Midwest Collegiate Conference

Last updated
Midwest Collegiate Conference
Midwest Collegiate Conference logo.gif
FormerlyMidwest Catholic Conference (1988–1989)
Midwest Classic Conference (1989–2007)
Association NAIA
Founded1988
Ceased2015
Sports fielded
  • 15
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 8
No. of teams7 (final), 12 (total)
Region Midwestern United States
Region VII
Locations
MCC conference map.png

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.

Contents

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 College, Edgewood College, Marycrest University, Mount Mercy College, Mount St. Clare College and Viterbo College. Edgewood 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 1995–96 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 2003–04 season, completing the nine-school lineup. Clarke University returned to the conference in 2007, and the MCC officially took the name of the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

Midwest Classic Conference logo Midwest Classic Conference logo.png
Midwest Classic Conference logo

Members Ashford University and Waldorf College were voted out of the conference on May 17, 2011, with effect 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]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Final members

The MCC ended with seven full members, all were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftSubsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
AIB College of Business Des Moines, Iowa 1921 Non-profit 1,014 Eagles 20102015N/A [lower-alpha 1]
Clarke University Dubuque, Iowa 1843 Catholic
(B.V.M.)
1,230 Crusaders [lower-alpha 2] 1988;
2007
1996;
2015
NAIA Independent
(2015–16)
Heart of America (HAAC)
(2016–present)
Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa 1896 Lutheran (ELCA) 2,000 Vikings 19892015 Heart of America (HAAC)
(2015–present)
Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1928Catholic
(R.S.M.)
1,490 Mustangs 19882015 NAIA Independent
(2015–16)
Heart of America (HAAC)
(2016–present)
St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa 1882Catholic3,607 Fighting Bees &
Queen Bees
19902015 Chicagoland (CCAC)
(2015–present)
Viterbo University La Crosse, Wisconsin 1923Catholic
(Diocese of
Davenport
)
2,991 V-Hawks 19882015 North Star (NSAA)
(2015–24)
Chicagoland (CCAC)
(2024–present)
William Penn University Oskaloosa, Iowa 1873 Quakers 1,550 Statesmen &
Lady Statesmen
20012015 Heart of America (HAAC)
(2015–present)
Notes
  1. AIB discontinued athletics after the 2014–15 school year; and later closed after the 2015–16 school year.
  2. Clarke is now competing as the Pride since the 2017–18 school year.

Former members

The MCC had five former full members, all were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftSubsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Ashford University Clinton, Iowa 1918 For-profit N/A Saints 19882012 NAIA Independent
(2012–16)
N/A [lower-alpha 1]
Edgewood College Madison, Wisconsin 1927 Catholic
(S.D.S.)
1,570 Eagles 19881989 Lake Michigan (LMC) [lower-alpha 2]
(1989–2006)
Northern (NACC) [lower-alpha 3]
(2006–present)
Iowa Wesleyan College [lower-alpha 4] Mount Pleasant, Iowa 1842 United
Methodist
570 Tigers 19952012 NAIA Independent
(2012–13)
St. Louis (SLIAC) [lower-alpha 3]
(2013–21)
Continental
(2021–23)
N/A [lower-alpha 5]
Marycrest International University Davenport, Iowa 1939Catholic
(C.H.M.)
N/A Eagles 19882002Closed in 2002
Waldorf College [lower-alpha 6] Forest City, Iowa 1903For-profit580 Warriors 20032012 Midlands (MCAC)
(2012–15)
North Star (NSAA)
(2015–24)
Great Plains (GPAC)
(2024–Present)
Notes
  1. Ashford's physical campus was closed after the 2015–16 school year.
  2. Former NCAA Division III conference.
  3. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  4. Currently known as Iowa Wesleyan University since 2015.
  5. Iowa Wesleyan closed its doors after the 2022–23 school year.
  6. Currently known as Waldorf University since 2016.

Membership timeline

AIB College of BusinessGreat Plains Athletic ConferenceNorth Star Athletic AssociationMidlands Collegiate Athletic ConferenceWaldorf UniversityHeart of America Athletic ConferenceWilliam Penn UniversityNAIA independent schoolsSt. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsIowa Wesleyan UniversityChicagoland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceSt. Ambrose UniversityHeart of America Athletic ConferenceGrand View UniversityChicagoland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceNorth Star Athletic AssociationViterbo UniversityHeart of America Athletic ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsMount Mercy UniversityMarycrest College Historic DistrictNorthern Athletics Collegiate ConferenceLake Michigan Conference (college conference)Edgewood CollegeHeart of America Athletic ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsNAIA independent schoolsNorthern Illinois-Iowa ConferenceClarke UniversityNAIA independent schoolsAshford UniversityMidwest Collegiate Conference

 Full member (non-football) 

Sports

The Midwest Collegiate Conference oversaw the following sports:

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
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

Member schools also participated 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 competed in the Mid-States Football Association.

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References

  1. "Ashford voted out of conference". Clinton Herald. May 18, 2011.
  2. "Iowa Wesleyan College announces plans to change athletic affiliation". Iowa Wesleyan Tigers. October 14, 2011.
  3. "Heart of America Athletic Conference adds two Iowa members". The Kansas City Star. January 10, 2014.
  4. "AIB Announces Merger Timeline, Athletics Program Ending This Year". WHO 13. February 5, 2015.