Loyola University New Orleans is gearing up to trade its NAIA status for a spot in the NCAA, with the Wolf Pack expected to land in Division II and the Gulf South Conference. The move would shake up everything from scheduling and recruiting to postseason paths for roughly 22 varsity teams, and university officials are set to lay out the roadmap at an on-campus announcement on June 9.
According to WDSU, sources familiar with the plan say Loyola will transition into NCAA Division II and align with the Gulf South Conference. WDSU reports that Loyola currently sponsors 22 varsity sports and that the jump to Division II would represent a significant shift for the New Orleans college sports scene.
Loyola Athletics credits longtime athletics director Brett Simpson with steering major program growth, including 26 conference championships and more than $1.5 million in upgrades to the University Sports Complex during his tenure. Simpson also presided over the men's basketball team's 2022 NAIA national championship, a title run that helped elevate the Wolf Pack's profile.
Varsity rugby and roster growth
Last August Loyola announced plans to add men's and women's varsity rugby, with both programs scheduled to begin competition in fall 2026 and to face national opposition in the College Rugby Association of America, according to Crescent City Sports. Those additions would push the Wolf Pack's varsity count into the low 20s and give Loyola fresh recruiting territory in a sport that is steadily gaining traction on college campuses nationwide.
Conference fit and travel
Sliding into the Gulf South would place Loyola alongside established Division II programs across the Southeast, including Christian Brothers, Delta State, Mississippi College and Valdosta State, and would rework the Wolf Pack's travel map and regular opponents. The Gulf South Conference is regarded as one of Division II's prominent leagues, and adding a New Orleans school would stretch the conference footprint farther west along the Gulf Coast.
What the NCAA process looks like
Reclassifying into NCAA Division II is not as simple as holding a press conference. The NCAA's membership rules typically require conference acceptance, a detailed strategic plan and several years of provisional compliance with Division II bylaws before full membership is granted. The NCAA spells out a formal reclassification pathway and membership criteria for schools moving into Division II, including financial benchmarks and adherence to compliance standards.
The university's June 9 event is expected to answer the big practical questions, including timelines for Division II eligibility, scholarship numbers and when Wolf Pack teams could begin competing for NCAA championships. Further details should emerge once Loyola releases its official statement and the necessary paperwork moves through the NCAA process.
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