North Central Conference

Last updated
North Central Conference
NorthCentralConferenceLogo.jpg
Conference NCAA
Founded1922
Ceased2008
Sports fielded
  • 18
    • men's: 9
    • women's: 9
Division Division II
No. of teams8
Headquarters Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Region Midwest
Official website http://northcentral.prestosports.com
Locations
NCCstates.PNG

The North Central Conference (NCC), also known as North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, was a college athletic conference which operated in the north central United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division II.

Contents

History

The NCC was formed in 1922. Charter members of the NCC were South Dakota State College (now South Dakota State University), College of St. Thomas (now the University of St. Thomas), Des Moines University, Creighton University, North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University), the University of North Dakota, Morningside College (now Morningside University), the University of South Dakota, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

The University of Northern Iowa was a member of the NCC from 1934 until 1978. UNI currently competes in Division I in the Missouri Valley Conference; in FCS football, it competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. In 2002 Morningside College left the NCC to join the NAIA. The University of Northern Colorado left the conference in 2003, followed in 2004 by North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University. These three schools all transitioned their athletics programs from Division II to Division I; they became founding members of the Division I FCS Great West Football Conference, which started play in the fall of 2004. Since that time, Northern Colorado moved on to the Big Sky Conference in all sports in 2006. In the fall of 2006, North Dakota State and South Dakota State were admitted to The Summit League; they have also moved on to rejoin old conference mate Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

It was announced on November 29, 2006, that the 2007–08 athletic season would be the final season for the NCC and that the conference would cease operations on July 1, 2008. [1]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Final members

The NCC had seven full members in the conference's final season, one was a private school:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Augustana University [c] Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1860 Lutheran ELCA 1,650 Vikings 19412008 Northern Sun (NSIC)
(2008–present)
University of Minnesota–Duluth Duluth, Minnesota 1902,
1947
Public [d] 10,497 Bulldogs 20042008 Northern Sun (NSIC)
(2008–present)
Minnesota State University–Mankato Mankato, Minnesota 1868Public [e] 15,649 Mavericks 1968,
1981
1976,
2008
Northern Sun (NSIC)
(2008–present)
University of Nebraska–Omaha Omaha, Nebraska 1908Public [f] 14,093 Mavericks 1934
1976
1946
2008
Mid-America (MIAA)
(2008–11)
D-I Independent
(2011–12)
Summit [g] [h]
(2012–present)
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota 1883Public [i] 13,817 Fighting Sioux [j] 19222008 Great West (GWC) [g]
(2008–12)
Big Sky (BSC) [g]
(2012–18)
Summit [g] [k]
(2018–present)
St. Cloud State University St. Cloud, Minnesota 1869Public [e] 17,231 Huskies 19812008 Northern Sun (NSIC)
(2008–present)
University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota 1862Public [l] 8,641 Coyotes 19222008 Great West (GWC) [g]
(2008–11)
Summit [g] [k]
(2011–present)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Formerly known as Augustana College until 2015.
  4. Part of the University of Minnesota System.
  5. 1 2 Part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
  6. Part of the University of Nebraska System.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  8. Since joining NCAA Division I, Nebraska–Omaha hasn't sponsored football after dropping the sport their reclassifying move from NCAA Division II.
  9. Part of the North Dakota University System.
  10. North Dakota now competes as the Fighting Hawks since the 2015–16 school year.
  11. 1 2 Their football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).
  12. Part of the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Final affiliate members

The NCC had two affiliate members for football only in the conference's final season, both of which are public schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] NCC
sport(s)
played
Current
primary
conference
Current
conference
in former
NCC sport
Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington 1891Public12,342 Wildcats 20062008football Great Northwest (GNAC)
(2001–present)
Lone Star (LSC)
(2022–present)
Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington 1893Public16,142 Vikings Dropped sport
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

