A new era of Louisiana Tech Athletics is set to begin as the University announced that it will join Conference USA (C-USA) on July 1, 2013.

The move to C-USA brings Louisiana Tech into a home with several similar-minded universities that include natural regional rivalries. LA Tech has faced or is set to play Rice, Southern Miss, Tulsa and UAB in several sports in the recent past and near future.

The "Rivalry in Dixie," a college football rivalry game between Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss is one of many examples of that. The two teams first met in 1935 and the three most recent games in that rivalry (two of which have been played the last two years) have been decided by a field goal or less.

Louisiana Tech will also compete against regional teams that the school also faced in Western Athletic Conference play like Rice and Tulsa.

The more regionalized league gives all 16 of Louisiana Tech's Division I sports an opportunity to create more compelling schedules including road games at venues close enough for fans to easily travel to. Tech fans, who have already shown they will travel across the country to watch its teams play, get the added benefit of less travel while the school joins a league with quality competition.

"Located right in the heart of our Conference, we are so pleased to be able to start this association," said CUSA Commissioner Britton Banowsky, who was present at Friday's announcement. "The more you learn about Louisiana Tech, the more you appreciate the fine programs they have in place. They have a great tradition, and a wonderful vision for excellence in the future. They will make a great addition to the Conference."

Just as Louisiana Tech has worked tirelessly to make this move to enhance the school's regional and national visibility and competitive level in every sport, so can its fans support the University on this historic occasion. LTAC members are encouraged to join the 110% Club by giving at least 10 percent more than the previous year's gift.

In turn, Conference USA proudly gets a Tier One academic institution that boasts some of the most competitive intercollegiate sports in the region.

The Louisiana Tech football program is coming off a WAC Championship and an appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl where the Bulldogs nearly upset No. 15 TCU. The Bulldogs basketball team advanced to the WAC Tournament Championship Game last season in head coach Mike White's first season at Tech.

Ruston is the home of collegiate women's basketball as legendary coaches Sonja Hogg and Leon Barmore captured the nation's attention to the fastest growing sport at the time with three national championships and countless All-Americans in the 1980s. Current head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a member of the 1988 national championship team, is back in Ruston leading the Lady Techsters to their rightful spot atop the women's college basketball world.
 

Vision & Integrity: Louisiana Tech University Profile

North Louisiana's only Carnegie Foundation Research University/High Research Activity (RU/H) and SREB Doctoral Four-Year 2 Research University.

Ranked as a Tier One National University in US News & World Report's 2012 Best Colleges Report
23.8 - Average freshman ACT score - highest among University of Louisiana System (ULS) institutions
Highest student body graduation rate in the ULS
University's student-athletes boast a 72% four-year graduation success rate
4.7 Years for completion of Bachelor's degree - fastest among ULS institutions
Ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for graduating students with the least amount of debt for three consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012 US News & World Report Best Colleges Lists)
Ranked as one of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges by Kiplinger's Magazine (2009 & 2010)
Tech's College of Business is home to the Academy of Marketing Sciences (AMS) and the Journal for Academy Marketing Sciences (JAMS), a premiere academic marketing publication
Averages between 12 and 23 Reports of Invention (ROI) per $10 million in research expenditures; the national average is four
Tech faculty currently have $80 million in active grants

TECH 2020: Tomorrow's Tech ... Today

TECH 2020 is a long-term strategic plan for Louisiana Tech University's transition from a very good academic institution to a great one.
It's an institutional vision that most effectively serves the citizens of the State of Louisiana and prepares Louisiana Tech to be competitive in this complex and rapidly changing world.

The TECH 2020 vision is bold.
Louisiana Tech University will be recognized as a top public research university with an unparalleled integrated educational experience ... nothing less will do.

TECH 2020 identifies strategic focus areas for the University.
To support high quality education from birth through life
To enrich the learning outcomes for all students through highly integrated and interdisciplinary programs that encompass service learning and global awareness
To build an innovative research and graduate program that is nationally prominent and aligns with Louisiana and national economic interests
To build a nationally competitive Division I athletic program that is consistent with a national research university

A new era is underway at Louisiana Tech University
Through the development of a bold vision and the execution of an aggressive strategy, LA Tech Athletics is securing its place as one of the most progressive and respected athletics programs in the nation. For LA Tech Athletics ... nothing less will do.

