Midwest Collegiate Conference
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| Association | NAIA |
|---|---|
| Ceased | 2015 |
| Sports fielded |
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| Region | Midwestern United States Region VII |
| Official website | midwestcollegiateconference.com |
| Locations | |
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The Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) was a college athletic conference, consisting of colleges and universities located in Iowa and Wisconsin. Founded in 1988, the conference's member schools competed on the NAIA level in 15 different sports.
History
When the Midwest Collegiate Conference was originally formed in 1988, it consisted of six Roman Catholic colleges and universities situated across the Midwestern United States. Dubbed the Midwest Catholic Conference, member schools originally competed in only men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, and men's soccer.
The charter members of the conference were Clarke University, Edgewood College, Marycrest University, Mount Mercy University, Mount St. Clare College, and Viterbo College. Edgewood College left the conference before the start of the 1989–90 season. With the inclusion of Grand View College that year, the conference changed its name to the Midwest Classic Conference.
St. Ambrose University's basketball teams joined the conference for the 1990 season, and the school's other sports joined the MCC in 1991. Iowa Wesleyan College joined the conference for the 1995-1996 season. The following year, Clarke University left the MCC to participate in NCAA Division III athletics. William Penn University became a member of the Conference in 2001. Marycrest International University ceased operations after the 2001–02 season. Waldorf College joined the conference for the 2003-2004 season, completing the current nine school lineup. Clarke University returned to the conference in 2007, and the conference has officially taken the name of the Midwest Collegiate Conference.
Members Ashford University and Waldorf College were voted out of the conference on May 17, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011-12 season.[1] On October 14, 2011, Iowa Wesleyan College announced they would join National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III.[2] On January 10, 2014, Grand View University and William Penn University announced they would join the Heart of America Athletic Conference after the 2014-15 season.[3] On February 5, 2015, AIB College of Business announced they would end their athletic programs as the school prepared to be coming a part of the University of Iowa.[4]
Member schools
Current members
The following schools were the final members of the Midwest Collegiate Conference.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 1843 | 1,230 | Crusaders | 1988; 2007 |
independent |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1928 | 1,490 | Mustangs | 1988 | independent |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse, Wisconsin | 1923 | 2,991 | V-Hawks | 1988 | North Star |
- Notes
- AIB College of Business — Merged in 2016 with University of Iowa.[5]
- Clarke — left the MCC in 1996, and re-joined in 2007.
- Clarke, Mount Mercy — became NAIA independent schools for 2015, will join the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 2016.
- Grand View, William Penn — left in 2015; joined the Heart of America Athletic Conference
- St. Ambrose — left in 2015; joined the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference[6]
- Viterbo — joined the North Star Athletic Association
Former members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashford University | Clinton, Iowa | 1918 | Saints | 1988 | 2012 | Independent |
| Edgewood College | Madison, Wisconsin | 1927 | Eagles | 1988 | 1989 | Northern (NCAA D-III) |
| Iowa Wesleyan College | Mount Pleasant, Iowa | 1842 | Tigers | 1995 | 2012 | St. Louis (NCAA D-III) |
| Marycrest International University | Davenport, Iowa | 1939 | Eagles | 1988 | 2002 | Closed in 2002 |
| Waldorf College | Forest City, Iowa | 1903 | Warriors | 2003 | 2012 | North Star |
Membership timeline
Full member (non-football)
Sports
The Midwest Collegiate Conference oversees the following sports:
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  |
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| Basketball | |
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| Cross Country | |
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| Golf | |
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| Soccer | |
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| Softball |
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| Track & Field Indoor | |
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| Track & Field Outdoor | |
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| Volleyball |
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Member schools also participate in a number of sports not affiliated with the MCC, including competitive dance, tennis, men's volleyball, and wrestling. Several football teams from Midwest Collegiate Conference schools compete in the Mid-States Football Association.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ http://whotv.com/2015/02/05/sources-aib-holding-meetings-with-students-coaches-on-future-of-athletics-program/
- ^ "AIB announces gifting details: final graduation in June 2016". AIB College of Business. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
- ^ "Is Midwest Collegiate Conference breakup inevitable with departure of St. Ambrose?". Retrieved 2016-02-29.