Heart_of_America_Athletic_Conference
Heart of America Athletic Conference
College athletic conference
The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC or The Heart)[1] is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska in the United States.
| Association | NAIA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Commissioner | Lori Thomas (since 2014) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| No. of teams | 13 (15 in 2025) |
| Headquarters | Overland Park, Kansas |
| Region | West North Central |
| Official website | www |
| Locations | |
The HAAC's earliest ancestor was the Missouri College Athletic Union (MCAU), which was formed in 1924 when the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association or MIAA) split in two. The old MIAA's private schools formed the Athletic Union, while the state teachers' colleges stayed in the MIAA.[2] It was reorganized as the HAAC in 1971 when it began admitting schools outside Missouri. However, the HAAC does not presently claim the Athletic Union's history as its own.
In early 2014, Grand View University and William Penn University were announced as members for the 2015–16 school year.[3] In April 2015, Clarke University and Mount Mercy University were also announced as members for the 2016–17 school year.[4] In October 2019, Park University was approved for HAAC membership and joined in the 2020–21 school year.[5] On February 10, 2022, long-serving Evangel University accepted its invitation to join the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, also Kansas-based, in 2023–24.[6]
On July 24, 2023, William Woods University (alongside St. Ambrose) announced they would join the conference as associate members in football beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024 25 academic year). The expansion made it NAIA's largest football conference with 14 teams playing in two divisions.[7]
The current commissioner of the conference is Lori Thomas. Thomas, the first female commissioner in NAIA history, began her term in 2014,[8] succeeding Larry Lady who retired after 22 years as commissioner.[citation needed]
Chronological timeline
- 1971 – The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) was founded. Charter members included Baker University, Central Methodist College (now Central Methodist University), the College of Emporia, Graceland College (now Graceland University), Missouri Valley College, Ottawa University, Tarkio College and William Jewell College beginning the 1971–72 academic year.
- 1974 – The College of Emporia left the HAAC as the school announced that it would close after the 1973–74 academic year.
- 1980 – Culver–Stockton College and Mid-America Nazarene College (now MidAmerica Nazarene University) joined the HAAC in the 1980–81 academic year.
- 1982 – Ottawa left the HAAC to re-join the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) after the 1981–82 academic year.
- 1986 – Central Methodist left the HAAC to become an NAIA Independent after the 1985–86 academic year.
- 1987 – Evangel College (now Evangel University) joined the HAAC in the 1987–88 academic year.
- 1991 – Benedictine College joined the HAAC (with Central Methodist re-joining), both effective in the 1991–92 academic year.
- 1996 – Lindenwood College (now Lindenwood University) joined the HAAC in the 1996–97 academic year.
- 2000 – Avila College (now Avila University) joined the HAAC in the 2000–01 academic year.
- 2011 – Two institutions left the HAAC and the NAIA to join the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): Lindenwood as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in the 2012–13 academic year), and William Jewell to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), both effective after the 2010–11 academic year.
- 2011 – Peru State College joined the HAAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
- 2015 – Grand View University and William Penn University (both coming from the defunct Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC)) joined the HAAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2016 – Clarke University and Mount Mercy University (also both coming from the defunct Midwest Collegiate (MCC) after spending a season as NAIA Independents) joined the HAAC in the 2016–17 academic year.
- 2017 – Dickinson State University joined the HAAC as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 2017–18 academic year.
- 2018 – Avila left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2017–18 academic year.
- 2020 – Park University joined the HAAC in the 2020–21 academic year.
- 2020 – Three institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members: Missouri Baptist University and the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP) for men's volleyball, and Waldorf University for men's & women's wrestling, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year.
- 2021 – Two institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members: St. Ambrose University for only men's wrestling, and Iowa Wesleyan University for men's & women's wrestling, both effective in the 2021–22 academic year.
- 2023 – Evangel left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2022–23 academic year.
- 2023 – Missouri Baptist added football within its affiliate membership in the 2023 fall season (2023–24 academic year).
- 2024 – William Woods University will join the HAAC as an affiliate member for football (alongside St. Ambrose to add the sport within its affiliate membership), both effective beginning the 2024 fall season (2024–25 academic year).
- 2025 – Missouri Baptist and William Woods will both join the HAAC as full members, effective in the 2025–26 academic year.
Current members
The HAAC currently has thirteen full members, all but one are private schools: All but one of the private schools are religiously affiliated.
