Heartland Conference
File:Heartland Conference logo.jpg | |
Association | NCAA |
---|---|
Commissioner | Tony Stigliano (since 1999) |
Sports fielded |
|
Division | Division II |
Region | Central United States |
Official website | heartlandsports.org |
Locations | |
The Heartland Conference is an NCAA Division II college athletic conference founded in 1999. The majority of members are in Texas, with additional members in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The conference office is located in Waco, Texas.
History
The conference was formed in 1999 by founding members Drury University, University of the Incarnate Word, Lincoln University, Rockhurst University, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University and Texas Wesleyan University. Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Dallas Baptist University joined in 2002. Founding members Drury and Rockhurst left the Heartland Conference to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2005. Western New Mexico University and Montana State University - Billings joined in 2005. However, WNMU re-joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2006 and MSUB joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2007. Newman University, Texas A&M International University and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin joined the conference in 2006, making the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II.[1] The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith joined the conference in the Fall of 2009 after transitioning from the NJCAA.[2] In the fall of 2010, Lincoln left for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association[3] and Incarnate Word left for the Lone Star Conference.[4] In July 2011, McMurry University announced that it had been accepted as candidate for D-II membership and would join the Heartland Conference in the fall of 2012.[5] In February 2012, Oklahoma Christian University announced its intention to seek membership in NCAA Division II.[6] In Spring 2012, Rogers State University, a member of the NAIA Sooner Athletic Conference, applied for membership.[7] The conference confirmed in July 2012 that Oklahoma Christian's teams would play full conference schedules starting in Fall 2012 and that Rogers State and Lubbock Christian University would begin conference play in 2013-14.[8]
Member schools
Current members
The Heartland Conference includes the following schools:
Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Year Joined | Nickname |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith | Fort Smith, Arkansas | 1928 | Public | 7,000 | 2009 | Lions |
Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, Texas | 1898 | Private/Baptist | 5,500 | 2002 | Patriots |
McMurry University | Abilene, Texas | 1923 | Private/Methodist | 1,400 | 2012 | War Hawks |
Newman University | Wichita, Kansas | 1933 | Private/Catholic | 2,200 | 2006 | Jets |
Oklahoma Christian University | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1950 | Private/Churches of Christ | 2,200 | 2012 | Eagles |
Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Goodwell, Oklahoma | 1909 | Public | 1,200 | 2002 | Aggies |
St. Edward's University | Austin, Texas | 1885 | Private/Catholic | 5,500 | 1999 | Hilltoppers |
St. Mary's University | San Antonio, Texas | 1852 | Private/Catholic | 4,500 | 1999 | Rattlers |
Texas A&M International University | Laredo, Texas | 1969 | Public | 4,298 | 2006 | Dustdevils |
University of Texas of the Permian Basin | Odessa, Texas | 1973 | Public | 3,600 | 2006 | Falcons |
Future members
Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Year Joining |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock, Texas | 1957 | Private/Church of Christ | 2,100 | Chaparrals | 2013 |
Rogers State University | Claremore, Oklahoma | 1909 | Public | 4,227 | Hillcats | 2013 |
Former members
Institution | Location | Nickname | Joined | Left | New Conference | Current Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drury University | Springfield, Missouri | Panthers | 1999 | 2005 | GLVC | |
University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Texas | Cardinals | 1999 | 2010 | Lone Star | |
Lincoln University of Missouri | Jefferson City, Missouri | Blue Tigers | 1999 | 2010 | Mid-America (MIAA) | |
Montana State University at Billings | Billings, Montana | Yellowjackets | 2005 | 2007 | GNAC | |
Rockhurst University | Kansas City, Missouri | Hawks | 1999 | 2005 | GLVC | |
Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, Texas | Rams | 1999 | 2001 | RRAC (NAIA) | |
Western New Mexico University | Silver City, New Mexico | Mustangs | 2005 | 2006 | RMAC |
Membership timeline
Sports
The Heartland Conference sponsors 13 sports, seven for women and six for men. Both men and women compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, and tennis. Men compete in baseball and women compete in softball and volleyball.
Dallas Baptist's baseball team currently competes in D-I as a baseball affiliate of the Western Athletic Conference; it joined the WAC baseball conference after the 2012 season.[9] OPSU sponsors non-conference football and rodeo squads. Incoming member McMurry has football, men's & women's indoor and outdoor track, and men's and women's swimming teams that will compete as independents.[5]
National championships
Sport | School | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Baseball | St. Mary’s Univ. | 2001 |
Softball | St. Mary’s Univ. | 2002 |
Men’s Golf (Individual champion) | Jamie Amoretti, St. Mary’s Univ. | 2006 |
- St. Mary's won NAIA national championships in Softball (1986) and Men's Basketball (1989) prior to joining the Heartland Conference.[10]
- The St. Mary's Men's Golf team were named the Golf Coaches Association of America 2008-2009 Academic National Champions, which St. Mary's treats as a fifth team national championship.[11]
- Dallas Baptist won the 2003 National Christian College Athletic Association Baseball national championship; DBU is a non-baseball member of the Heartland Conference.
References
- ^ - About the Heartland Conference
- ^ University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Accepts Invitation to Join Heartland Conference - arkansasbusiness.com - March 2, 2009
- ^ Lincoln returns to MIAA - St. Joseph News-Press - February 2, 2009
- ^ LSC to add Incarnate Word in 2010 - www.lonestarconference.org - January 20, 2009
- ^ a b NCAA accepts McMurry's application to transition to Division II - www.mcmurrysports.com - July 12, 2011
- ^ King, Kevin (February 7, 2012). KTUL TV http://www.ktul.com/story/16692399/oklahoma-christian-to-seek-ncaa-division-ii-membership. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Adame, Tony (June 23, 2012). Wichita Eagle http://www.kansas.com/2012/06/23/2384632/neaman-athletics-continues-to.html. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ http://www.heartlandsports.org/news/2012/7/14/GEN_0714125645.aspx
- ^ Dallas Baptist joining WAC for baseball - LubbockOnline.com - September 21, 2011
- ^ http://www.stmarytx.edu/athletics/index.php?site=historyTimeline Rattler Athletics Timeline
- ^ http://www.stmarytx.edu/athletics/index.php?site=sportMGolf&nid=2165