South Dakota will join the Summit League July 1, 2011, reaching full eligibility for all regular-season and tournament championships in 2012-13.

In its first year of membership, South Dakota will compete for league championships in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and men’s and women’s golf. The Coyotes will compete in regular-season women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, and women’s tennis. The school will be ineligible to represent the league at NCAA championship competition during 2011-12, the final year of the school’s transition to Division I.

“We are extremely pleased to add South Dakota to our league membership,” said Commissioner Tom Douple. “The academic profile of the university and its history of athletics success are both outstanding qualities and will provide an excellent fit with our league.”

South Dakota will be the league’s 11th member.

“Today is a great day to be a Coyote. Athletically and academically, the Summit League is a perfect fit for the University of South Dakota,” said President James W. Abbott. “The Summit League is one of the premier athletics conferences in the nation, and everyone at South Dakota is very pleased our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete against their counterparts in this great league.”