Red River Athletic Conference

Last updated
Red River Athletic Conference
Red river naia conference logo.png
Association NAIA
Founded1998;27 years ago (1998)
CommissionerTony Stigliano
Sports fielded
  • 15
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 8
No. of teams13 (12 in 2026)
Headquarters Waco, Texas
Region South Central United States
Official website www.redriverconference.com
Locations
RRAC conference map.png

The Red River Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The conference's 13 member institutions are located in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas.

Contents

History

Red River Athletic Conference
Red River Athletic Conference
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250km
155miles
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North American
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Xavier (La.)
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Louisiana Christian
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Texas A&M–San Antonio
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Texas A&M–Texarkana
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UNT-Dallas
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Houston-Victoria
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LSUA
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LSUS
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OLLU
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Texas College
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Southwest
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Jarvis Christian
Location of RRAC members: Dark-blue pog.svg current, Green pog.svg current (non-basketball), Dark Red 800000 pog.svg departing

The Red River Athletic Conference began competition in fall 1998 with 16 charter members. [1] The conference at present counts 14 members, one of the most recent additions being Texas A&M University–Texarkana in 2016. [2] In 2019, St. Thomas Houston announced its departure from the conference to join the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) of the NCAA Division III as a provisional member. [3] In March 2020, Texas A&M University–San Antonio was approved for membership into the NAIA and it was simultaneously announced that the Jaguars would begin competition in the conference starting in the 2020–21 academic year, [4] followed by Xavier University of Louisiana and Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) in September and October respectively. [5] [6] Xavier and Louisiana Christian officially joined the RRAC for the 2021–22 academic year.

On January 20, 2022, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) invited founding Red River member Wiley College (now Wiley University) to become the GCAC's first Texas institution, effective later in July. [7]

On July 6, 2023, North American University was accepted as the RRAC's 14th conference member for the 2023–24 school year. [8]

On July 1, 2025, the RRAC announced the addition of the University of North Texas at Dallas as a full conference member. UNTD was previously a full member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. [9]

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The RRAC currently has 13 full members, all but six are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Basketball?
University of Houston–Victoria [b] Victoria, Texas 1973Public3,784 Jaguars 2015none
Jarvis Christian University Hawkins, Texas 1912 Disciples of Christ [c] 800 Bulldogs 1998both
Louisiana Christian University Pineville, Louisiana 1906 Southern Baptist 950 Wildcats 2021both
Louisiana State University of Alexandria Alexandria, Louisiana 1959Public5,330 Generals 2014both
Louisiana State University Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana 1967Public9,736 Pilots 2010both
North American University Stafford, Texas 2007Nonsectarian923 Stallions 2023both
University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas, Texas 2000Public3,797 Trailblazers 2025both
Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas 1895 Catholic
(C.D.P.)
2,096 Saints 2008both [d]
University of the Southwest Hobbs, New Mexico 1962 Nondenominational 1,034 Mustangs 1998both [e]
Texas College Tyler, Texas 1894 C.M.E. Church [c] 644 Steers 1998both
Texas A&M University–San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 2009Public7,584 Jaguars 2020both [f]
Texas A&M University–Texarkana Texarkana, Texas 1971Public2,109 Eagles 2016both [g]
Xavier University of Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana 1925Catholic
(S.B.S.) [c]
3,181 Gold Rush &
Gold Nuggets
2021both [h]
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. UHV will become Texas A&M-Victoria on September 1, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Also a historically black college and university.
  4. The Our Lady of the Lake men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2009–10).
  5. The Southwest (N.Mex.) men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a decade after becoming a full member for other sports (2008–09).
  6. The Texas A&M–San Antonio men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2024–25).
  7. The Texas A&M–Texarkana men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC three years after becoming a full member for other sports (2019–20).
  8. Xavier will depart the RRAC for the SSAC after the 2025-26 athletic year.