Former members

The NCC had nine other full members during the conference's tenure, two were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Subsequent
conference(s)
Current
conference
Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska 1878 Catholic
(Jesuit)
6,716 Bluejays 19221928various [d] Big East [c]
(2013–present)
Des Moines University Des Moines, Iowa 1864 Baptist 330 [6] Tigers 19221926Independent
(1926–29)
Closed in 1929
Morningside University [e] Sioux City, Iowa 1894 United
Methodist
1,149 Mustangs 19222002 NAIA/D-II Independent
(2002–03)
Great Plains (GPAC) [f]
(2003–present)
Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska 1887United
Methodist
1,601 Prairie Wolves 19221926 Great Plains (GPAC)
(1969–2016)
American Rivers (ARC) [g]
(2016–present)
North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota 1890Public [h] 13,229 Bison 19222004 D-I Independent
(2004–07)
Summit [c] [i]
(2008–present)
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado 1889Public12,392 Bears 19782003 D-I Independent
(2003–06)
Big Sky (BSC) [c]
(2006–present)
University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa 1876Public14,070 Panthers 19341978 D-I Independent
(1978–82)
Summit [c]
(1982–91)
Missouri Valley (MVC) [c]
(1991–present)
University of St. Thomas St. Paul, Minnesota 1885Catholic
(Archdiocese of
Saint Paul and
Minneapolis
)
10,534 Tommies 19221928 Minnesota (MIAC) [g] [j]
(1928–2021)
Summit [c] [k]
(2021–present)
South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota 1881Public [l] 12,816 Jackrabbits 19222004 D-I Independent
(2004–07)
Summit [c] [i]
(2008–present)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  4. Creighton had joined the following subsequent conferences: the Missouri Valley Conference [c] (MVC) from 1928–29 to 1947–48, and again from 1976–77 to 2012–13; and as an Independent from 1948–49 to 1975–76.
  5. Formerly known as Morningside College until 2021.
  6. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  7. 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  8. Part of the North Dakota University System.
  9. 1 2 Their football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).
  10. During its time in the NCC, St. Thomas was also a dual member with the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) from 1922–23 to 1927–28.
  11. Their football team competes in the Pioneer Football League (PFL).
  12. Part of the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Membership timeline

Western Washington UniversityCentral Washington UniversityNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceUniversity of Minnesota DuluthNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceSt. Cloud State UniversityBig Sky ConferenceNCAA Division I independent schoolsUniversity of Northern ColoradoNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceMinnesota State University, MankatoNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceAugustana UniversitySummit LeagueNCAA Division I independent schoolsMid-America Intercollegiate Athletics AssociationGreat Plains Athletic Conference (1972–1976)Rocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceCentral Intercollegiate ConferenceUniversity of Nebraska OmahaMissouri Valley ConferenceSummit LeagueNCAA Division II independent schoolsUniversity of Northern IowaSummit LeagueNCAA Division I independent schoolsSouth Dakota State UniversitySummit LeagueGreat West ConferenceUniversity of South DakotaSummit LeagueMinnesota Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of St. ThomasSummit LeagueNCAA Division I independent schoolsNorth Dakota State UniversitySummit LeagueBig Sky ConferenceGreat West ConferenceUniversity of North DakotaAmerican Rivers ConferenceGreat Plains Athletic ConferenceNebraska Wesleyan UniversityGreat Plains Athletic ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsMorningside UniversityDes Moines CollegeBig East ConferenceMissouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley ConferenceCreighton UniversityNorth Central Conference

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

Sports

The NCC sponsored baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

Six of the seven members of the NCC sponsored Division I ice hockey, and five still do. In men's hockey, after a major conference realignment that took effect in 2013, Minnesota–Duluth, Nebraska–Omaha, North Dakota, and St. Cloud State field teams in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, while Minnesota State–Mankato is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Before the realignment, all of these schools had been members of the WCHA for men's hockey. All of these schools, except for Omaha, have women's teams in the WCHA (Omaha women's hockey is a club sport). The women's side of the WCHA was not affected by this realignment.

Conference championships

Men's basketball

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConferenceTournament
TitlesLast
Title
TitlesLast
Title
South Dakota State20200222002
North Dakota18199531994
South Dakota13200722007
North Dakota State1019950N/A
Northern Iowa819690N/A
Morningside519830N/A
Creighton419270N/A
St. Cloud State4200322003
Minnesota State4200812006
Nebraska-Omaha4200522008
Augustana319890N/A
Northern Colorado119890N/A

The NCC Tournament was held from 1991–1994, then it was brought back and used from 2001-2008.

