College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Name	College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
Established	1946
Association	NCAA
Division	NCAA Division III
Members	10
Sports	25
Headquarters	Naperville, Illinois
Commissioner	Michele Kelly
Website	https://cciw.org/

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) is a premier athletic conference operating within NCAA Division III. Founded in 1946, it is one of the oldest and most competitive Division III conferences in the nation, comprising ten private liberal arts colleges and universities across Illinois and Wisconsin. The conference sponsors 25 championship sports and is renowned for its academic and athletic excellence, producing numerous national champions and scholar-athletes.

History

The conference was founded in 1946 with charter members Carthage College, Elmhurst College, Millikin University, North Central College, and Wheaton College. Its formation was part of a broader post-World War II expansion of collegiate athletics. The league initially focused on football and basketball competition among these midwestern institutions. A significant early milestone was the addition of Illinois Wesleyan University in 1947. The conference has seen several membership changes, including the departure of Elmhurst in 1962 and its return in 1968, and the addition of Augustana College in 1946, which later departed for the CCIW in 1992. The most recent expansion occurred in the 2000s with the addition of Carroll University in 1992 and North Park University in 2008, solidifying its ten-member structure. The CCIW has been a consistent leader in NCAA Division III governance and competitive philosophy.

Member institutions

The conference currently consists of ten private institutions. The full membership includes Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois; Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin; Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin; Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Illinois; Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois; Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois; North Central College in Naperville, Illinois; North Park University in Chicago; University of Chicago (associate member in wrestling); and Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Each institution is a residential liberal arts college or university with a strong emphasis on integrating athletics with academic mission, as reflected in their collective success in the NCAA's Academic Performance Program.

Sports sponsored

The CCIW sponsors championship competition in 25 sports, 12 for men and 13 for women. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and wrestling. Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), triathlon, volleyball, and water polo. The conference also hosts annual championships in most of these sports, with automatic qualification opportunities for NCAA Division III national tournaments. The addition of women's triathlon and water polo in recent years highlights the league's commitment to expanding opportunities.

Conference facilities

Member institutions feature notable athletic facilities that host CCIW championships and events. These include North Central College's Al B. Carius Track and Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, a frequent host for the NCAA Division III track and field championships. Wheaton College's McCully Stadium is a historic venue for football and track and field. Augustana College's Carver Center and Kenosha's Art Keller Field at Carthage College are premier sites for basketball and baseball, respectively. Millikin University's Frank M. Lindsay Field and Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center also serve as significant venues for conference tournaments and regular-season competition.

Championships and achievements

The CCIW has a storied history of national success, with member institutions winning numerous NCAA Division III team and individual national championships. North Central College has dominated in football and track and field, winning multiple national titles under coaches like John Thorne and Al B. Carius. Wheaton College has claimed national championships in women's soccer and men's basketball. Augustana College has a rich history in wrestling and men's basketball, including a legendary run under coach Jim Borcherding. The conference regularly places teams in the NCAA Division III playoffs across sports like baseball, softball, and volleyball, and its athletes frequently earn Academic All-American honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Notable alumni

CCIW institutions have produced a distinguished array of alumni who have excelled in professional sports, coaching, and other fields. Notable athletic alumni include Super Bowl champion and former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary (Baylor, attended Trinity International University but regionally connected), Major League Baseball player and manager Donovan Osborne (Millikin University), and NBA player and executive Fred Hoiberg (Chicago Bulls, attended Iowa State University but his grandfather was a coach at University of Chicago). Other prominent figures include Olympic medalist and distance runner Craig Virgin (University of Illinois, competed in CCIW region), renowned football coach Matt Canada (University of Wisconsin, began coaching at Butler University), and theologian and author John Piper (Wheaton College).

Category:NCAA Division III conferences Category:Athletic conferences in the United States Category:Sports in Illinois Category:Sports in Wisconsin Category:1946 establishments in Illinois