The SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo athletics programs have been accepted into the Empire 8 as the conference’s newest full-time members. The Golden Eagles and Knights will become the 10th and 11th full-time members of the conference and will make history as the first public institutions to join the Empire 8. Brockport anticipates beginning competition in the Empire 8 in the 2024-25 season.
“SUNY Brockport is proud to join the Empire 8, an athletic conference that we believe is a perfect fit for our University. That’s because the Empire 8’s priorities mirror our own – emphasizing both athletic and academic excellence,” said Brockport President Heidi Macpherson. “We are eager to embrace the opportunities this new relationship presents. We are confident that it will strengthen our athletic programs and enhance the overall experience of our student-athletes. We look forward to the camaraderie and spirited competition that awaits us in the Empire 8.”
Membership in the Empire 8 will maintain Brockport’s competitive excellence and prioritize the welfare of student-athletes by cutting travel time in half for regular season conference play. This will result in less time away from campus and allow them to balance personal, academic, and athletic responsibilities at an even higher level.
“We are thrilled to join the Empire 8 Conference. This move represents a new chapter in SUNY Brockport’s commitment to excellence, competition, and growth,” said Brockport Director of Athletics Erick Hart. “As we embark on this journey, we look forward to forging strong rivalries, showcasing our student-athletes, and embracing the values of sportsmanship and teamwork that define the Empire 8. Our dedicated athletes, coaches, and staff are poised to make their mark and continue our tradition of success in this dynamic conference.”
Current Empire 8 full-time members include Alfred University, Elmira College, Hartwick College, Houghton University, Keuka College, Nazareth University, Russell Sage College, St. John Fisher University and Utica University.
“As a founding member of the SUNYAC, we have shared strong partnerships with our colleagues. We hold the SUNYAC, Tom Di Camillo, and all of the member institutions in high regard,” said Hart. “We look forward to continued competition with SUNYAC institutions, regardless of conference membership, for years to come.”
The members of the Empire 8 are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the Empire 8.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Brockport and Geneseo as core members of the Empire 8. These institutions have excellent academic profiles, field competitive teams, and are committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience. Like our current members, their athletes are highly accomplished in the classroom, active in their communities, and the institutions are passionate about the role intercollegiate athletics plays in the educational mission developing young women and men into well-rounded future leaders,” said Empire 8 Executive Director Chuck Mitrano. “Moreover, they fit into our geographic footprint enabling us to retain and strengthen opportunities for our student-athletes while being fiscally responsible. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary and reflect on our history, this is an exciting look into a very bright future for Empire 8.”
Brockport student-athletes will compete in 20 of the Empire 8 Conference’s 23 championship sports. Brockport gymnastics will remain in the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) and the wrestling program will remain in the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference (ECWC). Information regarding the conference affiliation for the Brockport men’s ice hockey program is forthcoming.
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