Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
NCAA Division III athletic conference
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The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. In women's gymnastics, it competes alongside Division I and II members, as the NCAA sponsors a single championship event open to members of all NCAA divisions. As the name implies, full members are located in the state of Wisconsin. There are 13 associate members, two from Wisconsin and 11 from various states. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System.
Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (1926–1951)
Wisconsin State College Conference (1951–1964)
Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference (1964–1997)
| |
| Formerly | Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin (1913–1926) Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (1926–1951) Wisconsin State College Conference (1951–1964) Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference (1964–1997) |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Founded | 1913 |
| Commissioner | Danielle Harris (since July 2020) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Region | Wisconsin |
| Website | wiacsports.com |
| Locations | |
 | |
History
In 1913, representatives from Wisconsin's eight normal schools—Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Superior), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-River Falls), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) and Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville)—met in Madison to organize the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin. The Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic) joined in 1914, followed by Eau Claire State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) in 1917.[1]
The conference evolved with the growing educational mission of its member schools. It changed its name to the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference in 1926, and the Wisconsin State College Conference in 1951. Finally, in 1964, it became the Wisconsin State University Conference.
In 1971, the member schools of the WSUC joined with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Wisconsin–Parkside and Carthage College to form the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. By 1975, UW–Milwaukee, Carroll College, the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and Marquette University had also joined. With the dissolution of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women in 1982, the member schools joined their male counterparts in either the NCAA or NAIA. By 1993, the non-NCAA Division III members had all dropped out, resulting in the WWIAC having the same membership as the WSUC. Under the circumstances, a merger was inevitable. In 1996, Gary Karner was named commissioner of both the WSUC and the WWIAC. The two conferences formally merged in 1997 to form the current WIAC.[1]
Effective with the 2001–02 academic year, Lawrence University joined the conference in the sport of wrestling. Three Minnesota schools, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University, became members of the conference in the sport of women's gymnastics during the 2004–05 academic year. In 2009–10, the conference added men’s soccer as a sponsored sport with the announcement of Michigan school Finlandia University as an affiliate member. Lawrence discontinued its affiliation with the WIAC in wrestling.[1]
The conference remained unusually stable over the years; the only changes in full membership being the departures of UW–Milwaukee in 1964 and UW–Superior in 2015.
Centennial celebration
The ninth-oldest conference in the nation, the WIAC celebrated its centennial year during the 2012–13 academic year.[2] Additionally, the WIAC is the most successful NCAA Division III conference in history, boasting NCAA National Championships in 14 different sports.[3] At the beginning of the 2011–12 academic year, the conference had claimed a nation-leading 92 NCAA National Championships.[4]
To celebrate its centennial, the conference named All-Time Teams in each sport that is currently or was previously recognized as a "championship" sport within the conference.[5] Furthermore, the WIAC commissioned a commemorative work of art, created by Tim Cortes,[6] and has also created a two-year calendar in celebration of its centennial.[7]
The celebration was headlined by its Centennial Banquet held on August 4, 2012, at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Among the honorees at the event were the All-Time Team members and the inaugural class to the WIAC Hall of Fame.
Chronological timeline
- 1913 – The WIAC was founded as the Inter-Normal Athletic Conference of Wisconsin (INACW). Charter members included La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh), Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–River Falls), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Superior) and Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater), beginning the 1913–14 academic year.
- 1914 – Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic) joined the INACW in the 1914–15 academic year.
- 1917 – Eau Claire State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire) joined the INACW in the 1917–18 academic year.
- 1926 – The INACW was rebranded as the Wisconsin State Teachers College Conference (WSTCC), beginning the 1926–27 academic year.
- 1951 – The WSTCC was rebranded as the Wisconsin State College Conference (WSCC), beginning the 1951–52 academic year.
- 1964:
- Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW Milwaukee) left the WSTCC to become an NCAA College Division Independent after the 1963–64 academic year.
- The WSCC was rebranded as the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC), beginning the 1964–65 academic year.
