First season | 2016 (invitational sport) |
---|---|
No. of teams | 32 |
Most recent champion(s) | Keiser Seahawks (1) |
Most titles | Reinhardt Eagles (5) |
Official website | NAIA.org |
First season | 2016 (invitational sport), 2021 (championship sport) |
---|---|
No. of teams | 38 |
Most recent champion(s) | Lawrence Tech Blue Devils (1) |
Most titles | Savannah College of Art and Design Bees (3 NIT) |
Official website | NAIA.org |
There are numerous men's and women's college lacrosse teams at schools that are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which is an alternate varsity athletic organization to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was the first NAIA lacrosse conference to offer a championship for both men and women. [1]
During the summer of 2015, the NAIA approved men's and women's lacrosse to move from emerging sport status to national invitational. This move allows NAIA varsity teams to compete within the NAIA rather than an outside organization. The first NAIA National Invitational Tournament (NIT) was held in May 2016 in Greenville, South Carolina. Lacrosse is required to remain an invitational sport for a minimum of two years before applying for full championship status. Women's lacrosse moved to championship status beginning in the 2020–21 season. The inaugural NAIA Women's Lacrosse Championship tournament was held in Savannah, Georgia, in May 2021. As of summer 2022 men's lacrosse remained on invitational status.
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
University of the Cumberlands | Patriots | Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1,743 |
Keiser University | Seahwaks | West Palm Beach, Florida | 19,510 |
Montreat College | Cavaliers | Montreat, North Carolina | 1,145 |
Point University | SkyHawks | West Point, Georgia | 1,035 |
Reinhardt University | Eagles | Waleska, Georgia | 1,057 |
Savannah College of Art and Design | Bees | Savannah, Georgia | 2,500+ |
St. Andrews University | Knights | Laurinburg, North Carolina | 800 |
Tennessee Wesleyan University | Bulldogs | Athens, Tennessee | 1,100 |
Webber International University | Warriors | Babson Park, Florida | 800 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Benedictine College | Ravens | Atchison, Kansas | 2,200 |
Clarke University | Pride | Dubuque, Iowa | 1,100 |
Missouri Valley College | Vikings | Marshall, Missouri | 1,800 |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Cougars | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 2,222 |
St. Ambrose University | Bees | Davenport, Iowa | 3,402 |
William Penn University | Statesmen | Oskaloosa, Iowa | 1,050 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Columbia College | Cougars | Columbia, Missouri | 6,765 |
Midland University | Warriors | Fremont, Nebraska | 1,395 |
Missouri Baptist University | Spartans | Creve Coeur, Missouri | 2,800 |
Ottawa University | Braves | Ottawa, Kansas | 725 |
University of Saint Mary | Spires | Leavenworth, Kansas | 750 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Aquinas College | Saints | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2,300 |
Concordia University Ann Arbor | Cardinals | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1,200 |
Indiana Institute of Technology | Warriors | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 7,000 |
Lawrence Technological University | Blue Devils | Southfield, Michigan | 3,000 |
Lourdes University | Gray Wolves | Sylvania, Ohio | 1,546 |
Madonna University | Crusaders | Livonia, Michigan | 3,139 |
Siena Heights University | Saints | Adrian, Michigan | 2,307 |
Taylor University | Trojans | Upland, Indiana | 1,887 |
University of Michigan-Dearborn | Wolverines | Dearborn, Michigan | 9,500 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Arizona Christian University | Firestorm | Glendale, Arizona | 1,001 |
Biola University | Eagles | La Mirada, California | 3,924 |
College of Idaho | Coyotes | Caldwell, Idaho | 1,000 |
Multnomah University | Lions | Portland, Oregon | 335 |
Sierra Nevada University | Eagles | Incline Village, Nevada | 617 |
Southern Oregon University | Raiders | Ashland, Oregon | 5,260 |
University of Providence | Argos | Great Falls, Montana | 2,100 |
Westcliff University | Warriors | Irvine, California | 2,779 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment | Year Joining | Conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Life University | Running Eagles | Marietta, Georgia | 718 | 2023-2024 | Independent |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
University of the Cumberlands | Patriots | Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1,743 |
Georgetown College | Tigers | Georgetown, Kentucky | 1,400 |
Montreat College | Cavaliers | Montreat, North Carolina | 1,145 |
Reinhardt University | Eagles | Waleska, Georgia | 1,057 |
St. Andrews University | Knights | Laurinburg, North Carolina | 800 |
Tennessee Wesleyan University | Bulldogs | Athens, Tennessee | 1,100 |
Truett McConnell University | Bears | Cleveland, Georgia | 1,000 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Corban University | Warriors | Salem, Oregon | 1,000 |
Eastern Oregon University | Mountaineers | La Grande, Oregon | 3,488 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Benedictine College | Ravens | Atchison, Kansas | 2,200 |
