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Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. In women's gymnastics, it competes alongside Division I and II members, as the NCAA sponsors a single championship event open to members of all NCAA divisions. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin, although there are three associate members from Minnesota and one from Illinois. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System.

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
FormerlyInter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin (1913–1926)
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (1926–1951)
Wisconsin State College Conference (1951–1964)
Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference (1964–1997)
AssociationNCAA
Founded1913
CommissionerDanielle Harris (since July 2020)
Sports fielded
  • 24
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 13
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams8
HeadquartersMadison, Wisconsin
RegionWisconsin
Official websitewiacsports.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

History

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In 1913, representatives from Wisconsin's eight normal schools—Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Superior), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-River Falls), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) and Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville)—met in Madison to organize the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin. The Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout) joined in 1914, followed by Eau Claire State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) in 1917.[1]

The conference evolved with the growing educational mission of its member schools. It changed its name to the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference in 1926, and the Wisconsin State College Conference in 1951. Finally, in 1964, it became the Wisconsin State University Conference.

In 1971, the member schools of the WSUC joined with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin–Parkside and Carthage College to form the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. By 1975, UW–Milwaukee, Carroll College, the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and Marquette University had also joined. With the dissolution of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in 1982, the member schools joined their male counterparts in either the NCAA or NAIA. By 1993, the non-NCAA Division III members had all dropped out, resulting in the WWIAC having the same membership as the WSUC. Under the circumstances, a merger was inevitable. In 1996, Gary Karner was named commissioner of both the WSUC and the WWIAC. The two conferences formally merged in 1997 to form the current WIAC.[1]

Effective with the 2001–02 academic year, Lawrence University joined the conference in the sport of wrestling. Three Minnesota schools, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University, became members of the conference in the sport of women's gymnastics during the 2004–05 academic year. In 2009–10, the conference added men’s soccer as a sponsored sport with the announcement of Michigan school Finlandia University as an affiliate member. Lawrence discontinued its affiliation with the WIAC in wrestling.[1]

The conference remained unusually stable over the years; the only changes in full membership being the departures of UW–Milwaukee in 1964 and UW–Superior in 2015.

Centennial celebration

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The ninth-oldest conference in the nation, the WIAC celebrated its centennial year during the 2012–13 academic year.[2] Additionally, the WIAC is the most successful NCAA Division III conference in history, boasting NCAA National Championships in 15 different sports.[3] At the beginning of the 2011–12 academic year, the conference had claimed a nation-leading 92 NCAA National Championships.[4]

To celebrate its centennial, the conference named All-Time Teams in each sport that is currently or was previously recognized as a "championship" sport within the conference.[5] Furthermore, the WIAC commissioned a commemorative work of art, created by Tim Cortes,[6] and has also created a two-year calendar in celebration of its centennial.[7]

The celebration was headlined by its Centennial Banquet held on August 4, 2012, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Among the honorees at the event were the All-Time Team members and the inaugural class to the WIAC Hall of Fame.

Chronological timeline

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UW–Eau Claire
 
UW–La Crosse
 
UW–Oshkosh
 
UW–Platteville
 
UW–River Falls
 
UW–Stevens Point
 
UW–Stout
 
UW–Whitewater
class=notpageimage|
WIAC, full members
  • 1913 – The WIAC was founded as the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin (INACW). Charter members included La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–River Falls), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Superior) Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), effective beginning the 1913–14 academic year.
  • 1914 – Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout) joined the INACW, effective in the 1914–15 academic year.
  • 1917 – Eau Claire State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) joined the INACW, effective in the 1917–18 academic year.
  • 1926 – The INACW has been rebranded as the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference, effective in the 1926–27 academic year.
  • 1951 – The WSTCC has been rebranded as the Wisconsin State College Conference, effective in the 1951–52 academic year.
  • 1964 – Wisconsin–Milwaukee left the WSTCC, effective after the 1963–64 academic year.
  • 1964 – The WSCC has been rebranded as the Wisconsin State University Conference, effective in the 1964–65 academic year.
  • 1997 – The WSUC was merged with the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC, a women's athletic conference) and was rebranded as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), effective in the 1997–98 academic year.
  • 2001 – Lawrence University joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for wrestling, effective in the 2001–02 academic year.
  • 2004 – Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University joined the WIAC as associate members for gymnastics, effective in the 2004–05 academic year.
  • 2009 – Lawrence left the WIAC as an affiliate member for wrestling, effective after the 2008–09 academic year.
  • 2009 – Finlandia University joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2015 – Wisconsin–Superior left the WIAC to join the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), effective after the 2014–15 academic year; while remaining in the conference as an affiliate member for men's & women's ice hockey, effective beginning the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2016 – Finlandia left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective after the 2015 fall season (2015–16 academic year).
  • 2017 – Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech or IIT) joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball, effective in the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
  • 2018 – Illinois Tech (IIT) left the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball, effective after the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
  • 2018 – Finlandia re–joined back to the WIAC as an affiliate member (this time for baseball), effective in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year).
  • 2019 – Northland College joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's ice hockey, effective in the 2019–20 academic year.
  • 2023 – Finlandia closed at the end of the 2022-23 academic year and thus, left the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball, effective after the 2023 spring season.

