Montana's decision could open door to WAC for Seattle U.

The Western Athletic Conference passed on Seattle University when it announced the addition of three schools to its lineup Thursday.

But WAC commissioner Karl Benson said Seattle U. "is high on our list" as a possibility to be added later, and that decisions could be made in the next four months.

The chances of Seattle U. being asked to join the WAC increased Thursday when Montana declined an invitation, deciding instead to remain in the Big Sky Conference and play football at the FCS level.

"We're waiting and we still feel really good about being part of the conversation," said Seattle U. athletic director Bill Hogan.

The WAC added the University of Denver, Texas-San Antonio and Texas State (located in San Marcos) beginning in 2012, again giving it nine schools after Nevada, Fresno State and Boise State all soon depart.

Denver is joining as a non-football member, a status Seattle U. could also fill.

Benson acknowledged the WAC chose Denver instead of Seattle U. at this point due to the fact it has a more established Division I program, having been a member of the Sun Belt Conference since 1999.

Benson categorized Seattle U. as being "10 years later" than Denver in its plan to become a full-fledged Division I athletic program — Seattle U. is in its second year of making the move to D-I.

He also said "we were expecting" Montana to join the WAC, possibly Thursday. Instead, UM announced earlier in the day it would stay put, in part citing a desire to keep its traditional rivalries and remain to compete "with institutions with missions more similar" to Montana.

There had been speculation that if Montana turned down the WAC, the conference would turn to Seattle U. to give it an even 10 members for basketball.

Benson said "a 10-team league for other sports is important."

With Montana out of the picture, Benson said the WAC "will turn our attention to the next phase and whether that is 30, 60, 90, 120 days, we will now kind of look at our options. As we explore all our options, they (the Seattle U. Redhawks) will continue to be high on our radar screen."

However, Benson said while a decision could come soon, there is no timetable. He said the conference wanted to quickly add a few schools to solidify its football lineup to help in recruiting for all members, but that there is not the similar urgency anymore.

Hogan, who made a presentation to the WAC in September, said Seattle U. also has had conversations with the Great West Conference. But he said the WAC remains the best opportunity for Seattle U.

The three new WAC schools will join six holdovers — Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State.

The West Coast Conference, meanwhile, has shown no interest in adding Seattle U.

For now, Seattle U. remains an independent for men's basketball, its highest-profile sport. It is not eligible to play in the NCAA tournament until the 2012-13 season.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com