Facilitating Success

Louisiana Tech University has invested in excess of $50 million over the past four years in the construction of several new athletics venues and large-scale improvements to existing facilities. These enhancements are a direct result of our commitment to providing a unique and unparalleled fan experience for members of our conference and our community.

Have Fans, Will Travel

Five thousand traveling Louisiana Tech fans, players, coaches and staff members could result in an economic impact of more than half a million dollars for each event, in each city.

Independence Bowl Champions: More than 41,000 fans traveled to Shreveport to see the Bulldogs defeat Northern Illinois, 17-10, in the 2008 Independence Bowl. Louisiana Tech quickly sold out its allotment of 12,000 tickets and attracted thousands more for three days of game-related activities.
Poinsettia Bowl: After capturing the 2011 Western Athletic Conference title, Louisiana Tech earned a bid to play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl against 15th ranked TCU. the contest had the highest TV rating of any bowl game featuring a non-AQ program.

At Close Range

The greatest and most enduring rivalries in all of sports have one thing in common: geography. Fans that are able to hit the road and follow their teams enjoy an enhanced game day experience by tailgating and experiencing the traditions of other institutions in their confernece.

Driving From/To Louisiana Tech - Ruston, La.
Southern Miss: 236 miles; 3 hrs, 20 mins
Rice: 312 miles; 4 hrs, 25 mins
Tulane: 344 miles; 4 hrs, 50 mins
Tulsa: 412 miles; 5 hrs, 50 mins
UAB: 385 miles; 5 hrs, 30 mins

Within a 250 mile radius of Ruston:
Total population: 6.92 million
Louisiana Tech alumni: 35,072
Big 12 markets: 0
C-USA markets: 0
SEC markets: 0

Within a 250 mile radius of Louisiana Tech the total population exceeds 6.9 million people. This is larger than the individual cities of Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham and Tulsa.
35,000 Tech alumni live within this radius.
There are no SEC, Big 12 or C-USA schools within this radius.
Louisiana Tech is perfectly positioned to help C-USA fill the void left by the Big 12 and the SEC in this region of the country.
The proximity of Louisiana Tech to Big 12, Big East and SEC schools allows for contracted home/away games which will enhance the value of the conference television package.
The states of Louisiana, Mississippi and eastern Texas are hotbeds for recruiting Division I talent and supportive, passionate fans for intercollegiate athletics.

Media Market Presence

Louisiana Tech Athletics' programs are covered on an in-depth basis by television, newspaper, internet, and radio outlets in the north Louisiana area. These outlets reach markets in all areas of the state as well as into Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. Louisiana Tech is regularly televised as the Bulldog football team had 10 of its contests in 2011 televised live on either the ESPN networks or Fox Sports networks.

TV Affiliates within 100 Mile Radius
KNOE-TV Monroe/West Monroe
KTVE-TV Monroe/West Monroe
KARD-TV Monroe/West Monroe
KTBS-TV Shreveport/Bossier City
KSLA-TV Shreveport/Bossier City
KMSS-TV Shreveport/Bossier City
KPXJ-TV Shreveport/Bossier City
KTAL-TV Shreveport/Bossier City
KALB-TV Alexandria/Pineville
NALB-TV Alexandria/Pineville
KLAX-TV Aleandria/Pineville

Simply the Best: Championships & Postseason Appearances

Louisiana Tech's athletics teams have consistently performed at a high level, winning several championships and continuously appearing in postseason tournaments.

Football
2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
23 Conference Championships
12 Bowl Games

Women's Basketball
3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
20 Regular Season Conference Titles
16 Tournament Titles
13 Final Fours
8 National Title Game Appearances
27 NCAA Tournaments
1,014 Wins (second most in NCAA history)
37 Straight Winning Season (never a losing season)

Men's Basketball
23 Conference Championships
3 NAIA Tournaments
7 NCAA Tournaments
6 NIT Appearances
1 CollegeInsider.com Appearance

Softball
1 Conference Championship
9 NCAA Tournament Wins
3 Women's College World Series Appearances

Baseball
9 Conference Championships
7 NCAA Tournaments

Women's Track & Field (Indoor and Outdoor)
15 Conference Championships (includes seven straight WAC outdoor titles)

Men's Track & Field (Indoor, Outdoor, Cross Country)
11 Conference Championships

Men's Golf
10 Conference Championships

One Legendary Tradition

157 All-Americans. 123 Professional Athletes. 15 Hall of Famers.
ONE LEGENDARY TRADITION

Louisiana Tech consistently churns out quality student-athletes. Several of them have been recognized for being the best of the best.