- The WSCC was also affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), beginning the 1964–65 academic year.
- 1993 – The WSUC left the NAIA and became affiliated as a member of the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), beginning the 1993–94 academic year.
- 1997 – The WSUC was merged with the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC, a women's athletic conference) and was rebranded as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), beginning the 1997–98 academic year.
- 2001 – Lawrence University joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 2001–02 academic year; although it began competition a season later.
- 2004 – Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University joined the WIAC as affiliate members for women's gymnastics in the 2004–05 academic year.
- 2009:
- Lawrence left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's wrestling after the 2008–09 academic year.
- Finlandia University joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer in the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
- 2014 – Men's soccer was dropped as a conference sport after the fall 2014 season (2014–15 academic year).
- 2015:
- Finlandia left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer when the WIAC dropped that sport.
- Wisconsin–Superior (UW Superior) left the WIAC to join the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) after the 2014–15 academic year; while remaining in the conference as an affiliate member for men's & women's ice hockey, beginning the 2015–16 school year.
- 2017 – The Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech or IIT) joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball in the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
- 2018:
- Illinois Tech (IIT) left the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball after the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
- Finlandia rejoined the WIAC as an affiliate member (this time for baseball) in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year).
- 2019 – Northland College joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's ice hockey in the 2019–20 academic year.
- 2023:
- Finlandia left the WIAC as an affiliate member for baseball after the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year); as the school ceased operations.
- Three institutions joined the WIAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year):
- Colorado College and Southwestern University of Texas for women's lacrosse
- and Rutgers University–Camden, Ramapo College, the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) for men's tennis
- 2024:
- Ramapo left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's tennis after the 2024 spring season (2023–24 academic year).
- Men's soccer was reinstated as a conference sport effective with the 2024 fall season.
- Augsburg University and College of Saint Benedict (with Hamline alongside) joined the WIAC as affiliate members for women's lacrosse in the 2025 spring season (2024–25 academic year).
- 2025:
- Northland (WI) left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's ice hockey after the 2024–25 academic year, as the school announced its closure.
- Beloit College joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's ice hockey in the 2025–26 academic year.
- 2026:
- SUNY Oneonta left the WIAC as an affiliate member for men's tennis to join the Empire 8 at the end of the 2026 spring season (2025–26 academic year).
- Greenville University joined the WIAC as an affiliate member for women's gymnastics, beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.
- UW Superior added women's lacrosse to its affiliate membership, beginning in the 2027 spring season (2026–27 academic year).
Member schools
Current members
The WIAC currently has eight full members; all are public schools and part of the University of Wisconsin System:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[b] | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UW–Eau Claire) |
Eau Claire | 1916 | Public | 10,043[8] | Blugolds | 1917 | |
| University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (UW–La Crosse) |
La Crosse | 1909 | Public | 9,708[8] | Eagles | 1913 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh (UW–Oshkosh) |
Oshkosh | 1871 | Public | 15,111[8] | Titans | 1913 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Platteville (UW–Platteville) |
Platteville | 1866 | Public | 8,134[8] | Pioneers | 1913 | |
| University of Wisconsin–River Falls (UW–River Falls) |
River Falls | 1874 | Public | 5,725[8] | Falcons | 1913 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UW–Stevens Point) |
Stevens Point | 1894 | Public | 8,792[8] | Pointers | 1913 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic (UW–Stout Polytechnic) |
Menomonie | 1891 | Public | 7,555[8] | Blue Devils | 1914 | |
| University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (UW–Whitewater) |
Whitewater | 1868 | Public | 11,722[8] | Warhawks | 1913 |
- Notes
Affiliate members
The WIAC currently has thirteen affiliate members, all but five are private schools:
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Part of the University of Wisconsin System.
- Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
Former members
The WIAC had two former full members, both were public schools:
| Institution | Location[a] | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[b] | Left[c] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee[d] (UW–Milwaukee) |
Milwaukee | 1885 | Public[e] | 22,767[8] | Cardinals[f] | 1913 | 1964 | Horizon[g] |
| University of Wisconsin–Superior (UW–Superior) |
Superior | 1893 | Public[e] | 2,294[8] | Yellowjackets | 1913 | 2015 | Upper Midwest (UMAC) |
- Notes
- Both cities are located within the State of Wisconsin.
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- Now known for athletics purposes as "Milwaukee".
- Part of the University of Wisconsin System.
- Nickname changed to the current "Panthers" name, effective in the 1964–65 school year, immediately after leaving the league.
- Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
Former affiliate members
The WIAC had five former affiliate members, all but one were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | WIAC sport(s) |
Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finlandia University | Hancock, Michigan | 1896 | Lutheran ELCA | 500 | Lions | 2009 | 2015 | Men's soccer | Closed in 2023 |
| 2018 | 2023 | Baseball | |||||||
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Chicago, Illinois | 1890 | Nonsectarian | 2,977 | Scarlet Hawks | 2017 | 2018 | Baseball | Northern (NACC) |
| Lawrence University | Appleton, Wisconsin | 1847 | Nonsectarian | 1,555 | Vikings | 2002 | 2009 | Men's wrestling | Midwest (MWC) |
| Northland College | Ashland, Wisconsin | 1906 | United Church of Christ |
700 | LumberJacks & LumberJills |
2019 | 2025 | Men's ice hockey | Closed in 2025 |
| 2019 | 2025 | Women's ice hockey | |||||||
| State University of New York at Oneonta | Oneonta, New York | 1889 | Public[c] | 6,543 | Red Dragons | 2023 | 2026 | Men's tennis | S.U. New York (SUNYAC) |
| Ramapo College | Mahwah, New Jersey | 1969 | Public | 5,145 | Roadrunners | 2023 | 2024 | Men's tennis | New Jersey (NJAC) |
- Notes
- Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- Part of the State University of New York System.
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
Sports
Member institutions field men's and women's teams in cross country, basketball, ice hockey, soccer, track and field, and swimming and diving. Men's teams are fielded for baseball, football, and wrestling. Women's teams are fielded for golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, softball, tennis and volleyball.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  | |
| Basketball | | |
| Cross country | | |
| Football | | |
| Golf | | |
| Gymnastics | | |
| Ice hockey | | |
| Lacrosse | | |
| Soccer | | |
| Softball | | |
| Swimming & diving | | |
| Tennis | | |
| Track and field (indoor) | | |
| Track and field (outdoor) | | |
| Volleyball | | |
| Wrestling | |
Men's sponsored sports by school
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Football | Ice hockey | Soccer | Swimming & diving | Tennis | Track & field (indoor) | Track & field (outdoor) | Wrestling | Total WIAC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin–Eau Claire | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Wisconsin–La Crosse | | | | |  | | | | | | | 9 |
| Wisconsin–Oshkosh | | | | | | [a] | | | | | | 8 |
| Wisconsin–Platteville | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Wisconsin–River Falls | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| Wisconsin–Stevens Point | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Wisconsin–Whitewater | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 |
| Totals | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4+1[b] | 6 | 5 | 4+2[c] | 8 | 8 | 6 | 77 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the WIAC
| School | Golf | Volleyball |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Ind. | No |
| Wisconsin–Stevens Point | Ind. | Ind. |
| Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic | Ind. | No |
Women's sponsored sports by school
| School | Basketball | Cross country | Golf | Gymnastics[a] | Ice hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & diving | Tennis | Track & field (indoor) | Track & field (outdoor) | Volleyball | Total WIAC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin–Eau Claire | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| Wisconsin–La Crosse | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| Wisconsin–Oshkosh | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Wisconsin–Platteville | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Wisconsin–River Falls | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Wisconsin–Stevens Point | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 |
| Wisconsin–Stout Polytechnic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Wisconsin–Whitewater | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| Totals | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5+5[b] | 3+1[c] | 5+6[d] | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 89+10 |
- De facto Division I sport; the NCAA women's gymnastics championship is open to members of all NCAA divisions.
