Missouri Valley Conference

Missouri Valley Conference
Name	Missouri Valley Conference
Established	1907
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I
Subdivision	FCS (football)
Members	12
Headquarters	St. Louis, Missouri
Commissioner	Jeff Jackson

Missouri Valley Conference. Founded in 1907, it is the second-oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States, predated only by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Often referred to as "The Valley," it operates as a NCAA Division I conference, with its football league competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The conference is headquartered in St. Louis and is renowned for its rich history and competitive success, particularly in college basketball.

History

The conference was established in 1907 at the Peoria YMCA by representatives from five charter institutions: the University of Kansas, the University of Missouri, the University of Iowa, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Nebraska. Its early years were marked by instability, with frequent membership changes as schools like the University of Oklahoma and Iowa State joined and departed. A significant reorganization occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, spurred by the rise of televised athletics and the formation of the Big Eight Conference, leading to the departure of many original members. The modern era has been defined by strategic expansion, adding schools such as Creighton, Wichita State, and more recently, the University of Illinois Chicago and Belmont, solidifying its identity as a premier non-football playing multi-sport conference while maintaining the separate Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Member schools

The conference comprises 12 full member institutions, with an additional 6 schools holding affiliate membership for specific sports. Full members include Belmont (joined 2022), Bradley (1955), Drake (1908), the Evansville (1994), the Illinois Chicago (2022), Indiana State (1976), the Northern Iowa (1991), Southern Illinois (1975), Missouri State (1990), the Northern Colorado (2023 for baseball), Illinois (women's golf), and Valparaiso (2017). Affiliate members for sports like men's soccer and swimming and diving include institutions such as the Little Rock and the Air Force. The conference headquarters are located in St. Louis.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in 17 sports, 8 for men and 9 for women. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football (through the separate Missouri Valley Football Conference), golf, soccer, tennis, and track and field (indoor and outdoor). Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. Notably, it does not sponsor ice hockey, wrestling, or lacrosse. The NCAA basketball tournament success of its members is a primary focus.

Conference championships

The conference is most celebrated for its success in college basketball, where it has sent multiple teams to the NCAA tournament annually, famously producing the Cinderella Loyola Chicago team that reached the Final Four in 2018. In FCS football, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is considered one of the toughest leagues, with teams like North Dakota State winning multiple national titles. Other notable championship programs include Wichita State baseball, which won the College World Series in 1989, and Northern Iowa wrestling, which competes in the Big 12 Conference.

Facilities

Member schools compete in a variety of historic and modern venues. Prominent basketball arenas include the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, which hosts the annual Arch Madness conference tournament, Hinkle Fieldhouse (used by Butler before its departure), and Carver Arena in Peoria. Notable football stadiums are the Fargodome (North Dakota State), Plaster Stadium (Missouri State), and the UNI-Dome (Northern Iowa). Significant baseball parks include Eck Stadium at Wichita State and Hammons Field in Springfield.

Rivalries

The conference features several intense and historic rivalries, many centered on college basketball. The most prominent is the I-74 Rivalry between Bradley and Illinois State. Other key matchups include the Hoosier Helmet Trophy football game between Indiana State and Butler, the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series-adjacent rivalry between Northern Iowa and Drake, and the intense basketball series between Southern Illinois and Missouri State. The annual Arch Madness tournament in St. Louis itself becomes a focal point for these competitive tensions.

Category:NCAA Division I conferences Category:College sports in the United States Category:Sports in St. Louis Category:1907 establishments in the United States