Heart of America Athletic Conference

College athletic conference

Heart of America Athletic Conference

Association| NAIA
Founded| 1971
Commissioner| Nik Rule (since 2024)
Sports fielded|

* 23
* men's: 12
* women's: 11

No. of teams| 13 (15 in 2025)
Headquarters| Overland Park, Kansas
Region| West North Central
Official website| www.haacsports.com
Locations

The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC or The Heart)[1] is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska in the United States.

## History

[edit]

Heart of America Athletic Conference

110km
68miles

Baker

William Woods

Missouri Baptist

Park

Mount Mercy

Clarke

William Penn

Grand View

Peru State

Benedictine

MidAmerica
Nazarene

Culver–Stockton

Central Methodist

Missouri Valley

Graceland

Location of HAAC members:  current,  future

The HAAC's earliest ancestor was the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU), which was formed in 1924 when the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association or MIAA) split in two. The old MIAA's private schools formed the Athletic Union, while the state teachers' colleges stayed in the MIAA.[2] It was reorganized as the HAAC in 1971 when it began admitting schools outside Missouri. However, the HAAC does not presently claim the Athletic Union's history as its own.

In early 2014, Grand View University and William Penn University were announced as members for the 2015–16 school year.[3] In April 2015, Clarke University and Mount Mercy University were also announced as members for the 2016–17 school year.[4] In October 2019, Park University was approved for HAAC membership and joined in the 2020–21 school year.[5] On February 10, 2022, long-serving Evangel University accepted its invitation to join the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, also Kansas-based, in 2023.[6]

On July 24, 2023, William Woods University (alongside St. Ambrose) announced they would join the conference as associate members in football beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 school year). The expansion made it NAIA's largest football conference with 14 teams playing in two divisions.[7]

The current commissioner of the conference is Lori Thomas. Thomas, the first female commissioner in NAIA history, began her term in 2014,[8] succeeding Larry Lady who retired after 22 years as commissioner.[citation needed]

### Chronological timeline

[edit]

* 1971 – The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) was founded. Charter members included Baker University, Central Methodist College (now Central Methodist University), the College of Emporia, Graceland College (now Graceland University), Missouri Valley College, Ottawa University, Tarkio College and William Jewell College, beginning the 1971–72 academic year.
* 1974 – The College of Emporia left the HAAC as the school announced that it would close after the 1973–74 academic year.
* 1980 – Culver–Stockton College and Mid-America Nazarene College (now MidAmerica Nazarene University) joined the HAAC in the 1980–81 academic year.
* 1982 – Ottawa left the HAAC to rejoin the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) after the 1981–82 academic year.
* 1986 – Central Methodist left the HAAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1985–86 academic year.
* 1987 – Evangel College (now Evangel University) joined the HAAC in the 1987–88 academic year.
* 1991 – Benedictine College joined the HAAC (with Central Methodist rejoining), both effective in the 1991–92 academic year.
* 1996 – Lindenwood College (now Lindenwood University) joined the HAAC in the 1996–97 academic year.
* 2000 – Avila College (now Avila University) joined the HAAC in the 2000–01 academic year.
* 2011 – Two institutions left the HAAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), both effective after the 2010–11 academic year:
* Lindenwood as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), beginning the 2012–13 school year)
* and William Jewell to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
* 2011 – Peru State College joined the HAAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
* 2015 – Grand View University and William Penn University (both coming from the defunct Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC)) joined the HAAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
* 2016 – Clarke University and Mount Mercy University (also both coming from the defunct Midwest Collegiate (MCC) after spending a season as NAIA Independents) joined the HAAC in the 2016–17 academic year.
* 2017 – Dickinson State University joined the HAAC as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2018 – Avila left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2020 – Park University joined the HAAC in the 2020–21 academic year.
* 2020 – Three institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
* Missouri Baptist University and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP) for men's volleyball
* and Waldorf University for men's & women's wrestling
* 2021 – Two institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
* St. Ambrose University for only men's wrestling
* and Iowa Wesleyan University for men's & women's wrestling
* 2022 – Two institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year):
* Mount Vernon Nazarene University for men's lacrosse
* and St. Ambrose for men's and women's lacrosse
* 2023 – Evangel left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2022–23 academic year.
* 2023 – Iowa Wesleyan left the HAAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's wrestling after the 2023–24 academic year; as the school announced that it ceased operations.
* 2023 – Two institutions added other single sports into their HAAC affiliate memberships, both effective in the 2023–24 academic year:
* Dickinson State for women's wrestling
* and Missouri Baptist for football
* 2024 – Two institutions left the HAAC as affiliate members, both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
* Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's lacrosse
* and Waldorf for men's and women's wrestling
* 2024 – Thirteen institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2024–25 academic year:
* Central Christian College of Kansas, Dordt University, Kansas Wesleyan University and Morningside University for men's volleyball
* Columbia College for men's lacrosse
* John Brown University and Texas Wesleyan University for men's and women's tennis
* Midland University for men's and women's lacrosse
* Ottawa University for men's and women's lacrosse and men's volleyball
* Missouri Baptist for men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis
* St. Ambrose for football
* the USHP for women's lacrosse
* and William Woods University for football, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis
* 2025 – Missouri Baptist and William Woods will both join the HAAC as full members for all sports, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current members