NCC Regular Season Champions
NCC Tournament Champions
YearSchool
1991South Dakota State
1992North Dakota
1993North Dakota
1994North Dakota
Tournament would stop in 1994 and be brought back in 2001
2001St. Cloud State
2002South Dakota State
2003St. Cloud State
2004Nebraska-Omaha
2005South Dakota
2006Minnesota State
2007South Dakota
2008Nebraska-Omaha

Women's basketball

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConferenceTournament
TitlesLast
Title
TitlesLast
Title
North Dakota11200772007
North Dakota State1020040N/A
South Dakota5200812008
Nebraska-Omaha319820N/A
South Dakota State220030N/A
St. Cloud State119890N/A
Minnesota State119860N/A
NCC Regular Season Champions
NCC Tournament Champions
YearSchool
2001North Dakota
2002North Dakota
2003North Dakota
2004North Dakota
2005North Dakota
2006North Dakota
2007North Dakota
2008South Dakota

Football

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConference
TitlesLast
Title
North Dakota State261994
North Dakota242006
South Dakota State141963
Northern Iowa121964
South Dakota102005
Nebraska-Omaha92007
Northern Colorado52002
Morningside31956
Creighton21927
Minnesota State21993
Augustana11959
Minnesota-Duluth12005
St. Cloud State11989
NCC Champions By Year

Volleyball

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConference
TitlesLast
Title
North Dakota State112003
Nebraska-Omaha82000
Northern Colorado51995
Augustana42003
Minnesota-Duluth42007
South Dakota State12000
North Dakota0N/A
St. Cloud State0N/A
Minnesota State0N/A
Morningside0N/A
South Dakota0N/A
NCC Champions By Year

Softball

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConference
TitlesLast
Title
Nebraska-Omaha102008
Augustana92006
Minnesota State42007
St. Cloud State32004
North Dakota State22002
NCC Champions By Year

Baseball

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConference
TitlesLast
Title
Minnesota State212007
South Dakota State101995
Northern Iowa71972
Nebraska-Omaha42008
Morningside41980
North Dakota21967
St. Cloud State11991
Augustana12003
Northern Colorado11998
NCC Champions By Year

Women's soccer

NCC Championships Per School
SchoolConferenceTournament
TitlesLast
Title
TitlesLast
Title
Minnesota State5200712003
Northern Colorado420010N/A
Nebraska-Omaha4200642004
NCC Regular Season Champions By Year
YearSchool
1996Northern Colorado
1997Northern Colorado
1998Minnesota State
1999Northern Colorado
2000Minnesota State
2001Minnesota State
Northern Colorado
2002Nebraska-Omaha
2003Minnesota State
2004Nebraska-Omaha
2005Nebraska-Omaha
2006Nebraska-Omaha
2007Minnesota State
NCC Tournament Champions
YearSchool
2000Nebraska-Omaha
2001Nebraska-Omaha
2002Nebraska-Omaha
2003Minnesota State
2004Nebraska-Omaha

Associate members

Conference football stadiums

SchoolFootball StadiumStadium capacity
Augustana Howard Wood Field 10,000
Central Washington Tomlinson Stadium 4,000
Minnesota Duluth Griggs Field at James S. Malosky Stadium 4,000
Minnesota State Blakeslee Stadium 7,500
Nebraska-Omaha Al F. Caniglia Field 9,500
North Dakota Alerus Center 13,500
North Dakota State Fargodome 19,000
St. Cloud State Husky Stadium 4,198
South Dakota DakotaDome 10,000
South Dakota State Coughlin-Alumni Stadium 16,000
Western WashingtonCivic Stadium5,000

References

  1. "Thomas: NCC will fold in summer 2008". Forum Communications Co. 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-30.[ dead link ]
  2. "USD to Move Athletic Programs to Division I". University of South Dakota. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
  3. "Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Expands to 14 Teams" (PDF). Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  4. "MIAA CEO Council ratifies decision to add Nebraska-Omaha". Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-07-05. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  5. "PandG19261203 1". cdm17521.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  6. "America's Lost Colleges". Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-05-31.