Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

Formerly	Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Kansas College Athletic Conference
Association	NAIA
Founded	1890
Commissioner	Scott Crawford (since 2007)
Sports fielded	21 men's: 10 women's: 11
No. of teams	14
Headquarters	Wichita, Kansas
Official website	www.kcacsports.com
Locations

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The KCAC is the oldest conference in the NAIA and the second-oldest in the United States, tracing its history to 1890.

History

On February 15, 1890, the Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association was formed; it was the first successful attempt to organize Kansas colleges for the purposes of promoting and regulating amateur intercollegiate athletics. In addition to the private universities and colleges, the conference also included Kansas State Agriculture College (now Kansas State University), the University of Kansas, and Washburn University. In November of that year, the first college football game in Kansas was played between the Kansas Jayhawks and Baker University. ^[1]

About 1902 the association allied with the Kansas College Athletic Conference, the first group to adopt a definite set of rules and regulations. By the 1920s the conference had changed its name to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and had grown to include 17 regular members and 2 allied members (no longer including the University of Kansas or Kansas State). In 1923 seven colleges withdrew to form the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

On December 1, 1928, the Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was formally disbanded and replaced by a new Kansas College Athletic Conference which included six members and formed the present legal entity. It was commonly referred to as the "Little Six", in contrast to the Big Six Conference that eventually became the current Big 12. By 1968 the conference grew to include 12 members. It was organized into Northern and Southern divisions until 1970 when three colleges withdrew to join Missouri-based conferences. In the mid-1970s the name was changed to its current form. ^[2]

1905 night game

See 1905 Cooper vs. Fairmount football game

In the 1905 season, the Coleman Company set up temporary gas-powered lighting for a night game against Cooper College (now called the Sterling Warriors). It was the first night football game played west of the Mississippi River. ^[3] Fairmount (now Wichita State University) won the game 24–0. ^[4]

1905 "experimental" game

See 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game

On December 25, 1905, Fairmount played a game against the Washburn Ichabods using a set of experimental rules. The game was officiated by then Washburn head coach John H. Outland.

The experiment was considered a failure. Outland commented, "It seems to me that the distance required in three downs would almost eliminate touchdowns, except through fakes or flukes." ^[5] The Los Angeles Times reported that there was much kicking and that the game was considered much safer than regular play, but that the new rule was not "conducive to the sport." ^[6]

In his history of the sport of football, David M. Nelson concluded that "the first forward passes were thrown at the end of the 1905 season in a game between Fairmount and Washburn colleges in Kansas." ^[7] According to Nelson, Washburn completed three passes, and Fairmount completed two.

Chronological timeline

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

150km
100miles

Bethany

Evangel

Avila

York

Oklahoma Wesleyan

Saint Mary

Friends

Ottawa

Tabor

Sterling

Southwestern

Bethel

McPherson

Kansas Wesleyan

  

