Statement From Southern Miss Department of
Athletics
The University of Southern Mississippi will
terminate its membership in Conference USA
effective June 30, 2022. The University will not
participate in Conference USA during the 2022-23
academic year. This decision comes after
considering the best interests of the University and
the entire Golden Eagle family, including nearly 350
student-athletes and thousands of fans and
supporters.
The University first advised Conference USA in
early December 2021 of the University's plans to
terminate its membership in June 2022. Since then,
the University has clearly and consistently repeated
its intentions to the conference. The University has
from the outset expressed its desire to work with
Conference USA to achieve an amicable
separation, including offering to cooperate to
ensure that all remaining conference members had
complete competitive schedules for those sports in
which the University competes. Conference USA
has so far refused to discuss any such
arrangement with the University.
The Conference's unwillingness to discuss the
concept of separation this year creates confusion
and doubt for all concerned. The remaining
members of Conference USA deserve certainty
about their schedules as they plan for competition
next year. For their sake, the University makes
public its intent.
While the University appreciates its time and
experience as a Conference USA member, that
time will end on June 30, 2022. We wish
Conference USA and its membership success in
the future.
Athletics
The University of Southern Mississippi will
terminate its membership in Conference USA
effective June 30, 2022. The University will not
participate in Conference USA during the 2022-23
academic year. This decision comes after
considering the best interests of the University and
the entire Golden Eagle family, including nearly 350
student-athletes and thousands of fans and
supporters.
The University first advised Conference USA in
early December 2021 of the University's plans to
terminate its membership in June 2022. Since then,
the University has clearly and consistently repeated
its intentions to the conference. The University has
from the outset expressed its desire to work with
Conference USA to achieve an amicable
separation, including offering to cooperate to
ensure that all remaining conference members had
complete competitive schedules for those sports in
which the University competes. Conference USA
has so far refused to discuss any such
arrangement with the University.
The Conference's unwillingness to discuss the
concept of separation this year creates confusion
and doubt for all concerned. The remaining
members of Conference USA deserve certainty
about their schedules as they plan for competition
next year. For their sake, the University makes
public its intent.
While the University appreciates its time and
experience as a Conference USA member, that
time will end on June 30, 2022. We wish
Conference USA and its membership success in
the future.