[edit]

The HAAC currently has thirteen full members, all but one are private schools: All but one of the private schools are religiously affiliated.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined[a]

|
|
|
|
|
|

Baker University | Baldwin City, Kansas | 1858  | United Methodist | 989  | Wildcats | 1971
Benedictine College | Atchison, Kansas | 1858  | Catholic
(Benedictines) | 2,189  | Ravens | 1991
Central Methodist University | Fayette, Missouri | 1854  | United Methodist  | 1,094  | Eagles | 1971;
1991[b]
Clarke University | Dubuque, Iowa | 1843  | Catholic
(B.V.M.) | 1,075  | Pride | 2016
Culver–Stockton College | Canton, Missouri | 1853  | Disciples of Christ | 1,066  | Wildcats | 1980
Graceland University | Lamoni, Iowa | 1895  | Community of Christ | 2,301  | Yellowjackets | 1971
Grand View University | Des Moines, Iowa | 1896  | Lutheran ELCA | 1,988  | Vikings | 2015
MidAmerica Nazarene University | Olathe, Kansas | 1966  | Nazarene | 1,884  | Pioneers | 1980
Missouri Valley College | Marshall, Missouri | 1889  | Presbyterian
(PCUSA) | 1,728  | Vikings | 1971
Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1928  | Catholic
(R.S.M.) | 1,877  | Mustangs | 2016
Park University | Parkville, Missouri | 1875  | Nonsectarian  | 2,340  | Pirates | 2020
Peru State College | Peru, Nebraska | 1865  | Public  | 2,422  | Bobcats | 2011
William Penn University | Oskaloosa, Iowa | 1873  | Quakers | 1,550  | Statesmen &
Lady Statesmen | 2015

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. ^ Central Methodist left the HAAC after the 1985–86 school year; before rejoining in the 1991–92 school year.

### Future members

[edit]

The HAAC will have two new members, both are private schools as well as current HAAC affiliate members.

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joining[a] | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Missouri Baptist University | Creve Coeur, Missouri | 1957  | Baptist | 5,309  | Spartans | 2025  | American Midwest
William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri | 1870  | Disciples of Christ | 2,300  | Owls

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

### Affiliate members

[edit]

