Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

Last updated
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference logo.png
FormerlyNorthern Athletics Conference
Association NCAA
Founded2006
CommissionerJeff Ligney (since 2020)
Sports fielded
  • 21
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 10
Division Division III
No. of teams14
Headquarters Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Region Upper Midwest
Official website naccsports.org
Locations
CCIW-USA-states.png

The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), formerly the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC), is an intercollegiate athletic conference. It participates in the NCAA's Division III and began its first season in the fall of 2006.

Contents

The NACC sponsors 21 sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and volleyball. Women's squads are fielded in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field and volleyball. The newest NACC sports are men's volleyball, added in the 2017–18 school year, [1] and men's and women's lacrosse, added in the 2020-21 school year. [2]

The NACC became eligible for automatic NCAA postseason berths in 2008–09.

History

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
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50km
31miles
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Alverno
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Maranatha
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St. Norbert
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Illinois Tech
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MSOE
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Rockford
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Dominican
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Concordia Chicago
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Benedictine
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Aurora
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Wisconsin Lutheran
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Marian
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Lakeland
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Edgewood
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Concordia Wisconsin
Location of NACC members: Location dot black.svg current Location dot grey.svg former

The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference began its first season of competition in the fall of 2006 as the Northern Athletics Conference. The name change took place at the beginning of the 2013–14 academic year. The NACC consists of 13 colleges and universities from the shared-border states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Many have shared traditional rivalries dating back to the NACC's predecessor conferences: the Lake Michigan Conference and the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference.[ citation needed ]

Charter members include: Alverno College, Aurora University, Benedictine University, Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Lakeland University, Maranatha Baptist University, Marian University, Rockford College and Wisconsin Lutheran College.[ citation needed ]

Just three changes to the league's core membership have occurred, as the Milwaukee School of Engineering joined the NAC in the fall of 2007, and Maranatha withdrew from the league in the summer of 2013. [3] In 2017, the Illinois Institute of Technology announced that they would be joining the NACC for the 2018 athletic season, coinciding with their acceptance as a full NCAA Division III member. [4]

Also in 2017, Benedictine, which had been contemplating a move to NCAA Division II, was formally invited to join the D-II Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), pending NCAA approval of its entry into the D-II transition process. Benedictine formally applied to begin this transition in advance of a February 1, 2018 deadline, and was officially approved to enter the transition process in July of that year. In October 2018, Benedictine reversed course and rescinded its request to withdraw from the NACC. [5]

The most recent membership change was announced on April 3, 2019, when St. Norbert College, already slated to become an associate member in men's volleyball (and, subsequently, men's and women's golf) in 2019–20, was upgraded to full NACC membership effective in 2021–22. [6]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The NACC currently has 14 full members, all are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationUndergraduate
enrollment
NicknameJoinedColorsFootball?
Alverno College [a] Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1887 Catholic
(S.S.S.F.)
1,664 Inferno 2006   
Red, White, & Black
No
Aurora University Aurora, Illinois 1893Nonsectarian2,309 Spartans 2006  
Royal Blue & White
Yes
Benedictine University Lisle, Illinois 1887Catholic
(Benedictines)
3,123 Eagles 2006  
Cardinal & White
Yes
Concordia University Chicago River Forest, Illinois 1864Lutheran LCMS1,361 Cougars 2006  
Maroon & Gold
Yes
Concordia University Wisconsin Mequon, Wisconsin 1880 Lutheran LCMS 2,473 Falcons 2006  
Blue & Gold
Yes
Dominican University River Forest, Illinois 1901Catholic
(Dominican)
1,697 Stars 2006   
Royal Blue, Black, & White
No
Edgewood University Madison, Wisconsin 1927Catholic
(S.D.S.)
1,570 Eagles 2006   
Black, White, & Red
No
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, Illinois 1890Nonsectarian3,135 Scarlet Hawks 2018   
Red, Gray & Black
No
Lakeland University Plymouth, Wisconsin 1862 United Church of Christ 1,023 Muskies 2006  
Navy Blue & Gold
Yes
Marian University Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 1936Catholic
(C.S.S.A.)
1,497 Sabres 2006  
Royal Blue & Gold
No
Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1903Nonsectarian2,122 Raiders 2007  
Cardinal & White
No
Rockford University Rockford, Illinois 1847Nonsectarian1,181 Regents 2006  
Purple & White
Yes
St. Norbert College De Pere, Wisconsin 1898Catholic
(Premonstratensians)
2,180 Green Knights 2021 [b]   
Green and Gold
Yes
Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1973 Lutheran WELS 917 Warriors 2006  
Forest Green & White
Yes
Notes
  1. Alverno is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  2. St. Norbert was an affiliate member for men's volleyball, men's golf and women's golf during its final two years as a member of the Midwest Conference (2019–20 to 2020–21 school years). [6]

Associate members

The NACC currently has three associate members, all are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationUndergraduate
enrollment
NicknameJoinedColorsPrimary
conference
NACC
sport
Beloit College Beloit, Wisconsin 1846Nonsectarian1,358 Buccaneers 2021–22m.lax;
2021–22w.lax
  
College Blue & Vegas Gold
Midwest (MWC) men's lacrosse;
women's lacrosse
Eureka College Eureka, Illinois 1855 Disciples of Christ 680 Red Devils 2018–19  
Maroon and Gold
St. Louis (SLIAC) football

    Former member

    The NACC had one full member that competed in the conference, which was also a private school:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationUndergraduate
    enrollment
    NicknameJoinedLeftColorsCurrent
    conference
    Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, Wisconsin 1968 Baptist 765 Sabercats 2006–072012–13   
    Navy Blue, Gold, & Crimson
    D-III Independent