Member schools

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Current members

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The WIAC currently has eight full members, all are public schools:

Institution Location[a] Founded Affiliation Undergraduate
enrollment 		Nickname Joined Colors
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Eau Claire 1916 Public[b] 10,043[8] Blugolds 1917–18    
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse La Crosse 1909 9,708[8] Eagles 1913–14    
University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Oshkosh 1871 15,111[8] Titans 1913–14    
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville 1866 8,134[8] Pioneers 1913–14    
University of Wisconsin–River Falls River Falls 1874 5,725[8] Falcons 1913–14    
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Stevens Point 1894 8,792[8] Pointers 1913–14    
University of Wisconsin–Stout Menomonie 1891 7,555[8] Blue Devils 1914–15    
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Whitewater 1868 11,722[8] Warhawks 1913–14    
Notes
  1. ^ All cities are located with the State of Wisconsin.
  2. ^ Part of the University of Wisconsin System.

Affiliate members

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The WIAC currently has eleven affiliate members, all but five are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Undergraduate
enrollment 		Nickname Joined Colors Primary
conference 		WIAC
sport(s)
Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado 1874 Nonsectarian 2,266 Tigers 2024–25     SCAC women's lacrosse
Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter, Minnesota 1862 Lutheran ELCA 2,600 Golden Gusties 2004–05     Minnesota (MIAC) gymnastics
Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota 1854 United Methodist 2,100 Pipers 2004–05     Minnesota (MIAC) gymnastics
Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin 1906 United Church of Christ 700 LumberJacks &
LumberJills 		2019–20m.i.h.;
2019–20w.i.h. 		    Upper Midwest (UMAC) men's ice hockey;
women's ice hockey
Rutgers University–Camden Camden, New Jersey 1950 Public 5,450 Scarlet Raptors 2024–25     NJAC men's tennis
Simpson College Indianola, Iowa 1860 Private 1,225 Storm 2024–25     American Rivers (ARC) gymnastics
Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas 1840 United Methodist 1,536 Pirates 2024–25     SCAC (SAA in 2025) women's lacrosse
State University of New York at Oneonta Oneonta, New York 1889 Public 6,543 Red Dragons 2024–25     New York State (SUNYAC) men's tennis
The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey 1855 Public 7,400 Lions 2024–25     NJAC men's tennis
University of Wisconsin–Superior Superior, Wisconsin 1893 Public[a] 2,294[8] Yellowjackets 2015–16m.i.h.;
2015–16w.i.h.[b] 		    Upper Midwest (UMAC) men's ice hockey;
women's ice hockey
Winona State University Winona, Minnesota 1858 Public 8,896 Warriors 2004–05     Northern Sun (NSIC)
(NCAA D-II) 		gymnastics
Notes
  1. ^ Part of the University of Wisconsin System.
  2. ^ Wisconsin–Superior had been a full member of the WIAC from 1913–14 to 2014–15.[9] However, they remain as affiliate members for men's and women's ice hockey.[9]

Former members

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The WIAC had two former full members, both were public schools:

Institution Location[a] Founded Affiliation Undergraduate
enrollment 		Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee[b] Milwaukee 1885 Public[c] 22,767[8] Cardinals[d] 1913–14 1963–64 Horizon
(NCAA D-I)
University of Wisconsin–Superior Superior 1893 2,294[8] Yellowjackets 1913–14 2014–15 Upper Midwest (UMAC)
Notes
  1. ^ Both cities are located within the State of Wisconsin.
  2. ^ Now known for athletics purposes as "Milwaukee".
  3. ^ Part of the University of Wisconsin System.
  4. ^ Nickname changed to the current "Panthers" name, effective in the 1964–65 school year, immediately after leaving the league.