- Notes
Future members
The HAAC will have two new members, both are private schools as well as current HAAC affiliate members.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining[lower-alpha 1] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Baptist University | Creve Coeur, Missouri | 1957 | Baptist | 5,309 | Spartans | 2025 | American Midwest |
| William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri | 1870 | Disciples of Christ | 2,300 | Owls |
- Notes
Affiliate members
The HAAC currently has five affiliate members, all but one are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | HAAC sport |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson State University | Dickinson, North Dakota | 1918 | Public | 1,392 | Blue Hawks | 2017m.wr. 2023w.wr. |
men's wrestling women's wrestling |
North Star (NSAA) |
| Missouri Baptist University | Creve Coeur, Missouri | 1957 | Baptist | 5,309 | Spartans | 2020m.vb. 2023fb |
men's volleyball football |
American Midwest |
| St. Ambrose University | Davenport, Iowa | 1882 | Catholic (Diocese of Davenport) |
3,607 | Fighting Bees | 2021 | men's wrestling | Chicagoland (CCAC) |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | 1864 | Nonsectarian | 1,350 | Eutectics | 2020 | men's volleyball | American Midwest |
| Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | 1903 | For-profit[lower-alpha 1] | 4,500 | Warriors | 2020m.wr. 2020w.wr. |
men's wrestling women's wrestling |
North Star (NSAA) |
- Notes
- Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.
Future affiliate members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining | HAAC sport |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Ambrose University | Davenport, Iowa | 1882 | Catholic (Diocese of Davenport) |
3,607 | Fighting Bees | 2024 | football | Chicagoland (CCAC) |
| William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri | 1870 | Disciples of Christ | 2,300 | Owls | 2024 | football | American Midwest |
Former members
The HAAC has seven former full members, all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent conference |
Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avila University | Kansas City, Missouri | 1916 | Catholic (C.S.J.) |
1,676 | Eagles | 2000 | 2018 | Kansas (KCAC) (2018–present) | |
| College of Emporia | Emporia, Kansas | 1882 | Presbyterian | N/A | Fighting Presbies | 1971 | 1974 | Closed in 1974 | |
| Evangel University | Springfield, Missouri | 1955 | Assemblies of God | 1,511 | Valor | 1987 | 2023 | Kansas (KCAC) (2023–present) | |
| Lindenwood University | St. Charles, Missouri | 1827 | Presbyterian (PCUSA) |
4,822 | Lions | 1996 | 2011 | various | Ohio Valley (OVC)[lower-alpha 1] (2022–present) |
| Ottawa University | Ottawa, Kansas | 1865 | American Baptist | 726 | Braves | 1971 | 1982 | Kansas (KCAC) (1982–present) | |
| Tarkio College | Tarkio, Missouri | 1883 | Presbyterian (UPCUSA) |
N/A | Owls | 1971 | 1992 | Closed in 1992 | |
| William Jewell College | Liberty, Missouri | 1849 | Nonsectarian | 738 | Cardinals | 1971 | 2011 | Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)[lower-alpha 2] (2011–present) |
- Notes
- Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
- Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
Former affiliate members
The HAAC had one former affiliate member; which was also a private school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Nickname | Joined | Left | HAAC sport |
Current primary conference |
Conference in former HAAC sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Wesleyan University | Mount Pleasant, Iowa | 1842 | United Methodist | Tigers | 2021 | 2023 | men's wrestling women's wrestling |
N/A[lower-alpha 1] | |
- Notes
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
The conference also sponsors co-ed varsity sports of dance and cheer.
| A divisional format is used for baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, and women's volleyball. | |
North
|
South
|
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  Y | |
| Basketball | Y | Y |
| Bowling | Y | Y |
| Cross Country | Y | Y |
| Football | Y | |
| Golf | Y | Y |
| Lacrosse | Y | Y |
| Soccer | Y | Y |
| Softball | Y | |
| Tennis | Y | Y |
| Track & Field Indoor | Y | Y |
| Track & Field Outdoor | Y | Y |
| Volleyball | Y | |
| Wrestling | Y | Y |
- Heart of America (college rugby)
- Football seasons: 2011, 2012
- "Heart unveils new brans, logo". Heart of America Athletic Conference. May 7, 2015. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- MIAA Archived July 9, 2012, at archive.today
- "Heart of America Conference adds two Iowa members". The Kansas City Star. January 10, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Clarke, Mount Mercy approved for membership". Heart of America Athletic Conference. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- "Park set to join Heart of America in 2020". Victory Sports Network. October 9, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- "Evangel University Accepts Invitation to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference". Evangel Valor. February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- "William Woods football joins Heart of America conference" ABC 17 News. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- "About us". Heart of America Athletic Conference. 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.