Great Northwest Athletic Conference

Last updated
Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)
Great Northwest Athletic Conference logo.svg
Association NCAA
Founded2001
CommissionerDavid Haglund (since 2011)
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 8
Division Division II
No. of teams10
Headquarters Portland, Oregon
Region Idaho, British Columbia, Alaska, Montana, Washington, Oregon
Official website www.gnacsports.com
Locations
Gnac-States.PNG

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. It has historically operated in the northwestern United States, but also includes schools in Alaska, Montana, and British Columbia.

Contents

The GNAC is the only NCAA conference in any division with a Canadian university as a member.

History

The conference formed in 2001 when its original ten members split from the Pacific West Conference.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Pacific Northwest)
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
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200km
125miles
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Central Washington
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Simon Fraser
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Montana State–Billings
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Western Washington
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Western Oregon
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Seattle Pacific
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Saint Martin's
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Northwest Nazarene
Location of GNAC members: Location dot green.svg current
Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Alaska)
Great Northwest Athletic Conference
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900km
600miles
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Alaska–Anchorage
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Alaska
Location of GNAC members: Location dot green.svg current

Chronological timeline

  • 2001 - The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) was founded. Charter members included the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, the University of Alaska at Anchorage, Central Washington University, Humboldt State University (now California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt), Northwest Nazarene University, Saint Martin's, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Western Oregon University and Western Washington University, effective beginning the 2001-02 academic year.
  • 2006 - Humboldt State left the GNAC to join the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), effective after the 2005-06 academic year. This would result in the GNAC dropping football, with Western Washington and Central Washington becoming football affiliates of the now defunct North Central Conference and Western Oregon competing as a D-II independent.
  • 2007 - Montana State University at Billings joined the GNAC, effective in the 2007-08 academic year.
  • 2008 - Seattle left the GNAC to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent (who would later join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), effective beginning the 2012-13 academic year), effective after the 2007-08 academic year.
  • 2008 - Dixie State University joined the GNAC as an affiliate member for football (with Humboldt State returning for that sport), effective with the 2008 fall season (2008-09 academic year), leading to the GNAC to begin sponsoring football once again.
  • 2010 - Simon Fraser University joined the GNAC, effective in the 2010-11 academic year.
  • 2012 - Three institutions joined the GNAC as affiliate members: Azusa Pacific University for football, and the University of Mary and the University of Sioux Falls for men's soccer, all effective with the 2012-13 academic year.
  • 2013 - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (South Dakota Mines) joined the GNAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective in the 2013 fall season (2013-14 academic year).
  • 2014 - South Dakota Mines added football to its GNAC affiliate membership, effective in the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
  • 2015 - South Dakota Mines left the GNAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective after the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
  • 2015 - Concordia University–Portland joined the GNAC, effective in the 2015-16 academic year.
  • 2016 - Dixie State and South Dakota Mines left the GNAC as affiliate members for football, effective after the 2015 fall season (2015-16 academic year).
  • 2019 - Humboldt State left the GNAC as an affiliate member for football as the school announced it was dropping the sport after the 2018 fall season (2018-19 academic year).
  • 2019 - The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) and the University of Central Oklahoma (along with Humboldt State returning for that sport), joined the GNAC as affiliate members for women's rowing, effective in the 2020 spring season (2019-20 academic year).
  • 2020 - Concordia–Portland left the GNAC as the school announced that it would close, effective after the 2019-20 academic year.
  • 2020 - Azusa Pacific left the GNAC as an affiliate member for football as the school announced it was dropping the sport after the 2020 fall season (2020-21 academic year).
  • 2020 - UC San Diego left the GNAC as an affiliate member for women's rowing, effective after the 2020 spring season (2019-20 academic year), coinciding with the start of its transition to NCAA Division I.
  • 2022 - Central Washington, Western Oregon and Simon Fraser, the only 3 football-sponsoring schools remaining in the GNAC, announce that they will be joining the Lone Star Conference as football affiliates, bringing an end to the GNAC as a football conference for a second time, effective after the 2021 fall season (2021-22 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The GNAC currently has ten full members, all but three are public schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska 1954 Public 10,530 Seawolves 2001   
University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 1917Public6,826 Nanooks 2001   
Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington 1891Public9,355 Wildcats 2001   
Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana 1927Public4,057 Yellowjackets 2007   
Northwest Nazarene University Nampa, Idaho 1913 Nazarene 1,778 Nighthawks 2001       
Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington 1895 Catholic 1,614 Saints 2001   
Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington 1891 Free Methodist 3,114 Falcons 2001   
Simon Fraser University Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada 1965Public26,981 Red Leafs 2010     
Western Oregon University Monmouth, Oregon 1856Public3,752 Wolves 2001       
Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington 1893Public14,747 Vikings 2001       
Notes

    Affiliate members

    The GNAC currently has two affiliate members, both are public schools:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColorsGNAC
    sport
    Primary
    conference
    University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma 1890Public13,250 Bronchos 2019–20   women's rowing Mid-America (MIAA)
    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt [a] [b] Arcata, California 1913Public5,858 Lumberjacks 2019–20   women's rowing California (CCAA)
    Notes
    1. Cal Poly Humboldt was a full member of the GNAC from 2001–02 to 2005–06, and was as an affiliate member of the GNAC for football from the 2008 to 2018 fall seasons (2008–09 to 2018–19 school years).
    2. Formerly known as Humboldt State University until January 26, 2022.

