NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference has announced the addition of a new affiliate member, The University of Akron, in the sport of men’s soccer for the 2023 season. The Zips will be eligible for the conference championship immediately.
The new conference men’s soccer alignment for the BIG EAST for 2023 will consist of 12 teams: Akron, Butler, Connecticut, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova and Xavier.
The BIG EAST Conference will develop a pair of six team divisions and construct divisional scheduling. The East Division will consist of Connecticut, Georgetown, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova. The Midwest Division will include Akron, Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Marquette and Xavier. Each team will play all five divisional members once, in addition to three cross-over matches each year. Overall, the league will transition from a 10-match conference season to eight matches.
“We are excited to welcome the University of Akron to BIG EAST Men’s Soccer,” said BIG EAST Executive Associate Commissioner of Sport Administration and Championships Chris Schneider. “Its storied history and commitment to the sport of men’s soccer is a great match for our Conference. We look forward to seeing the Zips in competition next fall.”
The University of Akron, located in Akron, Ohio, has continued to be a nationally prominent program under the leadership of coach Jared Embick. In his 10th year at the helm, the Zips have registered a 124-53-25 (0.675) ledger. As an associate head coach in 2010, Embick garnered National Assistant Coach of the Year, culminating with the school’s first team national championship in any sport.
“We are excited for the opportunity to become an affiliated member of the BIG EAST in the sport of men’s soccer,” said University of Akron Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie. “Aligning ourselves with a nationally recognized conference such as the BIG EAST will continue to challenge our program to compete at the highest level.
“UA is excited to collaborate with all the BIG EAST men’s soccer programs to meet established conference goals and actively contribute to broad-based initiatives for our student-athletes,” Guthrie continued. “We are excited about this next chapter, creating new rivalries, and continuing our tradition of excellence.”
This season, Akron won its 21st MAC regular season title and is set to make its 35th appearance in the NCAA tournament under the direction of Embick. Overall, the Zips capped the regular season 11-3-5 and enter the tournament as the No. 16 seed, earning a first-round bye.
Since Embick first joined the staff as an assistant in 2007, the Zips have posted the highest winning percentage in the nation with an overall record of 234-66-41 (.746) and have appeared in the College Cup final three times.
The BIG EAST has enjoyed tremendous success in men’s soccer. This season, three teams are set to compete in the NCAA Tournament, Creighton, Georgetown and Seton Hall, while five teams advanced out of the first round in 2021. Recently, Georgetown won the National Championship in 2019, while also advancing to the College Cup in 2021.