Clarke University | Pride | Dubuque, Iowa | 1,100 |
Culver–Stockton College | Wildcats | Canton, Missouri | 1,066 |
Missouri Valley College | Vikings | Marshall, Missouri | 1,800 |
St. Ambrose University | Fighting Bees | Davenport, Iowa | 3,402 |
William Penn University | Statesmen | Oskaloosa, Iowa | 1,050 |
Mount Mercy University | Mustangs | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | 1,280 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Midland University | Warriors | Fremont, Nebraska | 1,395 |
Missouri Baptist University | Spartans | St. Louis, Missouri | 2,800 |
Ottawa University | Braves | Ottawa, Kansas | 725 |
UHSP | Eutectics | St. Louis, Missouri | 698 |
University of Saint Mary | Spires | Leavenworth, Kansas | 750 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Ave Maria University | Gyrenes | Ave Maria, Florida | 1,080 |
Keiser University | Seahawks | West Palm Beach, Florida | 19,510 |
Life University | Running Eagles | Marietta, Georgia | 2,000 |
Savannah College of Art and Design | Bees | Savannah, Georgia | 2,500+ |
St. Thomas University | Bobcats | Miami Gardens, Florida | 3,650 |
Warner University | Royals | Lake Wales, Florida | 1,200 |
Webber International University | Warriors | Babson Park, Florida | 800 |
Institution | Nickname | Location | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Aquinas College | Saints | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 2,100 |
Bethel University | Pilots | Mishawaka, Indiana | 1,964 |
Concordia University Ann Arbor | Cardinals | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 459 |
Indiana Institute of Technology | Warriors | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 3,500 |
Lawrence Technological University | Blue Devils | Southfield, Michigan | 4,000 |
Madonna University | Crusaders | Livonia, Michigan | 3,139 |
Rochester Christian University | Warriors | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 1,153 |
Siena Heights University | Saints | Adrian, Michigan | 2,307 |
Marian University | Knights | Indianapolis, Indiana | 3,595 |
Lourdes University | Gray Wolves | Sylvania, Ohio | 1,546 |
Year | Championship Team | Score | Runner-up Team | Arena | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Davenport | 13–10 [2] | Missouri Valley | Sirrine Stadium | Greenville, South Carolina |
2017 | Reinhardt | 10–5 [3] | Keiser | ||
2018 | Reinhardt | 8–7 (OT) [4] | Madonna | Aquinas Athletic Field | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
2019 | Reinhardt | 11–4 [5] | Aquinas (MI) | ||
2020 | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Memorial Stadium | Savannah, Georgia | ||
2021 | Reinhardt | 17–8 [6] | Indiana Tech | ||
2022 | Reinhardt | 11-5 [7] | Indiana Tech | Ashton Brosnaham Stadium | Pensacola, Florida |
2023 | Keiser | 15-8 [8] | Indiana Tech |
School | Championships | Winning Years | Runner-Up | Runner-Up Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reinhardt | 5 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 | ||
Davenport | 1 | 2016 | ||
Keiser | 1 | 2023 | 1 | 2017 |
Indiana Tech | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2023 | ||
Missouri Valley | 1 | 2016 | ||
Madonna | 1 | 2018 | ||
Aquinas (MI) | 1 | 2019 |
Year | Championship Team | Score | Runner-up Team | Arena | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Davenport | 13–9 [9] | Georgetown (KY) | Sirrine Stadium | Greenville, South Carolina |
2017 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 16–10 [10] | Lawrence Tech | ||
2018 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 18–11 [11] | Indiana Tech | Aquinas Athletic Field | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
2019 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 18–12 [12] | Benedictine (KS) | ||
2020 | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Memorial Stadium | Savannah, Georgia | ||
2021 | Keiser | 13–11 [13] | Cumberlands (KY) | ||
2022 | Benedictine (KS) | 9-8 [14] | Lawrence Tech | Blue Devils Stadium | Southfield, Michigan |
2023 | Lawrence Tech | 16-15 [15] | Savannah College of Art and Design |
School | Championships | Winning Years | Runner-Up | Runner-Up Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Savannah College of Art and Design | 3* | 2017, 2018, 2019 | 1 | 2023 |
Davenport | 1* | 2016 | ||
Keiser | 1** | 2021 | ||
Benedictine (KS) | 1** | 2022 | 1 | 2019 |
Lawrence Tech | 1** | 2023 | 2 | 2017, 2022 |
Georgetown (KY) | 1 | 2016 | ||
Indiana Tech | 1 | 2018 | ||
Cumberlands (KY) | 1 | 2021 |
* NIT Champions / ** National Champions
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to their student athletes. $1.3 billion in athletic scholarship financial aid is awarded to student athletes annually. For the 2023–24 season, it had 241 member institutions, of which two are in British Columbia, one in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the rest in the continental United States, with over 83,000 student-athletes participating. The NAIA, whose headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri, sponsors 28 national championships. CBS Sports Network, formerly called CSTV, serves as the national media outlet for the NAIA. In 2014, ESPNU began carrying the NAIA Football National Championship.
