American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco announced Friday that Wichita State will join The American in men’s and women’s basketball and Olympic sports beginning July 1, 2017.

“We are pleased and proud to welcome Wichita State to The American,” Aresco said.

“This is a University with a strong athletic and academic heritage which shares our conference’s commitment to excellence, and we look forward to having them as a member. The University has an exceptionally strong tradition of success in men’s basketball and baseball.”

“The addition of Wichita State in basketball and Olympic sports extends our conference’s national footprint, enhances our national profile, and strengthens our position as a leader in intercollegiate athletics.”

Wichita State sponsors 15 sports – baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’ golf, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s indoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and volleyball – all of which will compete in The American.The Shockers have been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1945.

“The addition of Wichita State is tremendous for this league,” said UCF Head Men’s Basketball Coach Johnny Dawkins.

“To bring in a program that has had such success and been to six straight NCAA Tournaments will be great for the American Athletic Conference. What Gregg Marshall has done at Wichita State has been impressive and we are excited to have the Shockers join The American.”

The Shockers have been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference since 1945.

“We want to play the best at UCF and we couldn’t be more excited about the addition of Wichita State to The American, one of the six most powerful conferences in the country,” said Danny White, Vice President and Director of Athletics.“We believe the Shockers raise the bar for many of our sports and contribute to our vision of building a perennial Top 25 intercollegiate athletics program.”

“We believe the Shockers raise the bar for many of our sports and contribute to our vision of building a perennial Top 25 intercollegiate athletics program.”

Wichita State’s men’s basketball team has more than 1,500 wins in its 111-year history and has won 11 MVC regular-season championships – four straight – and four tournament crowns, with 2017 as the most recent. Gregg Marshall has led the Shockers to more than 260 victories for a nearly .750 winning percentage.

The shockers will join eleven American Athletic Conference members beginning July 1, 2017.