NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference announced Tuesday the addition of Louisiana Tech University into the league after a unanimous vote of the Sun Belt CEOs. Louisiana Tech will join the Sun Belt Conference no later than July 1, 2027.
Louisiana Tech and the Sun Belt Conference will host a joint press conference on Wednesday, July 16, at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT in the Davison Athletics Complex, which will include Louisiana Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson, Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Ryan Ivey and Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. The press conference will also be streamed at http://www.youtube.com/latechathletics.
“We are thrilled to welcome Louisiana Tech University to the Sun Belt. Geographically situated within the current Sun Belt footprint, the addition of Louisiana Tech reunites a number of long-standing regional rivalries under the conference banner,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “I am grateful to President Dr. Jim Henderson and Athletic Director Ryan Ivey for their leadership during this process. I’d also like to thank the CEOs and athletic directors of our Sun Belt member institutions for their continued commitment to the premier FBS non-autonomy conference in the country. The Sun Belt Conference is RISING and our best days are ahead.”
The addition of Louisiana Tech will bring the number of Sun Belt members to 14 with the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters joining current members App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss and Troy.
“The Sun Belt has remained steadfast in its commitment to regional rivalries, geographic alignment and competitive excellence,” said Georgia Southern and Sun Belt Board of Directors President Dr. Kyle Marrero. “When it came time to add a new member to the Sun Belt Conference, it became clear that Louisiana Tech was the right fit. This addition renews long-standing rivalries, enhances our divisional structure, strengthens the competitive profile of the league across multiple sports and eases travel for fans and teams. We’re excited to welcome the Bulldogs to the Sun Belt!”
Louisiana Tech University, founded in 1894 and located in Ruston, La., is an R2 Research Institution that supports a student population of over 12,000. The school has won seven national championships—three in College Division (1972) or NCAA Division II football (1973 & 1974), three in AIAW (1981) or NCAA Division I women’s basketball (1982 & 1988) and one individual title in track & field. The football program has appeared in 14 bowl games all-time, with an 8-5-1 record, while the softball program has appeared in three NCAA Women’s College World Series (1983, 1985 & 1986).
“The storied legacy of our Bulldogs and Lady Techsters, long an integral part of the Louisiana Tech experience, will be advanced with this move,” said Louisiana Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson. “The invitation from the Sun Belt Conference affirms the quality of our athletics programs. Joining the conference will guarantee regular competition with regional rivals, new and old, creating a more logistically sound experience for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”
Louisiana Tech sponsors 16 varsity sports. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. Women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Louisiana Tech participates in every sport sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference except beach volleyball, men’s soccer, men’s tennis and women’s golf. The Sun Belt Conference sponsors every sport in which the Bulldogs compete except women’s bowling.
“Through all the uncertainty surrounding college athletics, we are pleased that Louisiana Tech has found its rightful home as a member of the Sun Belt Conference,” said Louisiana Tech Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey. “The opportunity for more fan engagement, reduced travel burden, and the renewal of storied rivalries will allow our student-athletes to pursue excellence in sport and in the classroom. Our coaches, student-athletes, alumni, and fans share in our excitement for the future of Bulldogs and Lady Techsters athletics. We appreciate Commissioner Keith Gill and the board for their confidence in our athletics department and look forward to elevating the conference through competition.”
Louisiana Tech was a previously a member of the Sun Belt Conference from 1991-2001 and enjoyed success in a wide range of sports. The women’s basketball team won nine-straight Sun Belt regular-season titles from 1993-2001 and seven conference tournament championships, including six-straight from 1996-2001. The men’s basketball team won a pair of Sun Belt regular-season crowns (1992 & 1999), while the men’s indoor (1999), women’s indoor (2000) and women’s outdoor (1999) track & field programs each claimed a conference title.
The Sun Belt Conference, which sponsors 19 NCAA sports, was founded in 1976 and began sponsoring football in 2001. The conference owns a .571 bowl winning percentage during the College Football Playoff era, trailing only the SEC (.578). Since expanding to 14 football-playing members in 2022, the Sun Belt has led non-autonomy conferences in bowl representation in each of the past three seasons and has been a multi-bid league in eight different sports.
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