    Former associate members

    The NACC had six former associate members in the conference, which most were private schools, except Minnesota–Morris, which was a public school:

    InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationUndergraduate
    enrollment
    NicknameJoinedLeftColorsPrimary
    conference
    NACC
    sport
    Bethany Lutheran College Mankato, Minnesota 1927 Lutheran ELS 550 Vikings 2011–122014–15   
    Red & White & Black
    Upper Midwest (UMAC) women's golf
    Martin Luther College New Ulm, Minnesota 1995 Lutheran WELS 800 Knights 2011–122011–12   
    Red & Black & White
    University of Minnesota Morris Morris, Minnesota 1960Public1,900 Cougars 2011–122014–15  
    Maroon & Gold
    Mount Mary University Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1913 Catholic
    (SSND)
    529 Blue Angels 2015–162024-25  
    Blue and White
    Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) women's tennis (2015-16), women's cross country (2015-24)
    Northland College Ashland, Wisconsin 1906 UCC & Cong. 700 LumberJacks &
    LumberJills
    2013–142014–15  
    Orange & Blue
    Closed in 2025women's golf
    University of Northwestern – St. Paul Roseville, Minnesota 1902 Nondenominational 2,944 Eagles 2011–122014–15  
    Purple & Gold
    Upper Midwest (UMAC)
    Presentation College Aberdeen, South Dakota 1951 Catholic 786 Saints 2011–122011–12  
    Green & Gold
    Closed in 2023

    Membership timeline

    St. Norbert CollegeIllinois Institute of TechnologyMilwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsin Lutheran CollegeRockford UniversityMarian University (Wisconsin)Maranatha Baptist UniversityLakeland UniversityEdgewood UniversityDominican University (Illinois)Concordia University WisconsinConcordia University ChicagoBenedictine UniversityAurora UniversityAlverno CollegeNorthern Athletics Collegiate Conference

    Sports

    Teams in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference competition
    SportMen'sWomen's
    Baseball Green check.svg
    Basketball Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Cross Country Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Football Green check.svg
    Golf Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Lacrosse Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Soccer Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Softball Green check.svg
    Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Track & Field (Indoor)Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Track & Field (Outdoor)Green check.svgGreen check.svg
    Volleyball Green check.svgGreen check.svg

    Men's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryFootballGolfLacrosseSoccerTennisTrack & Field (Indoor)Track & Field (Outdoor)VolleyballTotal NACC Sports
    AuroraYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes10
    BenedictineYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes10
    CUCYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYes9
    CUWYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
    DominicanYesYesYesNoYesNoYesNoYesYesYes8
    EdgewoodYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    IITYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYes9
    LakelandYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYes10
    MarianYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesYes9
    MSOEYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    RockfordYesYesYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYesYes8
    St. NorbertYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYes10
    Wisconsin LutheranYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYes10
    Associate Members
    BeloitYes1
    Cornell (IA)Yes1
    EurekaYes1
    Lake ForestYes1
    LawrenceYes1
    Totals1313138+1107+4138131313124+5

    Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference which are played by NACC schools:

    SchoolIce HockeyRowingSwimming & DivingWrestling
    Aurora NCHA CCIW
    CUW NCHA CCIW
    IIT LAC
    Lakeland IND
    Marian NCHA
    MSOE NCHA IND MWC CCIW
    St. Norbert NCHA MWC

    Women's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBasketballCross CountryGolfLacrosseSoccerSoftballTennisTrack & Field (Indoor)Track & Field (Outdoor)VolleyballTotal NACC Sports
    AlvernoYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoNoYes7
    AuroraYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes9
    BenedictineYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYes8
    CUCYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYes8
    CUWYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    DominicanYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYes7
    EdgewoodYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    IITYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes8
    LakelandYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYes9
    MarianYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    MSOEYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes10
    RockfordYesYesNoNoYesYesNoYesYesYes7
    St. NorbertYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYes9
    Wisconsin LutheranYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYes9
    Associate Members
    BeloitYes1
    Cornell (IA)Yes1
    Lake ForestYes1
    LawrenceYes1
    Totals1414106+4141310131314121+4

    Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference which are played by NACC schools:

    SchoolAcrobatics & TumblingBowlingField HockeyFlag FootballIce HockeyRowingSwimming & DivingTriathlonWrestling
    Aurora CCIW Yes NCHA CCIW
    BenedictineYes
    CUW NCATA CFHC NCHA Yes
    Edgewood IND
    IIT LAC
    Lakeland IND
    Marian CCIW CFHC NCHA
    MSOE NCHA IND MWC CCIW
    Rockford IND Yes
    St. Norbert NCHA MWC

    References

    1. "NACC To Add Men's Volleyball In 2018" (Press release). Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. January 10, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
    2. "NACC Announces Addition of Men's and Women's Lacrosse in 2021". NACC. August 6, 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
    3. "About the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference".
    4. "Illinois Tech Joins Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference". 3 May 2017.
    5. "Benedictine University to Stay in NCAA Division III - Eagles eligible to compete in postseason competition" (Press release). Benedictine University. October 25, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
    6. 1 2 "NACC Welcomes St. Norbert College as Full Member in 2020-21" (Press release). Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
    7. "NACC Welcomes Cornell, Dubuque, Lake Forest as Lacrosse Affiliates" . Retrieved 8 July 2025.
    8. "Lawrence University to Join NACC as Affiliate Member in Men's and Women's Lacrosse" . Retrieved 8 July 2025.