CLEVELAND, OH – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced today an agreement with Chicago State University to become an affiliate member of the league for men’s soccer, beginning with the 2022-23 academic year. With the addition of Chicago State, the MAC will have five programs competing in men’s soccer.

Four full membership institutions (Akron, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois & Western Michigan) will be joined by the Cougars. After a three decade-long hiatus, Chicago State men’s soccer returned to the pitch in 2020. The Cougars played their first full season during the fall of 2021. Norris Howze is currently leading the Cougars as their interim head coach.

"Chicago State Athletics is very excited to become an affiliate member of the Mid-American Conference for our men's soccer program,” said Chicago State Interim Director of Athletics Jessica Poole. “The MAC has a distinguished reputation in men's soccer and we are proud to call it home. We're excited to bring MACtion to Chicago."

CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Chicago State University Athletics is comprised of 15 intercollegiate teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994.

MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 24 championships and is one of 10 members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. Current MAC schools and the year they joined are -- East Division: University of Akron (1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio University (1946). West Division: Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, rejoined in 1997), University of Toledo (1950), Western Michigan University (1947). The conference office is based in Cleveland, Ohio.