 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 |
| Commissioner | Kimberly Wenger |
| Sports fielded |
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| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Headquarters | Hillsboro, Oregon |
| Region | Pacific Northwest |
| Official website | nwcsports.com |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Northwest Conference (NWC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in the states of Oregon and Washington. It was known as the Pacific Northwest Conference from 1926 to 1984.
The NWC was formed in 1926, making it one of the oldest continuously existing athletics conferences in the western United States. For 60 years, the Northwest Conference sponsored sports exclusively for men, but in 1984 it joined with the Women's Conference of Independent Colleges to become the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, shortening the name to its current moniker in 1996 when it joined the NCAA.
The charter members included Willamette University, Pacific University, Whitman College, the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound), Linfield College (now Linfield University), and the College of Idaho. In 1931, Albany College joined, left in 1938, and re-joined in 1949 using its present name of Lewis & Clark College. Pacific Lutheran University was added in 1965, and Whitworth University in 1970. In 1978, the College of Idaho dropped out of the conference. Whitworth also left in 1984, but then returned in 1988. In 1996, George Fox University joined when the conference moved to the NCAA and Puget Sound re-joined in that same year since 1948. From 2006 to 2010, Menlo College was also a part of the conference as an associate member in football.
The College of Idaho reinstated its football program in 2014 after a 37-year hiatus [1] and joined the Frontier Conference for football. College of Idaho is now a member of the NAIA's Cascade Collegiate Conference for other sports. Whitworth left the NWC in 1984 but returned in 1988. George Fox University and Seattle University joined the conference in 1997. Seattle dropped out again in 1999 to become members of NCAA Division II. [2] Menlo College joined the conference in 2005 as a football-only member.
The NWC currently has nine full members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined [lower-alpha 1] | Colors | Football? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Fox University | Newberg, Oregon | 1885 | Quakers | 4,039 [3] | Bruins | 1996 | Yes | |
| Lewis & Clark College | Portland, Oregon | 1867 | Nonsectarian | 2,205 | Pioneers | 1931; 1949 [lower-alpha 2] | Yes | |
| Linfield University | McMinnville, Oregon | 1858 | Baptist | 1,755 [4] | Wildcats | 1926 | Yes | |
| Pacific University | Forest Grove, Oregon | 1849 | United Church of Christ | 3,589 [5] | Boxers | 1926 | Yes | |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Parkland, Washington | 1890 | Lutheran ELCA | 3,100 [6] | Lutes | 1965 | Yes | |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, Washington | 1888 | United Methodist | 2,600 [7] | Loggers | 1926; 1996 [lower-alpha 3] | Yes | |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla, Washington | 1859 | Nonsectarian | 1,384 [8] | Blues | 1926 | No | |
| Whitworth University | Spokane, Washington | 1890 | Presbyterian | 2,220 [9] | Pirates | 1970; 1988 [lower-alpha 4] | Yes | |
| Willamette University | Salem, Oregon | 1842 | Methodist Mission | 2,402 [10] | Bearcats | 1926 | Yes |
The NWC had two former full members, which both were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined [lower-alpha 1] | Left [lower-alpha 2] | Colors | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Idaho | Caldwell, Idaho | 1891 | Presbyterian | 1,042 | Yotes | 1926 | 1978 | Cascade (CCC) [lower-alpha 3] | |
| Seattle University | Seattle, Washington | 1891 | Catholic (Jesuit) | 7,755 | Redhawks | 1997 | 1999 | Western (WAC) [lower-alpha 4] |
The NWC had one former associate member, which was also a private school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined [lower-alpha 1] | Left [lower-alpha 2] | Colors | Current conference | NWC sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menlo College | Atherton, California | 1927 | Nonsectarian | 750 | Oaks | 2006 | 2011 | Pacific West (PacWest) [lower-alpha 3] | football [lower-alpha 4] |
The Northwest Conference sponsors championship competition in nine men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports. [11]
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 9 | – |
| Basketball | 9 | 9 |
| Cross country | 9 | 9 |
| Football | 8 | – |
| Golf | 9 | 9 |
| Lacrosse | – | 8 |
| Soccer | 9 | 9 |
| Softball | – | 8 |
| Swimming | 9 | 9 |
| Tennis | 8 | 8 |
| Track and field | 9 | 9 |
| Volleyball | – | 9 |
| Rowing | – | 4 |
Each year the NWC awards one of its member institutions the NWC McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophy, based on a points system. The award is named in honor of Jane McIlroy, former athletic director of Linfield (1950-82), and John Lewis of Willamette (1947-72).
In each sport, the conference champion is awarded 18 points, second place is awarded 16 points, and so on. The school with the most points at the conclusion of the academic year wins the trophy. Football, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, men's baseball, women's softball, and men's and women's track and field are the 18 sports in which points are awarded.