The HAAC currently has fourteen affiliate members, all but one are private schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined[a] | HAAC
sport  | Primary
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Central Christian College of Kansas | McPherson, Kansas | 1884  | Free Methodist | 1,013  | Tigers | 2024m.vb. | men's volleyball  | Sooner (SAC)
Columbia College | Columbia, Missouri | 1851  | Nonsectarian | 4,000  | Cougars | 2024m.lac. | men's lacrosse  | American Midwest
Dickinson State University | Dickinson, North Dakota | 1918  | Public  | 1,392  | Blue Hawks | 2017m.wr.
2023w.wr. | men's wrestling;
women's wrestling  | North Star (NSAA)
Dordt University | Sioux Center, Iowa | 1955  | Christian Reformed | 1,581  | Defenders | 2024m.vb. | men's volleyball  | Great Plains (GPAC)
John Brown University | Siloam Springs, Arkansas | 1919  | Interdenominational | 2,708  | Golden Eagles | 2024m.ten.
2024w.ten. | men's tennis;
women's tennis  | Sooner (SAC)
Kansas Wesleyan University | Salina, Kansas | 1886  | United Methodist | 1,000  | Coyotes | 2024m.vb. | men's volleyball  | Kansas (KCAC)
Midland University | Fremont, Nebraska | 1883  | Lutheran ELCA | 1,394  | Warriors | 2024m.lac.
2024w.lac. | men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse  | Great Plains (GPAC)
Missouri Baptist University | Creve Coeur, Missouri | 1957  | Baptist | 5,309  | Spartans | 2020m.vb.
2023fb.
2024m.lac.
2024w.lac.
2024m.ten.
2024w.ten. | men's volleyball;
football;
men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse;
men's tennis;
women's tennis  | American Midwest
Morningside University | Sioux City, Iowa | 1894  | United Methodist  | 2,824  | Mustangs | 2024m.vb. | men's volleyball  | Great Plains (GPAC)
Ottawa University | Ottawa, Kansas | 1865  | Baptist | 726  | Braves | 2024m.lac.
2024w.lac.
2024m.vb. | men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse;
men's volleyball  | Kansas (KCAC)
St. Ambrose University | Davenport, Iowa | 1882  | Catholic
(Diocese of
Davenport) | 3,607  | Fighting Bees | 2021m.wr.
2022m.lac.
2022w.lac.
2024fb. | men's wrestling;
men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse;
football  | Chicagoland (CCAC)
Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth, Texas | 1890  | United Methodist  | 2,373  | Rams | 2024m.ten.
2024w.ten. | men's tennis;
women's tennis  | Sooner (SAC)
University of Health Sciences
and Pharmacy in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | 1864  | Nonsectarian  | 1,350  | Eutectics | 2020m.vb.
2024w.lac. | men's volleyball;
women's lacrosse  | American Midwest
William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri | 1870  | Disciples of Christ | 2,300  | Owls | 2024fb.
2024m.lac.
2024m.ten.
2024w.ten. | football;
men's lacrosse;
men's tennis;
women's tennis  | American Midwest

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

### Former members

[edit]

The HAAC has seven former full members, all were private schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Subsequent
conference  | Current
conference

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Avila University | Kansas City, Missouri | 1916  | Catholic
(C.S.J.) | 1,676  | Eagles | 2000  | 2018  | Kansas (KCAC)
(2018–present)
College of Emporia | Emporia, Kansas | 1882  | Presbyterian | N/A  | Fighting Presbies | 1971  | 1974  | Closed in 1974
Evangel University | Springfield, Missouri | 1955  | Assemblies of God | 1,511  | Valor | 1987  | 2023  | Kansas (KCAC)
(2023–present)
Lindenwood University | St. Charles, Missouri | 1827  | Presbyterian
(PCUSA) | 4,822  | Lions | 1996  | 2011  | various[d] | Ohio Valley (OVC)[e]
(2022–present)
Ottawa University | Ottawa, Kansas | 1865  | American Baptist | 726  | Braves | 1971  | 1982  | Kansas (KCAC)
(1982–present)
Tarkio College | Tarkio, Missouri | 1883  | Presbyterian
(UPCUSA) | N/A  | Owls | 1971  | 1992  | Closed in 1992
William Jewell College | Liberty, Missouri | 1849  | Nonsectarian | 738  | Cardinals | 1971  | 2011  | Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)[c]
(2011–present)

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. ^ a b c Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
4. ^ Lindenwood had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an NCAA D-II Independent during the 2011–12 school year; the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association[c] (MIAA) from 2012–13 to 2018–19; and the Great Lakes Valley Conference[c] (GLVC) from 2019–20 to 2021–22.
5. ^ Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.

