Geneseo Knights to join Empire 8

For over 50 years, SUNY Geneseo has been a dominant force in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). With countless championships and several recent victories of the coveted Commissioner’s Cup, the Knights have proven they are not strictly academic, but a high-level athletics college. But now, after decades of dominance, SUNY Geneseo announced they will be taking their talents elsewhere.

It was announced on Monday, Aug. 21 that starting in the 2024-25 season, Geneseo will be a part of the Empire 8 Athletic Conference. “It was not a decision made quickly or easily”, said SUNY Geneseo Athletic Director Dani Drews in an interview on Chalk Talk on 89.3 WGSU-FM. 

Much of the decision, ultimately, came down to travel times. The switch to the Empire 8 will reduce travel times in half each season, allowing student-athletes to balance their personal lives, academic schedules, and athletic responsibilities far more easily. 

Geneseo will not be making this change alone, as SUNY Brockport will also be joining the Empire 8 as they leave the SUNYAC. "We are thrilled to join the Empire 8 athletic conference. This move represents a new chapter in SUNY Brockport's commitment to excellence, competition, and growth," said Erick Hart, the Athletic Director at SUNY Brockport. 

Both schools will be joining the likes of St. John Fisher University, Nazareth College, Houghton College, and several other notable programs: “We are ecstatic to welcome Brockport and Geneseo as core members of the Empire 8,” said Empire 8 Executive Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. 

When speaking of opponents such as SUNY Cortland, who will remain in SUNYAC, Drews assured “those rivalries aren’t going away.” Cortland in particular has been neck-and-neck with Geneseo in the SUNYAC. They have claimed the Commissioners Cup over a dozen times in the last 30 years, proving to be a worthy opponent for the otherwise dominant Knights.

Of the 12 men’s sports in the Empire 8 Conference, ice hockey is not included. Therefore, the beloved Ice Knights of Geneseo will be joining the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) while most of Geneseo’s other programs make the switch to the Empire 8. Equestrian and women’s golf will also be staying in their conferences, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association and Northeast Women’s Golf Conference, respectively. 

Until next season, the Knights will remain in the SUNYAC conference and look to have a repeat of last season’s success. Geneseo won 12 of 19 conference championships, further engraving their name into NCAA Division III immortality. Often considered to be a top performer in DIII, as they were placed at 22 in Learfield Directors’ Cup Rankings, Geneseo will look to continue their success in the Empire 8 next year and for many seasons to come.