YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Mount Marty College made the announcement Tuesday that they will begin a varsity football program and compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. (GPAC)

President Marc Long says adding football fits into their over strategic plan.

Long says it took a while to get to this decision.

Long says besides starting construction of a fieldhouse and adding football, they continue to emphasis academics.

Mount Marty will play home games at Crane-Youngworth Field, which was the home of Yankton College until the school closed in 1984.