Horizon League

Horizon League is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA at the Division I level. The conference consists of 12 member schools, including University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, University of Detroit Mercy, and Cleveland State University. The Horizon League is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and its member schools are located in the Midwestern United States, with institutions such as University of Illinois at Chicago, Northern Kentucky University, and Wright State University. The conference has a rich history, with notable alumni including Butler University's Gordon Hayward, who played in the NBA for the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics.

● History

The Horizon League was founded in 1979 as the Midwestern City Conference, with charter members University of Evansville, Loyola University Chicago, University of Notre Dame, University of Dayton, and Xavier University. Over the years, the conference has undergone several name changes, becoming the Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1985 and finally the Horizon League in 2001. The conference has also experienced significant membership changes, with schools such as Butler University and Valparaiso University joining and leaving the conference. Notable events in the conference's history include the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship appearances by University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Cleveland State University, as well as the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship appearances by University of Detroit Mercy and Wright State University. The conference has also had notable coaches, including University of Illinois at Chicago's Jimmy Collins, who previously coached at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

● Member Schools

The Horizon League consists of 12 member schools, including Purdue University Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky University, and Oakland University. Other member schools include University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Youngstown State University, and Robert Morris University. The conference also includes IUPUI, which is a member of the Indiana University system, and Cleveland State University, which is a member of the University System of Ohio. The member schools of the Horizon League are located in the Midwestern United States, with institutions such as University of Detroit Mercy and Wright State University located in Michigan and Ohio, respectively. Notable athletic programs in the conference include the Butler University Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team, which has appeared in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship multiple times, and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Milwaukee Panthers men's soccer team, which has won several conference championships.

● Championships

The Horizon League sponsors several championships in various sports, including basketball, soccer, and volleyball. The conference also sponsors championships in sports such as cross country, golf, and tennis. The Horizon League men's basketball tournament is held annually, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. The conference has also had success in other sports, with University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee winning the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship in 2005 and Cleveland State University winning the NCAA Men's Golf Championship in 2011. Notable athletes in the conference include Gordon Hayward, who played basketball at Butler University and was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 2010 NBA draft, and Norris Cole, who played basketball at Cleveland State University and was drafted by the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA draft.

● Sports Sponsored

The Horizon League sponsors several sports, including men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, and women's soccer. The conference also sponsors sports such as volleyball, cross country, and golf. The Horizon League has a strong reputation for producing talented athletes, with many conference athletes going on to compete at the NCAA and professional levels. Notable athletes in the conference include Ray McCallum, who played basketball at University of Detroit Mercy and was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the 2013 NBA draft, and Alec Peters, who played basketball at Valparaiso University and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 2017 NBA draft. The conference has also had success in sports such as baseball, with University of Illinois at Chicago winning the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship in 2004.

● Conference Facilities

The Horizon League member schools have a variety of athletic facilities, including basketball arenas, soccer stadiums, and baseball stadiums. Notable facilities in the conference include the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena, the Cleveland State University Wolstein Center, and the University of Detroit Mercy Calihan Hall. The conference also has facilities such as the Northern Kentucky University BB&T Arena and the Wright State University Nutter Center. These facilities host a variety of events, including conference championships and regular season games, and provide a high-level competitive environment for the conference's student-athletes. The facilities are also used for other events, such as concerts and conventions, and are an important part of the athletic and recreational programs at the member schools. Category:National Collegiate Athletic Association