Former members

The RRAC has 16 former full members, all but five were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
Bacone College Muskogee, Oklahoma 1880 Tribal college N/A Warriors 1998 [c] 2015Closed in 2024
Houston Baptist University [d] Houston, Texas 1960 Baptist 4,189 Huskies 19982007 Southland (SLC) [e]
Huston-Tillotson University Austin, Texas 1881 UMC & UCC [f] 1,029 Rams 19982025 HBCU (HBCUAC)
Langston University Langston, Oklahoma 1897Public [f] 1,910 Lions 19982018 Sooner (SAC)
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Alva, Oklahoma 1897Public1,929 Rangers 19982001 Great American (GAC) [g]
Northwood University Cedar Hill, Texas 1966 Nonsectarian N/A Knights 1998 [h] 2013Closed in 2014
Paul Quinn College Dallas, Texas 1872 A.M.E. Church 602 Tigers 19982025 HBCU (HBCUAC)
University of St. Thomas Houston, Texas 1947Catholic
(C.S.B.)
3,813 Celts 20112019 Southern (SCAC) [i]
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, Oklahoma 1908Public914 Drovers 19982000 Sooner (SAC)
Southwestern Adventist University Keene, Texas 1893 Seventh-day
Adventist
817 Knights 19982002 USCAA Independent
Southwestern Assemblies of God University [j] Waxahachie, Texas 1927 Assemblies of God 1,725 Lions 19982013 Sooner (SAC)
Texas A&M International University Laredo, Texas 1969Public8,536 Dustdevils 2002 [k] 2006 Lone Star (LSC) [g]
Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, Texas 1890 United Methodist 2,595 Rams 20012013 Sooner (SAC)
University of Texas at Brownsville [l] Brownsville, Texas 1991PublicN/A Ocelots [m] 20062015N/A [n]
University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, Texas 1973Public5,899 Falcons 1998 [o] 2006 Lone Star (LSC) [g]
Wiley University [p] Marshall, Texas 1873United Methodist [f] 636 Wildcats 1998 [q] 2022 HBCU (HBCUAC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. The Bacone men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC three years after becoming a full member for other sports (2001–02).
  4. Currently known as Houston Christian University since 2022.
  5. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  6. 1 2 3 Also a historically black college and university.
  7. 1 2 3 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  8. The Northwood–Texas men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC fourteen years after becoming a full member for other sports (2012–13).
  9. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  10. Currently known as Nelson University since 2024.
  11. The Texas A&M International men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2003–04).
  12. Non-basketball full member.
  13. Texas–Brownsville's other nickname before the merger with Texas–Pan American (UTPA) was Scorpions until after the 2011–12 school year, then competed without a nickname during the 2012–13 school year, before accepting the Ocelots nickname for their final two seasons.
  14. Texas–Brownsville (UTB) was merged with the University of Texas–Pan American (UTPA) to become the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in 2015.
  15. The Texas–Permian Basin men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2002–03).
  16. Current known as Wiley University since 2023.
  17. The Wiley men's and women's basketball teams joined the RRAC four years after becoming a full member for other sports (2002–03).

Former affiliate members

The RRAC had five former affiliate members, three are public schools and two are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] RRAC
sport(s)
Primary
conference
Carroll College Helena, Montana 1909 Catholic
(Diocese of Helena)
1,103 Fighting Saints 20232024men's golf Frontier
Lewis–Clark State College Lewiston, Idaho 1893Public3,706 Warriors &
Lady Warriors
20222024women's tennis Cascade (CCC)
Montana Technological University Butte, Montana 1889Public [c] 1,622 Orediggers 20232024men's golf Frontier
University of Providence Great Falls, Montana 1932Catholic
(Ursulines)
677 Argonauts 20232024men's golf Frontier
Rocky Mountain College Billings, Montana 1878various [d] 991 Battlin' Bears 20232024men's golf Frontier
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Part of the Montana University System.
  4. Rocky Mountain has various affiliations: The Mainline Protestant, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Church of Christ.