Louisiana Tech Has 157 All-Americans To Date ... And Counting.
Football: 65 All-Americans
Track & Field: 48 All-Americans
Women's Basketball: 16 All-Americans
Men's Basketball: 13 All-Americans
Baseball: 9 All-Americans
Softball: 6 All-Americans

Pro Football Hall of Fame
Terry Bradshaw
Fred Dean
Willie Roaf

College Football Hall of Fame
Joe Aillet
Terry Bradshaw
Fred Dean

Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame
Leon Barmore
Karl Malone

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Leon Barmore
Kim Mulkey
Sonja Hogg
Pam Kelly
Janice Lawrence
Teresa Weatherspoon

National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Bill Galloway

Best in the Business: Tech Athlete to Professional Athlete

59 Bulldogs Have Played in the NFL:
Terry Bradshaw (Four-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame)
Fred Dean (Two-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame)
Willie Roaf (11-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Fame)
Matt Stover (Super Bowl Champion and Two-time Pro Bowler)

14 Bulldogs Have Played in the NBA:
Karl Malone (13-time NBA All-Star and Two-Time NBA MVP)
P.J. Brown (NBA Championship - Boston Celtics)
Paul Millsap (Utah Jazz)
Jackie Moreland (Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Buccaneers)

21 Lady Techsters Have Played in the WNBA:
Teresa Weatherspoon (Five-time WNBA All-Star and 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist)
Cheryl Ford (Three-time WNBA Champion, Four-time WNBA All-Star, 2003 WNBA Rookie of the Year)
Vickie Johnson (Two-time WNBA All-Star, Ranks #1 in WNBA history in games and minutes played)
Betty Lennox (WNBA Champion, Finals MVP and 2000 WNBA Rookie of the Year)

16 Bulldogs Have Played in MLB
David Segui (Baltimore, New York [NL], Montreal, Seattle, Toronto, Texas, Cleveland)
Phil Hiatt (Los Angeles [NL], Kansas City, Detroit)
Mike Jeffcoat (Cleveland, San Francisco, Texas, Florida)
Jeff Richardson (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Boston)

Louisiana Tech: A National Brand

Since its move to the Western Athletic Conference, Louisiana Tech has quickly established itself as a national brand that has captured the attention of sports fans from coast to coast.
Louisiana Tech has built its athletic brand maintaining the high academic standards of a Tier I Research institution.
The LA Tech athletic program has competed in the Western Athletic Conference which has finished as the top ranked non-BCS conference behind the Mountain West Conference.
During this time Louisiana Tech has won 29 WAC championships.
Louisiana Tech has been ranked in the Top 10 in the Excellence in Management Cup (Texas A&M Laboratory for the Study of Intercollegiate Athletics) for three straight years (joining only Kent State, Utah State and Boise State). The award recognizes which athletic departments win the most championships in accordance to financial expenditures.
Louisiana Tech recorded its best finish ever in the Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup this past year behind the strength of championship performances by women's basketball, women's indoor track and field, and women's outdoor track and field.
Louisiana Tech won the NCAA Pack the House Challenge for the Western Athletic Conference for the fourth consecutive year. LA Tech is the only program in the country that has won the award for its respective conference all four years.
Louisiana Tech won the 2010 Turnkey PRISM Award (University of Massachusetts Amherst Sports Management Program). The PRISM Award (Professionalism, Results and Innovation in Sport Management) recognizes colleges for managerial excellence across four areas: marketing/branding; fan development; community relations; and customer/client service.
Louisiana Tech's recent appearance in the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl was viewed in over 2 million homes demonstrating the program's strong national and regional appeal. The contest had the highest TV rating of any bowl game featuring a non-AQ program.
Louisiana Tech was one of only five schools (joining Texas, Oklahoma, Florida State and Stanford) that had at least one student-athlete selected in each of the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA and National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Drafts in 2010.
Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen won the 2011 Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter.
Cheryl Ford (Louisiana Tech) was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2003 and helped the Detroit Shock win three WNBA Championship titles.

