Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian athletic programs moving to NCAA

Image via OCEagles.com

Monday update: Oklahoma Christian announced that it also has been accepted as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association and can compete in postseason play immediately.
We probably used up all the available basketball analogies when reporting earlier this year on the naming of new presidents at Lubbock Christian University and Oklahoma Christian University.
So we won’t say something cheesy like “Nothing but net!” in sharing the news that the NCAA has approved bids by both those Christian universities to start the three-year membership process for entry into Division II.
Oklahoma Christian’s website reports:

OC athletic director Curtis Janz learned of the decision by the NCAA Division II membership committee in an e-mail. If all goes well, OC could be a full NCAA Division II member by the 2015-16 academic year.
“We are honored to be given the opportunity to step into the NCAA, and we are ready to compete well,” OC president John deSteiguer said. “We are proud of our decades in the NAIA and we are thankful for the many wonderful relationships that developed on and off the fields and courts of play with our fellow competitors. We look forward to developing positive relationships with new competitors as we strive to earn full NCAA membership.”
OC will compete as a member of the Heartland Conference, a Division II league with member schools in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. OC athletic teams will play full Heartland Conference schedules starting with the 2012-13 academic year.

From Lubbock Christian’s website:

The Chaparrals now begin the three-year process of transitioning to NCAA Division II affiliation from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  LCU will remain a member of the NAIA and the Sooner Athletic Conference for the 2012-13 season, followed by a two-year phase involving a continued candidacy period and a provisional period before gaining official NCAA Div. II status for the 2015-16 academic year.
Lubbock Christian University will have all 11 varsity athletic programs transition to compete at the NCAA Div. II level.  LCU will participate as a member of the Heartland Conference, whose member presidents recently voted unanimously to approve LCU as one of 12 conference members, beginning the 2013-14 academic year.  Also joining NCAA Div.II candidacy from the Sooner Athletic Conference and joining the Heartland Conference are Oklahoma Christian and Rogers State (Okla.).  They join current conference members Arkansas-Fort Smith, Dallas Baptist (Texas), McMurry (Texas), Newman (Kan.), Oklahoma Panhandle State, St. Edwards (Texas), St. Mary’s (Texas), Texas A&M International, Texas Permian Basin.

• Feedback
  Bobby:
  You might want to clean up your intro tag…OC and LCU are NOT joining the National CHRISTIAN College Athletic Association.

  Jerry C. Lawlis

  July, 17 2012

  Actually, OC is joining the NCCAA as well as the NCAA. Click the link for details.

  Bobby Ross Jr.

  July, 17 2012

  Bobby,
  I get the point….OC and LCU are moving into a great position. I hope many will realize Christian Schools are competitive in sports as well as education.
  from an OC X Go EAGLES!!!!

  Jannie Woodall Bellows

  July, 17 2012

  Way to go OC. Great news for the University where I met the beautiful young lady Linda Todd in the spring of 1960 and married June 1, 1963

  Lewis Armstrong

  July, 18 2012