Allegheny will get to play more games in Western Pennsylvania when the Gators move to the Presidents' Athletic Conference in 2022-23. Photo by Ed Malliard, Malliard Photography

Confirming a move that was first reported by Hoopsville's Dave McHugh on Aug. 11, Allegheny confirmed that it will return to the Presidents' Athletic Conference effective July 1, 2022, rejoining the conference it left 37 years ago.

• More conference moves: Centenary (N.J.) to the AEC | Averett to ODAC 

College president Hilary Link cited this history in formally announcing the departure from the North Coast Athletic Conference in a Monday morning news release.

"Allegheny College is excited to re-enter the Presidents' Athletic Conference next year. This return aligns with all three of the strategic priorities that make up our Renaissance Vision for Allegheny College's future. These priorities include engaging more fully with our local context, owning and articulating our unique interdisciplinary academic brand, and focusing on holistic student success." 

Allegheny left the PAC in 1984 to become a charter member of the NCAC and that conference's eastern most member. When Allegheny returns to the PAC, the college will join a cluster of schools in Northwestern Pennsylvania that includes Grove City, Thiel and Westminster (Pa.). The PAC offices are also located in that area in New Wilmington, Pa. 

Link cited geographic proximity as a factor in the decision.

"Moving to the PAC gives our student-athletes more local visibility and support, more time to spend on their studies and co-curricular activities, and more opportunity to achieve success in the classroom and on the field or court," Link said in the release. "It also connects us more closely with our local community, providing increased support for our athletic teams at away competitions by bringing our students and local community members to cheer them on, and increases school spirit by re-creating local rivalries and energy in our stands."

The move gives the PAC 11 members for football, men's and women's basketball, and baseball. Allegheny will remain in the NCAC for field hockey since the PAC does not sponsor that sport.

The NCAC will drop down to nine members in men's sports and eight in women's sports with Wabash as a male-only institution. Allegheny finished eighth in the NCAC's All-Sports standings in 2018-19, which was the last season in which the conference issued that award. The Gators were most successful in women's and men's cross country where they had 14 and 13 NCAC titles respectively, both of which are the most in conference history.

Allegheny also won all but one NCAC football title from 1985 through 1994, and won the Division III football championship as NCAC members in 1990.