ATLANTA (2/5/2021) -- The ASUN Conference proudly announces the formation of ASUN Men's Lacrosse as the University of Detroit Mercy men's lacrosse program has accepted an invitation to join the league in 2022. 

This is the second time in nine years that the ASUN has built a new men's lacrosse conference. The partnership with the Southern Conference continues as the ASUN again builds opportunities for student-athletes.

"This is an exciting day for our men's lacrosse program as we will be a part of the formation of a new conference, one that will allow us to compete for a championship and a NCAA bid, and help build some history," said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr. "The MAAC has been a great place for our program, and we thank them for hosting us and allowing us to be a part of their success, but we feel the opportunity to join a new league and compete with some closer rivals will be a great experience. We are very familiar with the Atlantic Sun as our women's team was a part of the conference for many years, so we already have a great working relationship as an associate member."

The ASUN first built a men's lacrosse conference in Fall 2012 when it announced ASUN men's lacrosse with a founding membership of Furman, High Point, Jacksonville, Mercer, Richmond, and VMI. That group began play in the 2013-14 season and the Richmond Spiders earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship. Today, the ASUN announces a new group of six that includes Air Force, Bellarmine, Cleveland State, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris, and Utah.

"The primary goal of our lacrosse partnership with the Southern Conference is to maximize opportunity," ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart said. "Our first responsibility is the highest level of service to our full member institutions; when partnerships offer increased opportunity for all, that meets our primary ASUN BEAM of Students First."

The historic step writes a new chapter in the ASUN/SoCon Lacrosse partnership. First announced in January 2014, the Southern Conference and the ASUN Conference have collaborated on providing maximum opportunities for lacrosse programs to find a conference home, a conference schedule, conference honors, and a conference championship - with access to an NCAA Automatic Bid - through the ASUN/SoCon partnership.

The ASUN Conference prides itself on innovation, opportunity and collaboration. By building its second men's lacrosse conference in nine years, the ASUN enhances its national reputation for bold steps that benefit student-athletes. The Southern Conference will retain its men's lacrosse championship and NCAA AQ status by playing with a realigned group of six: Hampton, High Point, Jacksonville, Mercer, Richmond, and VMI.

Detroit Mercy is entering its 13th year as a varsity program and has called the MAAC home for the last 12 seasons after being independent in its inaugural year in 2009. The Titans have advanced to the MAAC postseason in eight of the 11 years the league has held a conference tournament (2020 was canceled due to the pandemic), winning the championship and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2013, while reaching the MAAC title game in 2011 and 2018. 

"We are excited about the new opportunity we have with the formation of Atlantic Sun lacrosse, which includes some local rivals and teams that we have had the chance to compete with for many years. The league will allow us to continue to grow our program and compete for a NCAA bid and play at the highest level," said head coach Chris Kolon '09 (MBA). "I would like to thank the MAAC for 12 years of providing a home and an opportunity for our program to grow and compete for a championship. We have developed a lot of rivalries and friendships in the league and we will miss being a part of a conference that thrives on competitiveness and passion for the sport."

The Titans have registered 42 All-MAAC selections, three Rookie of the Year accolades, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and one Offensive Player of the Year honor. In addition, Detroit Mercy has led or tied for the most in the MAAC in All-Academic honorees in the last nine years. 

ASUN Conference, Atlanta, Ga. - the only DI conference headquartered in the ATL, our footprint's primary media, sports, business, transportation and cultural hub. The ASUN, a Division I conference member of the NCAA, boasts a membership of institutions that share visionary leadership, bold ambition and creative innovation. As a nimble adaptive conference, unafraid to blaze a national pathway for better service to our student-athletes, teams, and institutions, the ASUN has a proud history of firsts, national academic and athletic achievements and a conference culture that walks the walk with its four ASUN Beams. Students First! Rise. Connect. Impact. #ASUNBuilt by Bellarmine (Louisville), Central Arkansas (Conway), Eastern Kentucky (Richmond), FGCU (Fort Myers), Jacksonville (Fla.), Jacksonville State (Jacksonville, Ala.), Kennesaw State (Ga.), Liberty (Lynchburg, Va.), Lipscomb (Nashville), North Alabama (Florence), North Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), and Stetson (DeLand, Fla.).