Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The conference consists of twelve colleges and universities located in the U.S. states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Founded in 1992, the conference was created as a successor group for the now-defunct NAIA District 23.

Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded1992
CommissionerEric Ward
Sports fielded
  • 27
    • men's: 14
    • women's: 13
No. of teams13 (12 on 2025)
HeadquartersLivonia, Michigan
RegionMidwest (East North Central)
Official websitewww.whac.net
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

History

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Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
 
 
50km
30miles
 
Defiance
 
Northwestern Ohio
 
Lourdes
 
Siena Heights
 
UM-Dearborn
 
Madonna
 
Lawrence Tech
 
Rochester
Christian
 
Concordia
 
Cleary
 
Indiana Tech
 
Cornerstone
 
Aquinas
Location of WHAC members:   full member,   departing member.

The WHAC announced on January 27, 2012, added bowling and lacrosse for both men and women as conference sports effective the fall of 2012, becoming the first NAIA conference to offer championships in these sports.[1]

Men's ice hockey was added as a conference sport effective the fall of 2017, making the WHAC the first conference in the NAIA to offer ice hockey as a conference championship sport.[2] Initially, the five conference members that sponsor ice hockey will participate in a conference championship.[2][3]

Chronological timeline

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Member schools

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Current members

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The WHAC currently has 13 full members, all but one are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Basketball?
Aquinas College Grand Rapids, Michigan 1886 Catholic
(D.S.G.R.)
2,300 Saints 1992 both
Cleary University Howell, Michigan 1883 Nonsectarian 600 Cougars 2018 both
Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan 1963 Lutheran LCMS 1,200 Cardinals 1992 both
Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, Michigan 1941 Interdenominational 2,200 Golden Eagles 1992 both
Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 United Church 505 Yellow Jackets 2024 both
Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana 1930 Nonsectarian 7,000 Warriors 1998 both
Lawrence Technological University Southfield, Michigan 1932 Nonsectarian 3,000 Blue Devils 2012 both
Lourdes University Sylvania, Ohio 1958 Catholic
(Franciscan)
1,500 Gray Wolves 2011 both
Madonna University Livonia, Michigan 1930 Catholic
(Felician Sisters)
3,100 Crusaders 1997 both
University of Michigan–Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan 1959 Public[b] 9,500 Wolverines 2004 both
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, Ohio 1920 Nonsectarian 3,500 Racers 2010 both
Rochester Christian University[c] Rochester Hills, Michigan 1959 Churches of Christ 1,100 Warriors 2017[d] both
Siena Heights University Adrian, Michigan 1919 Catholic
(O.P.)
2,500 Saints 1992 both
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Part of the University of Michigan system.
  3. ^ Formerly known as Rochester University prior to 2024 and Rochester College prior to 2019.
  4. ^ Before joining for full membership, Rochester competed in the WHAC as an affiliate member for baseball during the 2016–17 school year.


Affiliate members

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The WHAC currently has nine affiliate members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] WHAC
sport(s)
Current
conference
Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana 1947 Missionary 1,964 Pilots 2018–19w.lax.;
2020–21bowl.
women's lacrosse
bowling
Crossroads
Brescia University Owensboro, Kentucky 1925 Catholic
(Ursulines)
1,100 Bearcats 2020–21 competitive
cheerleading
River States (RSC)
Goshen College Goshen, Indiana 1894 Mennonite 971 Maple Leafs 2018–19 men's volleyball Crossroads
Huntington University Huntington, Indiana 1897 United Brethren in Christ 1,089 Foresters 2018–19 bowling Crossroads
Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana 1851 Catholic
(S.S.F.)
3,595 Knights 2020–21 men's wrestling Crossroads
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio 1964 Nazarene 2,622 Cougars 2019–20bowl.;
2020–21m.vb.
men's volleyball Crossroads
Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1960 Nonsectarian 3,376 Pioneers 2020–21 competitive
cheerleading
River States (RSC)
Spring Arbor University[b] Spring Arbor, Michigan 1873 Free Methodist 2,600 Cougars 2016–17 bowling Crossroads
Taylor University Upland, Indiana 1846 Nondenominational 1,887 Trojans 2018–19 men's lacrosse Crossroads
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Spring Arbor was a full member of the WHAC from 1992–93 to 2003–04.

Former members

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The WHAC had four former full members, all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] Current
conference
Davenport University Grand Rapids, Michigan 1866 Nonsectarian 6,456 Panthers 2005 2017 Great Lakes (GLIAC)[c]
Marygrove College Detroit, Michigan 1899 Catholic
(I.H.M.)
N/A Mustangs 2012 2018[d] Closed in 2019
Spring Arbor University[e] Spring Arbor, Michigan 1873 Free Methodist 2,600 Cougars 1992 2004 Crossroads
Tri-State University[f] Angola, Indiana 1884 Nonsectarian 4,104 Thunder 1992 2003 Michigan (MIAA)[g]
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. ^ Marygrove announced that all athletics would cease after the 2017 fall season (with men's & women's soccer and volleyball remaining) of the 2017-18 academic year; with their August 2017 announcement of the closing of school's undergraduate programs.[5]
  5. ^ Spring Arbor rejoined to the WHAC as an affiliate member for bowling in the 2016–17 school year.
  6. ^ Currently known as Trine University since 2008.
  7. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

Former affiliate members

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The WHAC had one former affiliate member, which was also a private school:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[a] Left[b] WHAC
sport(s)
Current
conference
Taylor University Upland, Indiana 1846 Nondenominational 1,887 Trojans 2019–20 2019–20 women's lacrosse Crossroads
Notes
  1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

Membership timeline

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Defiance CollegePoint Park UniversityMarian University (Indiana)Brescia UniversityMount Vernon Nazarene UniversityTaylor UniversityHuntington University (University)Goshen CollegeBethel University (Indiana)Cleary UniversityRochester Christian UniversityRochester UniversityMarygrove CollegeLawrence Technological UniversityLourdes UniversityUniversity of Northwestern OhioGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceDavenport UniversityUniversity of Michigan–DearbornIndiana Institute of TechnologyMadonna UniversityMichigan Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsTrine UniversityCrossroads LeagueCrossroads LeagueSpring Arbor UniversitySiena Heights UniversityCornerstone UniversityConcordia University Ann ArborAquinas College (Michigan)

 Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

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WHAC offers 14 men's and 13 women's sports.

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball  Y
Basketball  Y  Y
Bowling  Y  Y
Cheer  Y  Y
Cross Country  Y  Y
Golf  Y  Y
Dance  Y
Ice Hockey  Y
Lacrosse  Y  Y
Soccer  Y  Y
Softball  Y
Tennis  Y  Y
Track & Field Indoor  Y  Y
Track & Field Outdoor  Y  Y
Volleyball  Y  Y
Wrestling  Y

References

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  1. ^ "WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13". WHAC. 27 January 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "WHAC adds hockey and Tech gets tourney". The Journal Gazette. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "2017-18 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY". WHAC. 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  4. ^ "Rochester College Unanimously Accepted Into Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference". Rochester College. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "What you need to know about the closing of Marygrove College". model D. October 29, 2019.
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