Butler to join A-10 next year

Butler has become the newest member of the Atlantic Ten Conference and more changes could be in the offing.

In the 2013-14 school year, Butler, which offers 17 sports, will become a full-fledged member of the A-10, it was announced on Wednesday. Butler had been a member of the Horizon League.

Published reports have linked Virginia Commonwealth and George Mason of the Colonial Athletic Association to the A-10, but league commissioner Bernadette McGlade was noncommittal when asked whether Butler's addition signaled the end of expansion in 2012.

"At this point of time today we're excited, we're celebrating Butler joining the Atlantic Ten," McGlade said on a conference call. "As far as future membership decisions right now, all of that is very fluid."

Apparently, all options are open.

"It's premature to say definitely today there will be no more membership decisions," the A-10 commissioner said. "At the same time I can say wholeheartedly we are extremely happy and excited with our current membership and that includes the addition of Butler, and we feel we are in a position of strength right now."

In essence, Butler will replace Temple, which will become a full-fledged Big East Conference member in 2013-14 and will compete in football this fall after being a football-only member in the Mid-American Conference.

On another matter, McGlade said that she has not heard from Charlotte, which is expected to leave the A-10 for Conference USA. She did acknowledge reading about the rumored departure.

"Charlotte has not provided us any notification," McGlade said. "As of today, they are a valued member in good standing with the league."

Butler, an NCAA men's basketball finalist in both 2010 and 2011, is located in Indianapolis, the 26th largest market, and strengthens the chance for a future television deal, according to McGlade.

McGlade added that television contracts with ESPN and CBS have one year remaining, in the 2012-2013 school year.