Conferences: The Empire 8 unveiled a new look and brand identity recently. The conference created in 1996 as a basketball-only league moved to a full conference in 1999 when it began offering 15 conference champion sports. The conference is composed of the following eight schools in New York (known as the Empire State): Alfred University, Elmira College, Hartwick College, Ithaca College, Nazareth College, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John Fischer College and Utica College. "We believe that we have made great steps in solidifying this conference as a great academic and athletics coalition," said Mike Gentile, Empire 8 commissioner. "Having developed a strong identity and brand strategy is one of the more visible and important of these steps." The conference also announced the launch of a new Web site, www.Empire8.com ... The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has formally accepted a bid for membership from Transylvania University. Transylvania will become the eighth member of the league, which also includes Hanover College, Anderson University (Indiana), Bluffton College, Defiance College, Franklin College, Manchester College and the College of Mount St. Joseph. While Transylvania, now a provisional Division III member, will be making the transition to Division III membership over the next three years, the school will be eligible to compete for HCAC regular-season championships beginning this fall. It will not be eligible to participate in conference tournaments or NCAA Division III postseason play until becoming a full Division III member in fall 2004.

Sports sponsorship: Muhlenberg College will reinstate men's lacrosse as a varsity sport, beginning with the 2003 season. The school had men's lacrosse as a varsity sport from 1966 to 1980 when it became a club sport. The addition of men's lacrosse will bring Muhlenberg's number of varsity sports to 22, 11 for men and 11 for women. The new team will play its home games on the AstroTurf at Scotty Wood Stadium, which also is home to the Muhlenberg football, field hockey, women's lacrosse and track and field programs.

Milestones: Mike Strong, women's basketball coach at the University of Scranton, became just the third coach in Division III women's basketball history to win 500 games. Strong accomplished this feat faster than any coach in Division III women's basketball history ... Otterbein College men's basketball coach Dick Reynolds picked up his 500th career victory in an 88-79 overtime win over John Carroll University ... Janice Quinn, New York University, 300 victories in women's basketball ... Mary Beth Spirk, Moravian College, 250 victories in women's basketball ... Keith Bunkenburg, Benedictine University, 100 victories in men's basketball ... Steve Holmes, Salisbury State, 100 victories in men's basketball ... Jennifer Calloway, University of South Carolina-Spartanburg, 100 victories in women's volleyball ... Curt Jordan, the College of Notre Dame (Maryland) 100 victories in women's swimming ... Dick Peth, fourth-year head men's basketball coach at Wartburg College, garnered his 50th victory on the same night that his Knights upset Division I's University of Central Florida, 72-61.

--Compiled by Kay Hawes