Location of KCAC members: current

• 1902 – The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) was founded as the Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC). Charter members included Baker University, Bethany College, Bethel College, the College of Emporia (CoE), Cooper Memorial College (now Sterling College), Fairmount College (now Wichita State University), Friends University, Kansas Wesleyan University, Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia (now Emporia State University), Kansas State Teachers College of Hays (now Fort Hays State University), Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University), Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University), McPherson College, Ottawa University, St. Benedict's College (now Benedictine College), St. Mary's College (now Saint Mary's Academy and College), Southwest Kansas Conference College (now Southwestern College), Washburn College (now Washburn University) as full members, and St. John's College and Kansas City University as allied members, effective beginning the 1902–03 academic year.
• 1913 – Kansas State left the KIAC to join the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA), effective after the 1912–13 academic year.
• 1923 – Nine institutions left the KIAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: The College of Emporia, Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Southwestern (Ks.), Washburn and Wichita State to form the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIC), and Kansas City U. and St. John's (Ks.) as Independents, effective after the 1922–23 academic year.
• 1928 – Bethel (Ks.), Friends, Sterling and St. Benedict's (Ks.) left the KIAC to become Independents, effective in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 academic year).
• 1928 – The KIAC was rebranded as the Kansas College Athletic Conference (KCAC), effective in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 academic year).
• 1931 – St. Mary's (Ks.) left the KCAC as the school closed, effective after the 1930–31 academic year.
• 1933 – The College of Emporia rejoined the KCAC, effective in the 1933–34 academic year.
• 1939 – Bethel (Ks.) rejoined the KCAC, effective in the 1939–40 academic year.
• 1953 – Friends rejoined the KCAC, effective in the 1953–54 academic year.
• 1958 – Southwestern (Ks.) and Sterling rejoined the KCAC, effective in the 1958–59 academic year.
• 1968 – St. Mary of the Plains College and Tabor College joined the KCAC, effective in the 1968–69 academic year.
• 1970 – The KCAC has been rebranded as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), effective in the 1970–71 academic year.
• 1971 – Baker, the College of Emporia and Ottawa left the KCAC to form part of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), effective after the 1970–71 academic year.
• 1982 – Ottawa rejoined the KCAC, effective in the 1982–83 academic year.
• 1992 – St. Mary's of the Plains left the KCAC as the school closed, effective after the 1991–92 academic year.
• 1999 – The Saint Mary College of Leavenworth (now the University of Saint Mary) joined the KCAC, effective in the 1999–2000 academic year.
• 2015 – Oklahoma Wesleyan University joined the KCAC, effective in the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2015 – Six institutions joined the KCAC as associate members: St. Gregory's University for men's lacrosse, Midland University and Johnson & Wales University–Colorado for women's lacrosse, and Clarke University and Missouri Valley College for men's and women's lacrosse (with Benedictine re-joining back for both sports), all effective in the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
• 2016 – St. Gregory's left the KCAC as an associate member for men's lacrosse after the school suspended it, effective during the 2016 spring season (2015–16 academic year).
• 2016 – York College joined the KCAC, effective in the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2016 – St. Ambrose University joined the KCAC as an associate member for men's lacrosse, effective in the 2017 spring season (2016–17 academic year).
• 2017 – Five institutions joined the KCAC as associate members: Columbia College of Missouri for men's lacrosse, St. Ambrose adding women's lacrosse to its KCAC associate membership, and Hastings College, the University of Jamestown and Missouri Baptist University for women's wrestling, all effective in the 2017–18 academic year.
• 2018 – Johnson & Wales–Colorado left the KCAC as an associate member for women's lacrosse, effective after the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
• 2018 – Avila University joined the KCAC, effective in the 2015–16 academic year.
• 2019 – Six institutions joined the KCAC as associate members: Culver–Stockton College for women's lacrosse, Lincoln College, Morningside College (now Morningside University) and William Penn University for men's and women's swimming (with Missouri Baptist adding these sports), and Midland adding men's lacrosse and men's & women's swimming to its KCAC associate membership, all effective in the 2019–20 academic year.
• 2020 – Missouri Baptist left the KCAC as an associate member for women's wrestling, effective after the 2019–20 academic year.
• 2020 – Four institutions joined the KCAC as associate members: Bethel Indiana University for men's and women's swimming (with Morningside adding these sports), Cottey College for women's flag football, and Midland adding women's wrestling and women's flag football to its KCAC associate membership, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2021 – Lincoln (Ill.) left the KCAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming, effective after the 2020–21 academic year.
• 2022 – The College of Saint Mary (Neb.) joined the KCAC as an associate member in women's swimming & diving effective in the 2022–23 academic year.
• 2023 – Evangel University joined the KCAC, effective beginning the 2023–24 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The KCAC currently has fourteen full members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]
Avila University	Kansas City, Missouri	1916	Catholic (C.S.J.)	1,676	Eagles	2018
Bethany College	Lindsborg, Kansas	1881	Lutheran ELCA	500	Swedes	1902
Bethel College	North Newton, Kansas	1887	Mennonite	500	Threshers	1902; 1939 [lower-alpha 2]
Evangel University	Springfield, Missouri	1955	Assemblies of God	1,511	Valor	2023
Friends University	Wichita, Kansas	1898	Nondenominational	3,000	Falcons	1902; 1953 [lower-alpha 3]
Kansas Wesleyan University	Salina, Kansas	1886	United Methodist	1,000	Coyotes	1902
McPherson College	McPherson, Kansas	1887	Brethren	844	Bulldogs	1902
Oklahoma Wesleyan University	Bartlesville, Oklahoma	1972	Wesleyan Church	1,103	Eagles	2015
Ottawa University	Ottawa, Kansas	1865	Baptist	726	Braves	1902; 1982 [lower-alpha 4]
University of Saint Mary	Leavenworth, Kansas	1859	Catholic (S.C.L.)	1,280	Spires	1999
Southwestern College	Winfield, Kansas	1885	United Methodist	1,650	Moundbuilders	1902; 1958 [lower-alpha 5]
Sterling College	Sterling, Kansas	1887	Evangelical Christian	750	Warriors	1902; 1958 [lower-alpha 6]
Tabor College	Hillsboro, Kansas	1908	Mennonite Brethren	600	Bluejays	1968
York University	York, Nebraska	1890	Churches of Christ	459	Panthers	2016