Membership timeline

University of North Texas-DallasRocky Mountain CollegeUniversity of ProvidenceMontana Technological UniversityCarroll CollegeNorth American UniversityLewis–Clark State CollegeSouthern States Athletic ConferenceXavier University of LouisianaLouisiana Christian UniversityTexas A%26M University–San AntonioTexas A%26M University–TexarkanaUniversity of Houston–VictoriaLouisiana State University of AlexandriaSouthern Collegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of St. Thomas (Texas)Louisiana State University ShreveportOur Lady of the Lake UniversityUniversity of Texas at BrownsvilleLone Star ConferenceHeartland ConferenceTexas A%26M International UniversitySooner Athletic ConferenceTexas Weslayan UniversityHBCU Athletic ConferenceWiley CollegeSooner Athletic ConferenceUniversity of Sciences and Arts of OklahomaTexas CollegeLone Star ConferenceHeartland ConferenceUniversity of Texas Permian BasinSooner Athletic ConferenceNelson UniversityUnited States Collegiate Athletic AssociationSouthwestern Adventist UniversityUniversity of the SouthwestHBCU Athletic ConferencePaul Quinn CollegeSooner Athletic ConferenceNorthwood UniversityGreat American ConferenceSooner Athletic ConferenceNorthwestern Oklahoma State UniversitySooner Athletic ConferenceLangston UniversityJarvis Christian UniversityHBCU Athletic ConferenceHuston–Tillotson UniversitySouthland ConferenceGreat West ConferenceNCAA Division I independent schoolsHouston Christian UniversityNAIA independent schoolsSooner Athletic ConferenceBacone CollegeRed River Athletic Conference

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

Sports

A divisional format is used for basketball (M / W), softball, and volleyball.
East
  • Jarvis Christian
  • Louisiana Christian
  • LSU Alexandria
  • LSU Shreveport
  • Texas College
  • Texas A&M-Texarkana
  • Xavier
West
  • North American
  • Our Lady of the Lake
  • Southwest
  • Texas A&M-San Antonio
  • Texas A&M-Victoria
  • UNT-Dallas

The Red River Athletic Conference sponsors championships in seven men's and eight women's 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
Tennis Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Track and Field (Outdoor) Green check.svgGreen check.svg
Volleyball Green check.svg

RRAC Men's Sports Sponsored by School

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryGolfTennisTrack & Field (Outdoor)Soccer
Houston-VictoriaYesNoNoYesNoNoYes
Jarvis ChristianYesYesYesNoNoYesYes
Louisiana ChristianYesYesNoYesNoNoYes
LSU-AlexandriaYesYesNoNoNoNoYes
LSU-ShreveportYesYesNoNoNoNoYes
North AmericanNoYesNoNoNoYesYes
North Texas-DallasNoYesYesNoNoYesNo
Our Lady of the LakeYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SouthwestYesYesYesYesNoNoYes
Texas CollegeYesYesNoNoNoYesYes
Texas A&M-San AntonioNoYesNoYesNoNoYes
Texas A&M-TexarkanaYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
XavierYesYesYesNoYesYesYes

RRAC Women's Sports Sponsored by School

SchoolSoftballBasketballCross CountryGolfTennisTrack & Field (Outdoor)SoccerVolleyball
Houston-VictoriaYesNoNoYesNoNoYesNo
Jarvis ChristianYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes
Louisiana ChristianYesYesNoNoYesNoYesYes
LSU-AlexandriaYesYesNoNoYesNoYesNo
LSU-ShreveportNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNo
North AmericanNoYesYesNoNoYesYesNo
North Texas-DallasNoYesYesNoNoYesNoNo
Our Lady of the LakeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SouthwestYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYes
Texas CollegeYesYesNoNoNoYesYesNo
Texas A&M-San AntonioYesYesNoNoNoNoYesNo
Texas A&M-TexarkanaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
XavierYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes

References

  1. "Looking Back at the Past 15 Years of RRAC Basketball". Victory Sports Network. June 18, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  2. "LSUA Joins the Red River Athletic Conference". LSU Alexandria. October 23, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  3. "NCAA Advances UST Houston to Provisional Members Division III". University of St. Thomas. February 25, 2019.
  4. "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". NAIA. March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  5. "Xavier University of Louisiana to become RRAC's 13th member institution in 2021-22". Red River Athletic Conference. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  6. "Louisiana College accepted into NAIA, joins RRAC and SAC". Crescent City Sports. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  7. "GCAC Extends Membership To Oakwood University, Wiley College, Southern University at New Orleans". Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  8. "North American University Joins RRAC as 14th Member Institution". Red River Athletic Conference. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  9. https://redriverconference.com/general/2024-25/releases/20250701deny86