American Southwest Conference

American Southwest Conference (ASC)
Established	1996
Association	NCAA
Division	Division III
Members	16
Sports fielded	16 (men's: 8; women's: 8)
Region	Gulf Coast
Headquarters	Richardson, Texas
Commissioner	Amy Carlton (since 2006)
Website	ascsports.org
Locations

The American Southwest Conference (ASC) is a college athletic conference, founded in 1996, whose member schools compete in the NCAA's Division III. The schools are located in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. The conference competes in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field and women's volleyball.

Member schools

The schools are divided into two divisions: East and West.
The West Division	The East Division

Institution	Location - City	Location - State	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Mascot	Football?
Centenary College of Louisiana*	Shreveport	Louisiana	1825	Private/United Methodist	950	Gents and Ladies	Skeeter	No
Concordia University Texas	Austin	Texas	1926	Private/Lutheran	1,200	Tornadoes	Mr. Tornado	No
East Texas Baptist University	Marshall	Texas	1912	Private/Baptist	1,350	Tigers	Toby	Yes
Hardin–Simmons University	Abilene	Texas	1891	Private/Baptist	2,333	Cowboys	Simon the Simonite	Yes
Howard Payne University	Brownwood	Texas	1889	Private/Baptist	1,400	Yellow Jackets	Buzzsaw	Yes
LeTourneau University	Longview	Texas	1946	Private	3,758	Yellowjackets	Buzz	No
Louisiana College	Pineville	Louisiana	1906	Private/Baptist	1,000	Wildcats	Victor	Yes
University of Mary Hardin–Baylor	Belton	Texas	1845	Private/Baptist	2,713	Crusaders	CRUnk the Sader	Yes
McMurry University*	Abilene	Texas	1923	Private/Methodist	1,430	War Hawks	Barrett the McMurry	Yes
Mississippi College	Clinton	Mississippi	1826	Private/Baptist	4,162	Choctaws	Chief Choc	Yes
University of the Ozarks	Clarksville	Arkansas	1834	Private/Presbyterian	630	Eagles		No
Schreiner University**	Kerrville	Texas	1923	Private/Presbyterian	930	Mountaineers	Monty	No
Sul Ross State University	Alpine	Texas	1917	Public/Texas State University	2,070	Lobos	Sully	Yes
University of Texas at Dallas	Richardson	Texas	1961	Public/University of Texas	18,864	Comets	Temoc	No
University of Texas at Tyler	Tyler	Texas	1971	Public/University of Texas	5,326	Patriots	Swoop	No
Texas Lutheran University**	Seguin	Texas	1891	Private/Lutheran	1,400	Bulldogs	LUCKY	Yes

* Leaving ASC following completion of 2011–12 academic year.
** Leaving ASC following completion of 2012–13 academic year.

History

The American Southwest Conference was announced in May 1996. The new league included some former members of the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA). Founding members of the ASC were Austin College, Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, McMurry, Mississippi College, Sul Ross State, University of Dallas and University of the Ozarks. The University of Dallas was a member of the ASC until 2001 and Austin College withdrew in 2006. The University of Texas at Tyler began athletics in 2002 and became a member in 2003, but as a provisional member of the NCAA, was ineligible to participate in ASC or NCAA postseason tournaments until 2007. Centenary College of Louisiana will join the conference in 2011, after completing their transition from Division I to Division III.

Recently, however, several schools have announced plans to leave the conference in favor of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which will lose seven of its members at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Centenary will depart at the end of the 2011-12 season; Schreiner and Texas Lutheran leave at the end of the 2012-2013 season. Additionally, McMurry announced in 2011 that it would leave not only the ASC but Division III, reclassifying as a scholarship, Division II institution effective with the 2012-13 season. The departures of McMurry and Texas Lutheran will leave the conference at the minimum seven participating schools required to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA football playoffs.

External links

• Official website