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Bethel (Ks.) left the KCAC in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 school year) before rejoining effective the 1939–40 school year.
3. Friends left the KCAC in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 school year) before rejoining effective the 1953–54 school year.
4. Ottawa left the KCAC after the 1970–71 school year before rejoining effective the 1982–83 school year.
5. Southwestern (Ks.) left the KCAC after the 1922–23 school year before rejoining effective the 1958–59 school year.
6. Sterling left the KCAC in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 school year) before rejoining effective the 1958–59 school year.

Associate members

The KCAC currently has 15 associate members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	KCAC sport	Primary conference
Benedictine College	Atchison, Kansas	1858	Catholic (Benedictines)	2,189	Ravens	2015m.lax. 2015w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	Heart of America (HAAC)
Bethel University	Mishawaka, Indiana	1947	Missionary	1,964	Pilots	2020m.sw. 2020w.sw.	men's swimming women's swimming	Crossroads
Clarke University	Dubuque, Iowa	1843	Catholic (B.V.M.)	1,075	Pride	2015m.lax. 2015w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	Heart of America (HAAC)
Columbia College of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	1851	Nonsectarian	4,000	Cougars	2017m.lax. 2021w.lax.	men's lacrosse eSports	American Midwest
Cottey College	Nevada, Missouri	1884	Nonsectarian	300	Comets	2020	women's flag football	American Midwest
Culver–Stockton College	Canton, Missouri	1853	Disciples of Christ	1,066	Wildcats	2019	women's lacrosse	Heart of America (HAAC)
Hastings College	Hastings, Nebraska	1882	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,150	Broncos	2017	women's wrestling	Great Plains (GPAC)
University of Jamestown	Jamestown, North Dakota	1883	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,000	Jimmies	2017w.wr. 2021w.sw.	women's wrestling women's swimming	Great Plains (GPAC)
Midland University	Fremont, Nebraska	1883	Lutheran ELCA	1,394	Warriors	2019m.lax. 2015w.lax. 2020w.wr. 2019m.sw. 2019w.sw. 2020w.f.fb.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse women's wrestling men's swimming women's swimming women's flag football	Great Plains (GPAC)
Missouri Baptist University [lower-alpha 2]	Creve Coeur, Missouri	1957	Southern Baptist	5,309	Spartans	2019m.lax. 2019w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	American Midwest
Missouri Valley College	Marshall, Missouri	1889	Presbyterian (PCUSA)	1,728	Vikings	2015m.lax. 2015w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	Heart of America (HAAC)
Morningside University	Sioux City, Iowa	1894	United Methodist	2,824	Mustangs	2019m.lax. 2019w.lax. 2020m.sw. 2020w.sw.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse men's swimming women's swimming	Great Plains (GPAC)
St. Ambrose University	Davenport, Iowa	1882	Catholic (Diocese of Davenport)	3,607	Fighting Bees	2016m.lax. 2017w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	Chicagoland (CCAC)
College of Saint Mary	Omaha, Nebraska	1923	Catholic (R.S.M.)	1,070	Flames	2022	women's swimming & diving	Great Plains (GPAC)
William Penn University	Oskaloosa, Iowa	1873	Quakers	1,550	Statesmen	2019m.lax. 2019w.lax.	men's lacrosse women's lacrosse	Heart of America (HAAC)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Missouri Baptist competed in the KCAC as an associate member for women's wrestling from 2017–18 to 2019–20.