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is a private art school with locations in Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Lacoste, France. It was founded in 1978 to provide degrees in programs not yet offered in the southeast of the United States. The university enrolls more than 16,000 students from across the United States and around the world with international students comprising up to 17 percent of the student population. SCAD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and other professional accrediting bodies.
The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Members of the conference are located in the Southeastern United States in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The 2002 National Invitation Tournament was the 2002 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.
The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), heaquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The conference consists of twelve colleges and universities located in the U.S. states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Founded in 1992, the conference was created as a successor group for the now-defunct NAIA District 23.
College lacrosse is played by student-athletes at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In both countries, men's field lacrosse and women's lacrosse are played at both the varsity and club levels. College lacrosse in Canada is sponsored by the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) and Maritime University Field Lacrosse League (MUFLL), while in the United States, varsity men's and women's lacrosse is governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). There are also university lacrosse programs in the United Kingdom sponsored by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and programs in Japan.
The Youngstown State Penguins are the athletic teams of Youngstown State University of Youngstown, Ohio. The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I, and the Penguins compete in football as members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Most other sports compete as members of the Horizon League.
The Evansville Purple Aces are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of the University of Evansville, located in Evansville, Indiana. The Aces athletic program is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and competes at the NCAA's Division I level. Evansville's mascot is Ace Purple, and the school colors are purple, white and orange.
The Lindenwood Lions and Lady Lions are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Lindenwood University, located in St. Charles, Missouri, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division I ranks, primarily competing in the Ohio Valley Conference for most of its sports since the 2022–23 academic year.
The 2009 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The 72nd annual tournament began on March 17 on campus sites and ended on April 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with Penn State winning the final 69–63 over Baylor.
The Davenport Panthers are the athletic teams that represent Davenport University, located in Caledonia Township, Michigan, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for most of its sports as a provisional member since the 2017–18 academic year. The Panthers previously competed in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 2005–06 to 2016–17.
The National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) women's lacrosse-only college athletic conference. The vast majority of NAIA women's lacrosse programs play at the club level as part of the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA). The NAIA does not currently organize the sport of lacrosse for its member institutions, although there is hope this may change in the near future. In the meantime, the NWLL is providing an umbrella organization for all women's varsity NAIA lacrosse teams in the USA, including a national championship tournament.
The 2011 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2011 NCAA tournament. The 74th annual tournament began March 15 on campus sites ended on March 31 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Wichita State defeated Alabama, 66–57, to win its first NIT title.
The 2012 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2012 NCAA tournament. The annual tournament began on March 13 on campus sites and ended on March 29 at Madison Square Garden. Stanford defeated Minnesota in the final game, by a score of 75–51 to become NIT champions for second time.
The 2015 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2015 NCAA tournament. The annual tournament is being played on campus sites for the first three rounds, with the Final Four and championship game being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament began on Tuesday, March 17 and ended on Thursday, April 2. On February 6, the NCAA announced the 2015 NIT will use a 30-second shot clock and a 4-foot (1.2 m) restricted-area arc as experimental rules for the 2015 tournament. On March 4, the NCAA announced teams that are marked as the first four teams left out of the 2015 NCAA tournament field will be the top-seeded teams in the 2015 NIT.
The 2016 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 NCAA Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2016 NCAA tournament. The annual tournament was played on campus sites for the first three rounds, with the Final Four and championship game being held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The tournament began on Tuesday, March 15 and ended on Thursday, March 31. An experimental rule allowing players six personal fouls instead of five was approved for use in all national postseason tournaments except for the NCAA Tournament. The NIT Selection Show aired at 8:30 PM EDT on Sunday, March 13, 2016, on ESPNU. George Washington were the champions over Valparaiso 76–60. The Colonials victory was their first-ever NIT title.
The Savannah College of Art and Design Bees are the athletic teams that represent the Savannah campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design, located in Savannah, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sun Conference since the 2004–05 academic year; The Bees previously competed as an NAIA Independent during the 2003–04 school year ; as well as a member of the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-III Independent from 1992–93 to 2002–03.
The Reinhardt Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Reinhardt University, located in Waleska, Georgia, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) since the 2009–10 academic year. They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level from 1999–2000 to 2000–01. The Eagles previously competed in the Southern States Athletic Conference from 2000–01 to 2008–09. Prior joining the NAIA, Reinhardt was also a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and of the National Small College Athletic Association (NSCAA) until after the 1998–99 school year.
The NAIA Men's Bowling Championship is an annual tournament hosted by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to determine the national champion of collegiate men's team ten-pin bowling among its members in the United States.
The NAIA Women's Bowling Championship is an annual tournament hosted by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to determine the national champion of collegiate women's team ten-pin bowling among its members in the United States.