North Central Conference
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North Central Conference
Data
Classification	NCAA Division II
Established	1922-2008
Members	9
Sports fielded	18 (9 men’s, 9 women’s)
Region	Midwestern United States
States	5 - Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Washington
Headquarters	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Locations

The North Central Conference (also known as North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) was a College Athletic Conference which operated in the north central United States. It participated in the NCAA's Division II.

History

The NCC was formed in 1922. Charter members of the NCC were South Dakota State University, College of St. Thomas, Des Moines, Creighton University, North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, Morningside College, University of South Dakota, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

The University of Northern Iowa was a member of the NCC from 1934 until 1978. UNI currently competes in Division I-AA in the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference. In 2002 Morningside College left the NCC to join the NAIA. The University of Northern Colorado left the conference in 2003, followed in 2004 by North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University. These three schools are all transitioning their athletics programs from Division II to Division I; they became founding members of the Division I FCS Great West Football Conference, which started play in the fall of 2004. Since that time, Northern Colorado moved on to the Big Sky Conference in all sports in 2006. In the fall of 2006, North Dakota State and South Dakota State were admitted to The Summit League, while continuing to play football in the Great West; effective in 2007, they as well will move on to rejoin old conference mate Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

It was announced on November 29, 2006 that the 2007-08 athletic season would be the final season for the NCC, and would cease operations on July 1, 2008.¹

• University of North Dakota announced in the summer of 2006 that they will reclassify their athletic programs to Division I, and left the North Central Conference after the 2007-08 academic year.
• University of South Dakota announced on November 29, 2006, that they will reclassify their athletic programs to Division I. Like North Dakota, they left the North Central Conference after the 2007-08 academic year.²
• Augustana College, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato and St. Cloud State University were admitted to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference beginning July 1, 2008.³
• The University of Nebraska at Omaha joined the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association starting July 1, 2008.⁴
• The Central Washington University and Western Washington University football teams joined with Dixie State College of Utah, Humboldt State University, and Western Oregon University to reform the Great Northwest Athletic Conference football division.

Member schools

Teams

• Augustana Vikings
• Central Washington Wildcats
• Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
• Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks
• Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
• North Dakota Fighting Sioux
• St. Cloud State Huskies
• South Dakota Coyotes
• Western Washington Vikings

Sports

The NCC sponsored baseball, men's and women's basketball, football, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.

Five of the seven members of the NCC sponsored Division I ice hockey. University of North Dakota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, and St. Cloud State University are members of the WCHA. The University of Nebraska at Omaha competes in the CCHA.

Associate members

Football - Western Washington University, Central Washington University

Women's Swimming and Diving - Colorado Mines, MSU-Moorhead, Metro State (CO)

Men's Swimming and Diving - Colorado Mines, Metro State (CO)

Men's Tennis - Winona State

Conference football stadiums

References

1. ^ "Thomas: NCC will fold in summer 2008". Forum Communications Co. (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
2. ^ "USD to Move Athletic Programs to Division I". University of South Dakota (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
3. ^ "Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Expands to 14 Teams". Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
4. ^ "MIAA CEO Council ratifies decision to add Nebraska-Omaha". Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-24.

External links

• Official Website of the North Central Conference