Former members

The KCAC had 12 former full members, all but five were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Left [lower-alpha 2]	Subsequent conference(s)	Current conference
Baker University	Baldwin City, Kansas	1858	United Methodist	989	Wildcats	1902	1971	Heart of America (HAAC) (1971–present)
College of Emporia	Emporia, Kansas	1882	Presbyterian	N/A	Fighting Presbies	1902; 1933	1923; 1971 [lower-alpha 3]	various [lower-alpha 4]	Closed in 1974
Fairmont College [lower-alpha 5]	Wichita, Kansas	1895	Public	15,778	Shockers	1902	1923	various [lower-alpha 7]	The American [lower-alpha 6] (2017–present)
Kansas City University	Kansas City, Kansas	1896	Methodist	N/A	Cowboys	1902	1923	Independent (1923–33)	Closed in 1933
Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia [lower-alpha 8]	Emporia, Kansas	1863	Public	5,887	Hornets & Lady Hornets	1902	1923	various [lower-alpha 9]	Mid-America (MIAA) [lower-alpha 10] (1991–present)
Kansas State Teachers College of Hays [lower-alpha 11]	Hays, Kansas	1902	Public	14,658	Tigers	1902	1923	various [lower-alpha 12]	Mid-America (MIAA) [lower-alpha 10] (2006–present)
Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg [lower-alpha 13]	Pittsburg, Kansas	1903	Public	7,102	Gorillas	1902	1923	various [lower-alpha 14]	Mid-America (MIAA) [lower-alpha 10] (1989–present)
Kansas State Agricultural College [lower-alpha 15]	Manhattan, Kansas	1863	Public (Land-grant)	20,229	Wildcats	1902	1913	various [lower-alpha 16]	Big 12 [lower-alpha 6] (1996–present)
St. Benedict's College [lower-alpha 17]	Atchison, Kansas	1858	Catholic (Benedictines)	2,189	Ravens	1902	1928 [lower-alpha 18]	various [lower-alpha 19]	Heart of America (HAAC) (1991–present)
St. John's College	Winfield, Kansas	1893	Lutheran LCMS	N/A	Eagles	1902	1923	Independent (1923–86)	Closed in 1986
St. Mary of the Plains College	Dodge City, Kansas	1913	Catholic (Diocese of Dodge City)	N/A	Cavaliers & Saints	1968	1992	Closed in 1992
St. Mary's College	St. Marys, Kansas	1848	Catholic (SSPX)	N/A	Knights	1902	1931	N/A [lower-alpha 20]
Washburn University	Topeka, Kansas	1865	Public	7,971	Ichabods	1902	1923	various [lower-alpha 21]	Mid-America (MIAA) [lower-alpha 10] (1989–present)

