Liberty To Join Conference USA Beginning 2023–2024 Season

Uncertainty regarding the future of Liberty athletics finally came to an end Nov. 5 with the announcement that the Flames would enter Conference USA for most sports beginning the 2023-2024 school year. This announcement came in the wake of the recent conference realignments that have sent shockwaves throughout the NCAA. 

While this announcement no doubt has enormous implications for every NCAA program at Liberty, the football team will probably be most impacted. Hugh Freeze’s squad currently sits as an independent, but the team will transition to Conference USA with most of Liberty’s NCAA sports effective July 1, 2023.  

Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw spoke about the significance of joining Conference USA in a press conference Nov. 12.

“Liberty’s aspired to join an FBS conference for more than a decade, and this opportunity to join Conference USA at this particular time is just a tremendous blessing to our entire institution and our athletic programs,” McCaw said. 

Conference USA commissioner Judy McLeod echoed McCaw’s sentiment and stated that she was pleased to introduce Liberty into the fold. The conference also added Jacksonville State, New Mexico State and Sam Houston State after losing nine schools to other conferences. 

“I can’t say enough good things, but the thing that really stands out is Ian’s vision and leadership for this program, the absolutely 100% commitment to the student athlete experience and the wonderful people throughout this department,” McLeod said in the press conference.

Moving to Conference USA provides a number of benefits for the Flames. 

First, it provides an easier path for Liberty to schedule games against tougher opponents. As a member of Conference USA, programs such as the basketball and football teams will be less burdened with scheduling games against the top teams in the nation. It may also have implications for postseason play in sports such as men’s basketball. 

“I think I’ve been in a Power Five league or two before, and I embrace the competition,” basketball Head Coach Ritchie McKay said. “It’s been really hard to schedule over the last couple years, so being in a league that I think arguably could be one of the best mid-major leagues  that could potentially be a multiple bid opportunity. I think all the coaches in the league would appreciate and value that, so I think our charge is to just keep building daily and be invested in the process.”

McKay also mentioned that Conference USA serves as step forward for Liberty’s athletic program, referencing Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr.’s original goal of a university that thrived in both academics and athletics.

“It’s kind of neat to be a part of the culmination of Jerry Falwell Sr.’s vision to have an opportunity to be a part of the G5 league, especially that has the respect and reputation of Conference USA,” McKay, who previously served as an associate  head coach for Virginia  from 2009-2015, said. 

McKay was not the only Liberty coach who voiced pleasure at joining Conference USA. Softball Head Coach Dot Richardson said that she is excited for the future in the conference. Richardson, who won two gold medals as a member of Team USA, referenced her Olympic career as she praised Conference USA. 

“(I) love to play for (Team) USA, so Conference USA is a great fit,” Richardson said.  

While this move contains many benefits for both the university and the conference, it is not without issues of its own. One of the main issues regarding the merger is what happens to teams such as the field hockey team, who would not have a home in Conference USA under the current setup. McLeod said that this problem is still being addressed by the conference.

McCaw said that he would prefer that every Liberty team join Conference USA, but he acknowledged that this may not be a possibility. He added that those teams who cannot join the conference may journey to another conference as a last resort.  

Since the merger will not come into effect until 2023, the conference still has time to address these unanswered questions. In the meantime, Liberty’s programs will look to continue to dominate in whatever conferences they currently reside in.

Shields is the asst. sports editor. Follow him on Twitter.