Seattle University will join the Western Athletic Conference July 1, 2012, as a non-football member, commissioner Karl Benson announced today.

The addition of the Redhawks will leave the WAC with nine basketball-playing members and seven in football for 2012, as the University of Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada depart.

UH will join the Mountain West Conference in football and the Big West in most other sports.

Remaining football-playing members Idaho, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State and Utah State will be joined by Texas State and Texas-San Antonio in 2012. Denver was previously announced as a basketball-only member. 

Benson said the WAC will continue to look for possible football-playing additions for 2013 and beyond.