Marquette to leave Big East Conference

Marquette has played in the Big East Conference since 2005.

 by Rich Kirchen, Senior Reporter, The Business Journal

Marquette University, along with six other colleges and universities, has decided to withdraw from the Big East Conference.

Leaving the league besides Marquette are DePaul University, Georgetown University, Providence College, Seton Hall University, St. John’s University and Villanova University. The seven institutions will explore their options to develop a premier athletics conference centered on elite-level basketball, Marquette president Father Scott Pilarz said Saturday.

“The seven presidents and athletic directors of the universities previously named have been in a thoughtful dialogue to ensure we jointly solidify our vision and commitment to compete at the absolute highest levels of athletic excellence for many years to come,” Pilarz said. “This move will allow us to enhance the elite status of our men’s basketball program, while developing new opportunities for student athletes in all 16 of our competitive athletic programs.”

Marquette men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams called the move, which is scheduled to be effective June 30, 2015, “outstanding.”

“The institutions that have been committed to men’s basketball have made a decision that they are going to stay committed to men’s basketball,” Williams said. “As a men’s basketball coach, I am 1,000 percent supportive of that.“

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