    Former members

    The GNAC had three former full members, all but one were private schools:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
    conference
    Concordia University–Portland Portland, Oregon 1905 Lutheran LCMS N/A Cavaliers 20152020Closed in 2020
    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt [a] [b] Arcata, California 1913 Public 5,858 Lumberjacks 20012006 California (CCAA)
    Seattle University Seattle, Washington 1891 Catholic 7,107 Redhawks 20012008 Western (WAC) [c] [d]
    Notes
    1. Cal Poly Humboldt remains in the GNAC as an affiliate member for women's rowing.
    2. Formerly known as Humboldt State University until January 26, 2022.
    3. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
    4. Seattle University will join the West Coast Conference effective July 1, 2025.

    Former affiliate members

    The GNAC had seven former affiliate members, all but three were public schools:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftGNAC
    sport
    Primary
    conference
    Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California 1899 Evangelical
    Christian
    7,133 Cougars 2012–132019–20football Pacific West (PacWest)
    Dixie State University [a] St. George, Utah 1911 Public 12,556 Red Storm [b] 2008–092015–16football Western (WAC) [c]
    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt [d] [e] Arcata, California 1913Public5,858 Lumberjacks 2006–072017–18football California (CCAA)
    University of Mary Bismarck, North Dakota 1959 Catholic 3,794 Marauders 2012–132015–16men's soccer Northern Sun (NSIC)
    University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1883 Baptist 1,594 Cougars 2012–132012–13men's soccer Northern Sun (NSIC)
    South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, South Dakota 1885Public2,493 Hardrockers 2014–15fb.;
    2013–14m.soc.
    2015–16fb.;
    2014–15m.soc.
    football;
    men's soccer
    Rocky Mountain (RMAC)
    University of California, San Diego San Diego, California 1960Public41,482 Tritons 2019–202019–20women's rowing Big West [c]
    Notes
    1. Currently known as Utah Tech University.
    2. Currently known as the Utah Tech Trailblazers.
    3. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
    4. Cal Poly Humboldt was a full member of the GNAC from 2001–02 to 2005–06. However it remains in the GNAC as an affiliate member for women's rowing.
    5. Formerly known as Humboldt State University until January 2022.

    Membership timeline

    University of California, San DiegoUniversity of Central OklahomaConcordia University (Oregon)South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyUniversity of Sioux FallsUniversity of MaryAzusa Pacific UniversitySimon Fraser UniversityUtah Tech UniversityMontana State University BillingsWestern Washington UniversityWestern Oregon UniversitySeattle Pacific UniversitySeattle UniversitySaint Martin's UniversityNorthwest Nazarene UniversityCalifornia State Polytechnic University, HumboldtCalifornia State Polytechnic University, HumboldtCentral Washington UniversityUniversity of Alaska AnchorageUniversity of Alaska FairbanksGreat Northwest Athletic Conference

     Full member (all sports)  Full member (non-football)  Associate member (football-only)  Associate member (other sports) 

    Sports sponsored

    Conference sports
    SportMen'sWomen's
    Baseball Green check.svg
    Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Rowing Green check.svg
    Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Softball Green check.svg
    Track & Field Indoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Track & Field Outdoor Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Volleyball Green check.svg

    Men's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
    Country
    GolfSoccerTrack
    & Field
    Indoor
    Track
    & Field
    Outdoor
    Total
    GNAC
    Sports
    AlaskaGreen check.svgGreen check.svg2
    Alaska-AnchorageGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg4
    Central WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
    Montana State-BillingsGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
    Northwest NazareneGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
    Saint Martin'sGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
    Seattle PacificGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
    Simon FraserGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
    Western OregonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
    Western WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
    Totals51010579957

    Women's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBasketballCross
    Country
    GolfRowingSoccerSoftballTrack
    & Field
    Indoor
    Track
    & Field
    Outdoor
    VolleyballTotal
    GNAC
    Sports
    AlaskaGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg3
    Alaska-AnchorageGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
    Central WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
    Montana State-BillingsGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
    Northwest NazareneGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
    Saint Martin'sGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
    Seattle PacificGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
    Simon FraserGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
    Western OregonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
    Western WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
    Affiliate Members
    Cal Poly HumboldtGreen check.svg1
    Central OklahomaGreen check.svg1
    Totals10106487991081

    Other sponsored sports by school

    SchoolMenWomenCo-ed
    FootballIce
    Hockey [a]
    Swimming
    & Diving
    WrestlingGymnastics [a] Swimming
    & Diving
    WrestlingRifle [a] Skiing [a]
    Alaska IND PCSC PRC RMISA
    Alaska Anchorage IND MPSF RMISA
    Central Washington LSC
    Simon Fraser RMAC RMAC RMAC RMAC
    Western Oregon LSC
    1. 1 2 3 4 De facto Division I sport. The NCAA holds a combined national championship event in men's ice hockey open to both Division I and Division II members, and single championship events open to members of all three divisions in women's gymnastics and the coeducational sports of rifle and skiing.

    Football champions

    Basketball champions

    Conference facilities

    SchoolBasketball arenaCapacity
    Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Airlines Court 1,648
    Alaska Anchorage Alaska Airlines Center 5,000
    Central Washington Nicholson Pavilion 2,519
    Montana State - Billings Alterowitz Gymnasium 2,330
    Northwest Nazarene Johnson Sports Center
    Saint Martin's Marcus Pavilion
    Seattle Pacific Royal Brougham Pavilion 2,650
    Simon Fraser West Gym 1,500
    Western Oregon PE Gym 2,473
    Western Washington Sam Carver Gym 2,534

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    The 2001 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University—now known as California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt—as a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) during the 2001 NCAA Division II football season. Led second-year head coach Doug Adkins, the Lumberjacks compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 1–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for second in the GNAC. The team was outscored its by opponents 405 to 267 for the season. Humboldt State played home games at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, California.

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    References