will be able to advance two teams out of the conference to post-season competitions.

“The competitive environment in the Sooner is demanding,” Slabach said. “But we look forward to the challenge.”

SAC Commissioner John Hudson said the conference is delighted with the additions of these three great institutions and believes the move creates one of the strongest conferences in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

Current SAC schools are John Brown, Mid-America Christian, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma City, St. Gregory’s, Wayland Baptist, and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

The SAC’s offices are located in Oklahoma City.