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. The College of Emporia previously withdrew from the KCAC from 1923–24 to 1932–33.
4. The College of Emporia had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1932–33 and the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) from 1971–72 to 1973–74.
5. Currently known as Wichita State University since 1964.
6. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
7. Wichita State had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1939–40, as an NAIA Independent from 1940–41 to 1944–45, and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) ^{[lower-alpha 6]} from 1945–46 to 2016–17.
8. Currently known as Emporia State University since 1977.
9. Emporia State had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1967–68, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1968–69 to 1971–72, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1972–73 to 1975–76, the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) from 1976–77 to 1988–89, and as an NCAA D-II Independent from 1989–90 to 1990–91.
10. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
11. Currently known as Fort Hays State University since 1977.
12. Fort Hays State had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1967–68, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference ^{[lower-alpha 10]} (RMAC) from 1968–69 to 1971–72 (also from 1989–90 to 2005–06 in its second stint), the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1972–73 to 1975–76, and the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) from 1976–77 to 1988–89.
13. Currently known as Pittsburg State University since 1977.
14. Pittsburg State had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1967–68, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1968–69 to 1971–72, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1972–73 to 1975–76, and the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) from 1976–77 to 1988–89.
15. Currently known as Kansas State University since 1959.
16. Kansas State had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Missouri Valley Conference ^{[lower-alpha 6]} (MVC) from 1913–14 to 1927–28, and the Big Eight Conference ^{[lower-alpha 10]} from 1928–29 to 1995–96.
17. Currently known as Benedictine College since 1971.
18. Benedictine left the KCAC in December 1928 (during the 1928–29 school year).
19. Benedictine had various subsequent conference affiliations: as an Independent from January 1929 (during the 1928–29 school year) to 1936–37, the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1937–38 to 1961–62, and as an NAIA Independent from 1962–63 to 1990–91.
20. St. Mary's (Ks.) dropped its athletics program after the 1930–31 school year.
21. Washburn had various subsequent conference affiliations: the Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1932–33 (also from 1940–41 to 1967–68 on its second stint), as an Independent from 1933–34 to 1939–40, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference ^{[lower-alpha 10]} (RMAC) from 1968–69 to 1971–72, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1972–73 to 1975–76, and the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) from 1976–77 to 1988–89.

Former associate members

The KCAC had four former associate members, all were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [lower-alpha 1]	Left [lower-alpha 2]	KCAC sport	Primary conference
Johnson & Wales University–Colorado	Denver, Colorado	1914	Nonsectarian	1,291	Wildcats	2015	2018	women's lacrosse	N/A [lower-alpha 3]
Lincoln College	Lincoln, Illinois	1865	Nonsectarian	800	Lynx	2019m.sw. 2019w.sw.	2021m.sw. 2021w.sw.	men's swimming women's swimming	N/A [lower-alpha 4]
Missouri Baptist University [lower-alpha 5]	Creve Coeur, Missouri	1957	Southern Baptist	5,309	Spartans	2017	2020	women's wrestling	American Midwest
St. Gregory's University	Shawnee, Oklahoma	1914	Catholic (Benedictines)	692	Cavaliers	2015	2016	men's lacrosse	N/A [lower-alpha 6]

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Johnson & Wales–Denver discontinued its athletic program once the school announced that it would close after the 2019–20 school year.
4. Lincoln (Ill.) discontinued its athletic program once the school announced that it would close after the 2021–22 school year.
5. Missouri Baptist remains in the KCAC as an associate member for men's and women's lacrosse.
6. St. Gregory's (Okla.) discontinued its athletic program once the school announced that it would close after the 2017 fall season (2017–18 school year).

Membership timeline

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

Sports

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Football	Y	Y (flag)
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

See also

• 2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season
• List of college athletic programs in Kansas
• List of Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference people
• Timeline of college football in Kansas

References

1. Evans, Harold (August 1940). "College Football in Kansas". Kansas Historical Quarterly. pp. 285–311. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
2. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics "Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference"
3. "First Light (1900–1929)". Coleman Company . Retrieved November 24, 2012.
4. DeLassus, David. "Wichita State Yearly Results (1905)". College Football Data Warehouse . Retrieved April 4, 2011.
5. "Ten Yard Rule a Failure" (PDF). New York Times . December 26, 1905.
6. "New Football Rules Tested". Los Angeles Times . December 26, 1905.
7. Nelson, David M. (1994). The Anatomy of a Game: Football, the Rules, and the Men Who Made the Game . University of Delaware Press. ISBN   0-87413-455-2., p. 128

External links

• Official website