After competing the last three seasons as an independent, the Southern Illinois University men's swimming and diving team now has a home in the Sun Belt Conference.

SIU has joined the Sun Belt Conference as an associate member, competing in men's swimming and diving, the league announced Thursday.

"We are proud to welcome Southern Illinois as an associate member of the Sun Belt Conference," said Wright Waters, the Sun Belt commissioner.

"They have a very good program, and their presence will certainly raise the level of competition for our men's swimming and diving championship."

SIU's men's swimming and diving team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference until 2003, when the MVC discontinued its sponsorship of men's swimming.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to participate in the kind of quality championship that the Sun Belt provides our men's swimmingand diving program," said Kathy Jones, SIU's associate athletic director and senior woman administrator.

As a member of the Sun Belt, the men's swimming team will compete for the championship along with the University of Denver, Florida Atlantic University and Western Kentucky University.

The Sun Belt added men's swimming and diving in 2005, and Western Kentucky has claimed both conference titles in the sport's brief existence.

"This gives us a legitimate conference and a championship," said SIU head coach Rick Walker.

"This bodes very well for us, the recognition of competing in a championship in what is arguably one of the best mid-major conferences in the country."

SIU finished the 2006 season ranked No. 5 in the nation in the CollegeSwimming.com Mid-Major poll. The Salukis had a 6-3 dual record and fell 131-112 to Western Kentucky in its only meet against a Sun Belt member.

SIU also finished fourth overall at the Purdue Invitational and finished second to Missouri State at the season-ending MVC Invitational.

The Sun Belt added men’s swimming and diving in 2005, and Western Kentucky has claimed both conference titles in the sport’s brief existence.