Former affiliate members

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The WIAC had three former affiliate members, all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Undergraduate
enrollment 		Nickname Joined Left Current
conference 		WIAC
sport
Lawrence University Appleton, Wisconsin 1847 Nonsectarian 1,555 Vikings 2001–02 2008–09 Midwest (MWC) wrestling
Finlandia University Hancock, Michigan 1896 Lutheran ELCA 500 Lions 2009–10m.soc.
2018-19bsb. 		2015–16m.soc.
2022-23bsb. 		closed in 2023 men's soccer;
baseball
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois 1890 Nonsectarian 2,977 Scarlet Hawks 2017–18 2017–18 Northern (NACC) baseball
Notes

Membership timeline

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The College of New JerseySUNY OneontaSouthwestern UniversitySimpson CollegeRutgers University–CamdenColorado CollegeNorthland College (Wisconsin)Illinois Institute of TechnologyFinlandia UniversityWinona State UniversityHamline UniversityGustavus Adolphus CollegeLawrence UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin–StoutUniversity of Wisconsin–WhitewaterUpper Midwest Athletic ConferenceUniversity of Wisconsin–SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin–Stevens PointUniversity of Wisconsin–River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin–PlattevilleUniversity of Wisconsin–OshkoshHorizon LeagueSummit LeagueUniversity of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeUniversity of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Sports

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Member institutions field men's and women's teams in cross country, basketball, ice hockey, track and field, and swimming and diving. Men's teams are fielded for baseball, football, and wrestling. Women's teams are fielded for golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. The WIAC is the only NCAA Division III all-sports conference that does not sponsor men's soccer.

Main article: WIAC men's basketball tournament
Main article: WIAC Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
 Y
Basketball
 Y
 Y
Cross Country
 Y
 Y
Football
 Y
Golf
 Y
Gymnastics
 Y
Ice hockey
 Y
 Y
Lacrosse
 Y
Soccer
 Y
 Y
Softball
 Y
Swimming & Diving
 Y
 Y
Tennis
 Y
 Y
Track and field (indoor)
 Y
 Y
Track and field (outdoor)
 Y
 Y
Volleyball
 Y
Wrestling
 Y

Men's sponsored sports by school

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School Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Ice Hockey Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Wrestling Total WIAC Sports
Wisconsin–Eau Claire  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Wisconsin–La Crosse  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 9
Wisconsin–Oshkosh  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  N  Y  Y  Y 8
Wisconsin–Platteville  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y 8
Wisconsin–River Falls  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  N 7
Wisconsin–Stevens Point  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Wisconsin–Stout  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  N 8
Wisconsin–Whitewater  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 10
Totals 7 8 8 8 4+2[a] 6 5 4+3[b] 8 8 6 77
  1. ^ Affiliate members Northland and Wisconsin–Superior.
  2. ^ Affiliate members SUNY Oneonta, Rutgers-Camden and The College of New Jersey.

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the WIAC

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School Golf Volleyball
Wisconsin–Eau Claire Independent No
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Independent Independent
Wisconsin–Stout Independent No

Women's sponsored sports by school

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School Basketball Cross Country Golf Gymnastics Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Volleyball Total WIAC Sports
Wisconsin–Eau Claire  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 13
Wisconsin–La Crosse  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 12
Wisconsin–Oshkosh  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Wisconsin–Platteville  Y  Y  Y  N  N  N  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y 8
Wisconsin–River Falls  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Wisconsin–Stevens Point  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 12
Wisconsin–Stout  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Wisconsin–Whitewater  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Totals 8 8 8 5+4[a] 3+2[b] 5+2[c] 8 8 5 7 8 8 8 89+8
  1. ^ Affiliate members Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Simpson and Winona State.
  2. ^ Affiliate members Northland and Wisconsin–Superior.
  3. ^ Affiliate members Colorado College and Southwestern (TX).

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the WIAC

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School Bowling Wrestling
Wisconsin–Stevens Point No Independent
Wisconsin–Whitewater Independent No

National championship teams

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NCAA Division III national championships

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Listed below are the NCAA Division III team national championships won by WIAC members.

