Chancellor Victor Boschini, of Texas Chirstian University, announced tonight that the school will join the Big 12 Conference, effective July 1, 2012. 

“It’s a great day to be a frog. Let’s get ‘er done,” said TCU Athletic Director Chris Del Conte in a news conference.

The move was expected, after Big 12 officials voted Thursday to invite TCU into the conference. TCU, whose football teamed finished No. 2 in last year’s final AP poll after a season capped with a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin, was slated to move from the Mountain West conference to the Big East next July, until it received the Big 12 invite.

Because it is not yet a Big East member, TCU is not required to give 27 months’ notice. It does, however, face a $5 million exit fee, which Del Conte said will be taken care of through intercollegiate athletics revenues.

TCU will join Baylor as the only private schools in the Big 12. In addition to Baylor, TCU had rivalries with Big 12 schools Texas and Texas Tech when the schools were all members of the Southwest Conference, which dissolved in 1996.

Chuck Neinas, interim commissioner of the Big 12, welcomed TCU “home,” and as TCU officials spoke it became evident that geographic location played a significant role in the school’s decision.

“Today is living proof that dreams do come true because of your efforts,” Del Conte said, adding that he “about passed out” when he received the invitation from the conference on Thursday.

“We worked so hard to be here,” Del Conte said. “It’s an amazing time for us.”

Del Conte said conversations between TCU and the Big 12 happened “relatively quickly.” When asked what would make TCU appeal to the conference now more than it previously did, he attributed it to the success of the football program, pointing out that applications to the school and revenue from season tickets have both gone up as the program has improved.

“I think we were full-steam ahead in every intention [of joining the Big East], until conversations started to take place that gave us a glimmer of hope,” Del Conte said.

The make-up of the Big 12 still remains uncertain, however, as the University of Missouri explores other conference options, including the possibility of following Texas A&M to the SEC. In the summer of 2010, the conference lost the University of Nebraska to the Big Ten and the University of Colorado to the Pac-12. Without further changes, the addition of TCU will leave the Big 12 with 10 members going into the 2012-2013 season.

“We are excited by the announcement that TCU is joining the Big 12 Conference,” ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard wrote in an email. “TCU has a rich history with many members of the Big 12 and they offer great academic, athletic and geographic benefits to our conference.”