CHICAGO – After completing its inaugural season in 2022-23, the Saint Xavier University Esports program has been accepted, along with Albion College (Mich.), Cleveland State University (Ohio) and Heidelberg University (Ohio), into the Great Lakes Esports Conference (GLEC) starting this upcoming school year in 2023-24. The Cougars won three division titles this season, claiming the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Varsity Plus West Central Conference Championship in Overwatch last November, the NACE Varsity Plus East 4 Conference Championship in Rocket League in April and the NACE Academy East 8 Conference JV Valorant title, also in April. Saint Xavier currently has five Esports teams: League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (SSBU) and Valorant.

Head coach Lemar Daniels had this to say, "I am beyond excited to be joining the GLEC. The members schools are similar to SXU, most of them being under 5,000 students and all having varsity esports programs. Having a traditional conference where our teams can create rivalries, compete for conference championships, and receive automatic bids to the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC) National Championship year in and year out will take our program to the next level."

The GLEC was established in 2019 and had nine members. With the addition of Albion, Cleveland State, Heidelberg and Saint Xavier, the conference now has 21 member institutions from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The other 17 schools are: Alma College (Mich.), Anderson University (Ind.), Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio), Bethel University (Ind.), Defiance College (Ohio), Franklin College (Ind.), Lourdes University (Ohio), Manchester University (Ind.), Marietta College (Ohio), Marion Technical College (Ohio), University of Mount Union (Ohio), Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio), Ohio Northern University, University of Saint Francis (Ind.), Tiffin University (Ohio), Trine University (Ind.) and Valparaiso University (Ind.).