  • Baseball

UW–Oshkosh: 1985, 1994
UW–Whitewater: 2005, 2014

  • Men's basketball

UW–Whitewater: 1984, 1989, 2012, 2014
UW–Platteville: 1991, 1995, 1998, 1999
UW–Stevens Point: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015
UW–Oshkosh: 2019

  • Women's Basketball

UW–Stevens Point: 1987, 2002
UW–Oshkosh: 1996

  • Men's Cross Country

UW–Oshkosh: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002
UW–La Crosse: 1996, 2001, 2005
UW–Eau Claire: 2015

  • Women's Cross Country

UW–La Crosse: 1983
UW–Oshkosh: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1996
UW–Eau Claire: 2009

  • Football

UW–La Crosse: 1992, 1995
UW–Whitewater: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014

  • Men's Golf

UW–Eau Claire: 2001

  • Men's Ice Hockey

UW–River Falls: 1988, 1994
UW–Stevens Point: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2016, 2019
UW–Superior: 2002
UW–Eau Claire: 2013

  • Softball

UW–Stevens Point: 1998
UW–Eau Claire: 2008

  • Men's Indoor Track & Field

UW–La Crosse: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2023
UW–Oshkosh: 2009
UW–Eau Claire: 2015, 2016

  • Men's Outdoor Track & Field

UW–La Crosse: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
UW–Oshkosh: 2009

  • Women's Indoor Track & Field

UW–Oshkosh: 1994–96, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014
UW–La Crosse: 2015, 2023

  • Women's Outdoor Track & Field

UW–La Crosse: 1983, 1984, 2015, 2023
UW–Oshkosh: 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011
UW–River Falls: 2008

  • Women's Volleyball

UW–Whitewater: 2002, 2005
UW–Eau Claire: 2021

Non-NCAA national championships

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Many members of the WIAC have also won national championships from organizations other than the NCAA, including: NAIA, AIAW, NGCA, and National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA).[10]

UW–Eau Claire

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Women's Cross Country: 1984^

Men's Ice Hockey: 1984^

Women's Swimming and Diving: 1983^, 1987^, 1988^

UW–La Crosse

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Women's Basketball: 1981^^

Men's Bowling: 1967^, 1968^, 1969^

Football: 1985^

Men's Gymnastics: 1975^, 1976^, 1977^

Women's Gymnastics: 1986*, 1988*, 1995*, 1997*, 1999*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2008*, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2015*, 2016*

Women's Outdoor Track and Field: 1982^^

UW–Oshkosh

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Men's Gymnastics: 1973^, 1974^, 1978^, 1979^, 1980^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1981^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1982^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1983^

Women's Gymnastics: 1980^^, 1986^, 1989*, 2007*, 2022*, 2023*

UW–River Falls

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Men's Ice Hockey: 1983^

UW–Stout

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Men's Gymnastics: 1984^

UW–Whitewater

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Women's Golf: 1985%

Women's Gymnastics: 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2017*, 2018*

UW–Superior (former member)

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Men's Ice Hockey: 1976^

Marquette University (former member)

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Women's Cross Country: 1982^

UW–Green Bay (former member)

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Women's Swimming and Diving: 1984^

UW–Parkside (former member)

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Women's Cross Country: 1980^

^ National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

^^ Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW)

* National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA)

% National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA)

Conference facilities

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School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity
UW–Eau Claire Carson Park 6,500 W. L. Zorn Arena 2,450
UW–La Crosse Veterans Memorial Stadium 10,000 Mitchell Hall 2,880
UW–Oshkosh Titan Stadium 9,800 Kolf Sports Center 5,800
UW–Platteville Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium 10,000 Williams Fieldhouse 2,300
UW–River Falls Ramer Field 4,800 Don Page Arena 2,149
UW–Stevens Point Goerke Field 4,000 Quandt Fieldhouse 3,281
UW–Stout Don and Nona Williams Stadium 4,500 Johnson Fieldhouse 1,800
UW–Whitewater Forrest Perkins Stadium 13,200 Williams Center 3,000

References

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  1. ^ a b c "History". wiacsports.com.
  2. ^ "WIAC Announces Plans For Celebrating Its Centennial". wiacsports.com.
  3. ^ "Quick Facts". wiacsports.com.
  4. ^ "National Championship Teams". wiacsports.com.
  5. ^ "All-Time Teams". wiacsports.com.
  6. ^ "WIAC Centennial Artwork Now Available". wiacsports.com.
  7. ^ "WIAC Centennial Calendars Now Available". wiacsports.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "The University of Wisconsin System Education Reports & Statistics, Enrollments". University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "UW-Superior To Depart The WIAC". wiacsports.com.
  10. ^ "National Championship Teams". wiacsports.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
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