Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Name	Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
Established	2006
Association	NCAA
Division	NCAA Division III
Members	13 (full), 2 (associate)
Sports	25
Region	Midwestern United States
Headquarters	Waukesha, Wisconsin
Commissioner	G. Steven Larson
Website	https://naccsports.org/

Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Founded in 2006, it comprises primarily private institutions across the Midwestern United States, sponsoring championships in 25 sports. The conference office is headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

History

The conference was formed in 2006 following the merger of the athletic programs from the Lake Michigan Conference and the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference. This realignment was part of a broader restructuring within NCAA Division III to create more geographically cohesive leagues. The inaugural season of competition began in the fall of 2006, with charter members including Aurora University, Benedictine University, and Concordia University Wisconsin. The conference has maintained stability in its core membership while expanding to include additional institutions like St. Norbert College, which joined in 2021 from the Midwest Conference.

Member institutions

The conference consists of 13 full member institutions and two associate members. The full members are Aurora University, Benedictine University, Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Lakeland University, Marian University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Rockford University, St. Norbert College, and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Associate members include Alverno College, which competes in select sports, and University of Wisconsin–Parkside for men's volleyball. All members are private institutions, many with religious affiliations to entities like the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Roman Catholic Church.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in 25 sports, split evenly between men's and women's offerings. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), and volleyball. The conference also sponsors co-ed sports such as esports and bowling. Notably, it was a founding conference for NCAA Division III women's lacrosse in the region and also sponsors men's lacrosse.

Conference facilities

Member institutions host competitions in a variety of on-campus venues. Notable facilities include Aurora University's Spartan Athletic Park, Benedictine University's The Sports Complex, and the Kern Center at Milwaukee School of Engineering. St. Norbert College competes at the Schneider Stadium for football and the Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center. Other significant venues include Concordia University Wisconsin's R. John Buuck Field and Marian University's Smith Fields. Many of these facilities have hosted NCAA Division III championship events.

Championships

The conference awards championships in each sponsored sport, with winners receiving automatic qualification to NCAA Division III championships in many sports. Aurora University has been a dominant force, winning numerous President's Cup awards for overall athletic excellence. Other consistent contenders include Benedictine University in football and baseball, and St. Norbert College in several sports since its arrival. The conference has produced multiple NCAA Division III national champions, notably in women's volleyball and men's soccer.

Administration and leadership

The conference is governed by a President's Council composed of the chief executive officers from each member institution. Day-to-day operations are overseen by Commissioner G. Steve Larson, who works from the conference headquarters in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The conference maintains committees for officiating, sportsmanship, and compliance with NCAA rules. It also partners with organizations like Preplay Sports for streaming and SIDEARM Sports for digital content. The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Category:NCAA Division III conferences Category:Athletic conferences in the United States Category:Sports in Wisconsin Category:Sports in Illinois Category:2006 establishments in the United States