Pacific Lutheran has won the award 15 times, more than any other school. Whitworth has won the trophy 14 times, Linfield has won the trophy three times while Puget Sound has won it twice. [12] [13]
| Year | Institution |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Whitworth |
| 2023 | George Fox |
| 2022 | George Fox |
| 2021 | No trophy awarded |
| 2020 | No trophy awarded |
| 2019 | Whitworth |
| 2018 | Whitworth |
| 2017 | Whitworth |
| 2016 | Whitworth |
| 2015 | Whitworth |
| 2014 | Whitworth |
| 2013 | Whitworth |
| 2012 | Whitworth |
| 2011 | Whitworth |
| 2010 | Whitworth |
| 2009 | Whitworth |
| 2008 | Whitworth |
| 2007 | Puget Sound |
| 2006 | Puget Sound |
| 2005 | Whitworth |
| 2004 | Linfield |
| 2003 | Linfield |
| 2002 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 2001 | Linfield |
| 2000 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1999 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1998 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1997 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1996 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1995 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1994 | Willamette |
| 1993 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1992 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1991 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1990 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1989 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1988 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1987 | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1986 | Pacific Lutheran |
| Year | Sport | Institution | Location | Association/Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Women's Golf | George Fox | Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida | NCAA Division III |
| 2018 | Women's Track & Field | George Fox | La Crosse, Wisconsin | NCAA Division III (Co-Champions with UMass Boston) |
| 2013 | Baseball | Linfield | Appleton, Wisconsin | NCAA Division III |
| 2012 | Softball | Pacific Lutheran | Salem, Virginia | NCAA Division III |
| 2011 | Softball | Linfield | Salem, Virginia | NCAA Division III |
| 2009 | Women's Basketball | George Fox | Holland, Michigan | NCAA Division III |
| 2007 | Softball | Linfield | Salem, Virginia | NCAA Division III |
| 2004 | Football | Linfield | Salem, Virginia | NCAA Division III |
| 2004 | Baseball | George Fox | Appleton, Wisconsin | NCAA Division III |
| 1999 | Football | Pacific Lutheran | Salem, Virginia | NCAA Division III |
| 1999 | Women's Swimming | Puget Sound | Federal Way, Washington | NAIA |
| 1998 | Women's Swimming | Puget Sound | Federal Way, Washington | NAIA |
| 1997 | Men's Soccer | Seattle | Birmingham, Alabama | NAIA |
| 1997 | Men's Swimming | Puget Sound | Federal Way, Washington | NAIA |
| 1996 | Men's Swimming | Puget Sound | San Antonio, Texas | NAIA |
| 1996 | Women's Swimming | Puget Sound | San Antonio, Texas | NAIA |
| 1995 | Men's Swimming | Puget Sound | San Antonio, Texas | NAIA |
| 1995 | Women's Cross Country | Puget Sound | Kenosha, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1994 | Women's Cross Country | Puget Sound | Kenosha, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1993 | Football | Pacific Lutheran | Portland, Oregon | NAIA Division II |
| 1993 | Women's Cross Country | Puget Sound | Kenosha, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1993 | Volleyball | Puget Sound | San Diego, California | NAIA |
| 1993 | Men's Basketball | Willamette | Nampa, Idaho | NAIA Division II |
| 1992 | Women's Cross Country | Puget Sound | Kenosha, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1992 | Softball | Pacific Lutheran | Pensacola, Florida | NAIA |
| 1991 | Women's Soccer | Pacific Lutheran | Boca Raton, Florida | NAIA |
| 1990 | Women's Swimming | Puget Sound | Canton, Ohio | NAIA |
| 1989 | Women's Soccer | Pacific Lutheran | Due West, South Carolina | NAIA |
| 1989 | Women's Swimming | Puget Sound | Brown Deer, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1988 | Women's Cross Country | Pacific Lutheran | Kenosha, Wisconsin | NAIA |
| 1988 | Women's Soccer | Pacific Lutheran | Abilene, Texas | NAIA |
| 1988 | Softball | Pacific Lutheran | Pensacola, Florida | NAIA |
| 1987 | Football | Pacific Lutheran | Tacoma, Washington | NAIA Division II |
| 1986 | Football | Linfield | McMinnville, Oregon | NAIA Division II |
| 1984 | Football | Linfield | McMinnville, Oregon | NAIA Division II |
| 1982 | Football | Linfield | McMinnville, Oregon | NAIA Division II |
| 1980 | Football | Pacific Lutheran | Tacoma, Washington | NAIA Division II |
| 1971 | Baseball | Linfield | Phoenix, Arizona | NAIA |
| 1966 | Baseball | Linfield | St. Joseph, Missouri | NAIA |
| 1960 | Baseball | Whitworth† | Sioux City, Iowa | NAIA |
† - Whitworth was not a member of the NWC until 1970.
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