Feb. 28, 2008

Press Conference Photo Gallery
Press Conference Video (Courtesy: MCTV, Channel 29)

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist College has accepted an invitation to join the Pioneer Football League, beginning in 2009. The Red Foxes will become the 10th member of the league, joining Butler, Campbell, Davidson, Dayton, Drake, Jacksonville, Morehead State, San Diego and Valparaiso.

"We are proud to be included in a league with schools known nationally for their accomplishments in the classroom and on the football field," Marist College President Dr. Dennis J. Murray said. "Marist fosters an appreciation of what it means to be a true student-athlete, encouraging success in academics as well as athletics. The colleges and universities in the Pioneer League share this same philosophy, so we feel we have found the right home for our football program."

In 2009, each Pioneer League team will play eight conference games in a round-robin format. Each team will have four league home games and four league road games. The Pioneer League, which was established in 1991, competes in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. All of the league's members are committed to the non-scholarship football model.

"The Pioneer League is a great fit for our football program, and I'm excited that we will have a chance to showcase our student-athletes and institution on a national level," Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray said. "We will be competing in a stable conference that exemplifies the standards and overall experience that we strive to provide for our student-athletes at Marist."

The current football roster is comprised of players from 13 different states, including Virginia, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Mississippi and Ohio. The Pioneer Football League now includes programs from California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina and Ohio.

"I am very excited with the opportunity to join the Pioneer League in 2009," said Marist Head Coach Jim Parady, who will be entering his 17th season at the helm in 2008. "The Pioneer League is very competitive, with the last three Mid-Major National Champions coming from it. The league gives us an opportunity to play a national schedule with games from Florida to California. This will help us with recruiting and enable us to attract recruits from all across the country."

"The Pioneer Football League enthusiastically welcomes Marist as our newest member," PFL commissioner Patty Viverito said. "PFL expansion is a positive step toward growing non-scholarship football, within the league and nationally."

Marist football was established as a club sport in 1965. The program was elevated to varsity status in 1978, and began competing at the I-AA level in 1993. From 1994-2007, the Red Foxes competed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League. Marist earned its first conference championship as a varsity program in 1990, when the Red Foxes won the Atlantic Collegiate Football Conference crown with a 5-0 league mark. The Red Foxes won the MAAC crown outright in 1994, and earned a share of the league title in 2006 and 2007.

Marist will compete as an FCS independent in the 2008 season. This season's schedule will be released in its entirety at a later date.

Spring practice will begin on March 26. The annual Spring Game will be held at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field for the first time, and will take place on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m.