Academic Snapshot: Putting the 'Student' Back in Student-Athlete

Louisiana Tech's football team recorded a 75 percent graduation success rate, which is not only its all-time best, but which ranks second among all Division I football-playing schools in Louisiana (including Tulane) and second in the Western Athletic Conference (behind only Utah State at 77 percent).

Louisiana Tech's football program earned the 2011 Academic Achievement Award presented by the American Football Coaches Association for graduating over 75 percent of its football student-athletes.

Louisiana Tech's student-athletes recorded a four-year graduation success rate of 72 percent which ranks as the second highest in the state among Division I football-playing public institutions and among the best in the nation (NCAA Federal Graduation Rate Report released October 2011).

Louisiana Tech saw eight of its 16 NCAA sanctioned programs record their highest multi-year APR rates ever while four of the programs registered their highest single year APR score ever.

Meet Conference USA

Here's a quick glance at Louisiana Tech's new conference mates:

Charlotte 49ers
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1946  Colors: Green & White  Enrollment: 25,277  Chancellor: Dr. Philip L. Dubois  Athletic Director: Judy Rose	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football (beginning 2013)  Golf  Soccer  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

East Carolina Pirates
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1907  Colors: Purple & Gold  Enrollment: 27,816  Chancellor: Steve Ballard  Athletic Director: Terry Holland	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Soccer  Softball  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field  Volleyball

Florida International (FIU) Panthers
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1965  Colors: Navy Blue & Gold  Enrollment: 47,966  Chancellor: Mark Rosenberg  Athletic Director: Pete Garcia	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Soccer  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Sand Volleyball  Soccer  Softball  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Lady Techsters
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1894  Colors: Red and Blue  Enrollment: 11,581  President: Dr. Daniel Reneau  AD: Bruce Van De Velde	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Bowling  Cross Country  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Marshall Thundering Herd
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1837  Colors: Kelley Green & White  Enrollment: 13,814  Chancellor: Dr. Steve Kopp  Athletic Director: Mike Hamrick	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Soccer	Basketball  Cheerleading  Cross Country  Golf  Soccer  Softball  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

North Texas Mean Green
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1890  Colors: Green & White  Enrollment: 33,422  Chancellor: Lee Jackson  Athletic Director: Rick Villarreal	Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Soccer  Softball  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Rice Owls
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1912  Colors: Blue & Gray  Enrollment: 5,760  President: David W. Leebron  AD: Rick Greenspan	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Soccer  Swimming  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1910  Colors: Black & Gold  Enrollment: 16,000  President: Dr. Martha Saunders  AD: TBA	Baseball  Basketball  Football  Golf  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Tulane Green Wave
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1834  Colors: Olive Green & Sky Blue  Enrollment: 11,911  President: Dr. Scott Cowen  Athletic Director: Rick Dickson	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Bowling  Cross Country  Golf  Sand Volleyball  Swimming & Diving  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1894  Colors:   Old Gold, Royal Blue, Crimson  Enrollment: 4,100  President: Dr. Steadman Upham  AD: Bubba Cunningham	Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Soccer  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Rowing  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

UAB Blazers
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1969  Colors: Forest Green & Gold  Enrollment: 17,543  President: Dr. Carol Garrison  Athletic Director: Brian Mackin	Baseball  Basketball  Football  Golf  Soccer  Tennis	Basketball  Bowling  Cross Country  Golf  Rifle  Sand Volleyball  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

UTEP Miners
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1914  Colors: Dark Blue, Orange,    Silver Accent  Enrollment: 22,000  President: Dr. Diana Natalicio  Athletic Director: Bob Stull	Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Rifle  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball

UTSA RoadRunners
Quick Facts	Men's Sports	Women's Sports
Founded: 1969  Colors: Orange, Blue & White  Enrollment: 31,114  President: Dr. Ricardo Romo  Athletic Director: Lynn Hickey	Baseball  Basketball  Cross Country  Football  Golf  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)	Basketball  Cross Country  Golf  Soccer  Softball  Tennis  Track & Field (Indoors)  Track & Field (Outdoors)  Volleyball