### Former affiliate members

[edit]

The HAAC has three former affiliate members; which all were private schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined[a] | Left[b] | HAAC
sport  | Current
primary
conference  | Conference
in former
HAAC sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Iowa Wesleyan University | Mount Pleasant, Iowa | 1842  | United Methodist | N/A  | Tigers | 2021  | 2023  | men's wrestling;
women's wrestling  | Closed in 2023
Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 1964  | Nazarene | 2,622  | Cougars | 2022  | 2024  | men's lacrosse  | Crossroads | Independent
Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | 1903  | For-profit[c] | 4,500  | Warriors | 2020  | 2024  | men's wrestling;
women's wrestling  | Great Plains (GPAC)

Notes

1. ^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. ^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. ^ Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.

### Membership timeline

[edit]

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

## Sports

[edit]

The conference also sponsors co-ed varsity sports of dance and cheer.

The following divisional format is used for football only.

North

* Clarke
* Culver–Stockton
* Graceland
* Grand View
* Peru State
* William Penn
* Mount Mercy (in 2025)
* St. Ambrose

South

* Baker
* Benedictine
* Central Methodist
* MidAmerica Nazarene
* Missouri Valley
* Missouri Baptist
* William Woods

The following divisional format is used for baseball, men's and women's basketball, and women's volleyball.

North

* Clarke
* Culver–Stockton
* Graceland
* Grand View
* Peru State
* William Penn
* Mount Mercy

South

* Baker
* Benedictine
* Central Methodist
* MidAmerica Nazarene
* Missouri Valley
* Park

Conference sports  Sport | Men's | Women's

|
|

Baseball | Y |
Basketball | Y | Y
Bowling | Y | Y
Cross Country | Y | Y
Football | Y |
Golf | Y | Y
Lacrosse | Y | Y
Soccer | Y | Y
Softball |  | Y
Tennis | Y | Y
Track & Field Indoor | Y | Y
Track & Field Outdoor | Y | Y
Volleyball |  | Y
Wrestling | Y | Y

## See also

[edit]

* Heart of America (college rugby)
* Football seasons: 2011, 2012

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Heart unveils new brans, logo". Heart of America Athletic Conference. May 7, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
2. ^ MIAA Archived July 9, 2012, at archive.today
3. ^ "Heart of America Conference adds two Iowa members". The Kansas City Star. January 10, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
4. ^ "Clarke, Mount Mercy approved for membership". Heart of America Athletic Conference. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
5. ^ "Park set to join Heart of America in 2020". Victory Sports Network. October 9, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
6. ^ "Evangel University Accepts Invitation to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference". Evangel Valor. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
7. ^ "William Woods football joins Heart of America conference" ABC 17 News. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
8. ^ "About us". Heart of America Athletic Conference. 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Heart of America Athletic Conference

Full members|

* Baker University
* Benedictine College
* Central Methodist University
* Clarke University
* Culver-Stockton College
* Graceland University
* Grand View University
* MidAmerica Nazarene University
* Missouri Valley College
* Mount Mercy University
* Park University
* Peru State College
* William Penn University

* v
* t
* e

NAIA conferences

Single Division|

* American Midwest Conference
* Appalachian Athletic Conference†
* California Pacific Conference
* Cascade Collegiate Conference
* Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Continental Athletic Conference (Independent schools)
* Crossroads League
* Frontier Conference†
* Great Plains Athletic Conference†
* Great Southwest Athletic Conference
* HBCU Athletic Conference
* Heart of America Athletic Conference†
* Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference†
* Mid-South Conference†
* North Star Athletic Association†
* Red River Athletic Conference
* River States Conference
* Sooner Athletic Conference†
* Southern States Athletic Conference
* Sun Conference†
* Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

Football-only|

* Mid-States Football Association†
* NAIA independent football schools†

† Conference sponsors football
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