- Affiliate members Greenville,. Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Simpson, and Winona State.
- Affiliate member Wisconsin–Superior.
- Affiliate members Augsburg, Colorado College, Hamline, Saint Benedict, Southwestern (TX), and UW Superior.
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the WIAC
- De facto Division I sport. The NCAA championship is open to members of all NCAA divisions through the 2026–27 season. Its status with respect to Division III is not expected to be affected by the establishment of a dedicated Division II championship in 2027–28.
- Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
- De facto Division I sport through the 2026–27 season. A dedicated Division III championship will be established in 2027–28.
National championship teams
NCAA Division III national championships
Listed below are the NCAA Division III team national championships won by WIAC members.
- Baseball
UW–Oshkosh: 1985, 1994
UW–Whitewater: 2005, 2014, 2025
- Men's basketball
UW–Whitewater: 1984, 1989, 2012, 2014
UW–Platteville: 1991, 1995, 1998, 1999
UW–Stevens Point: 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015
UW–Oshkosh: 2019
- Women's Basketball
UW–Stevens Point: 1987, 2002
UW–Oshkosh: 1996
- Men's Cross Country
UW–Oshkosh: 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002
UW–La Crosse: 1996, 2001, 2005, 2024, 2025
UW–Eau Claire: 2015
- Women's Cross Country
UW–La Crosse: 1983
UW–Oshkosh: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1996
UW–Eau Claire: 2009
- Football
UW–La Crosse: 1992, 1995
UW–River Falls: 2025
UW–Whitewater: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
- Men's Golf
UW–Eau Claire: 2001
- Men's Ice Hockey
UW–River Falls: 1988, 1994
UW–Stevens Point: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2016, 2019
UW–Superior: 2002
UW–Eau Claire: 2013
- Softball
UW–Stevens Point: 1998
UW–Eau Claire: 2008
- Women's Ice Hockey
UW-River Falls: 2024, 2025, 2026
- Men's Indoor Track & Field
UW–La Crosse: 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025
UW–Oshkosh: 2009
UW–Eau Claire: 2015, 2016, 2022
- Men's Outdoor Track & Field
UW–La Crosse: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025, 2026
UW–Oshkosh: 2009
UW–Eau Claire: 2019, 2022
- Women's Indoor Track & Field
UW–Oshkosh: 1994–96, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014
UW–La Crosse: 2015, 2023
- Women's Outdoor Track & Field
UW–La Crosse: 1983, 1984, 2015, 2023, 2026
UW–Oshkosh: 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011
UW–River Falls: 2008
- Women's Volleyball
UW–Whitewater: 2002, 2005
UW–Eau Claire: 2021
UW-Oshkosh: 2025
Non-NCAA national championships
Many members of the WIAC have also won national championships from organizations other than the NCAA, including: NAIA, AIAW, NGCA, and National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA).[11]
UW–Eau Claire
Women's Cross Country: 1984^
Men's Ice Hockey: 1984^
Women's Swimming and Diving: 1983^, 1987^, 1988^
UW–La Crosse
Women's Basketball: 1981^^
Men's Bowling: 1967^, 1968^, 1969^
Football: 1985^
Men's Gymnastics: 1975^, 1976^, 1977^
Women's Gymnastics: 1986*, 1988*, 1995*, 1997*, 1999*, 2001*, 2002*, 2003*, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*, 2008*, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2015*, 2016*, 2025*
Women's Outdoor Track and Field: 1982^^
UW–Oshkosh
Men's Gymnastics: 1973^, 1974^, 1978^, 1979^, 1980^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1981^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1982^ (and NCAA Div. II), 1983^
Women's Gymnastics: 1980^^, 1986^, 1989*, 2007*, 2022*, 2023*, 2024*, 2026*
UW–River Falls
Men's Ice Hockey: 1983^
UW–Stout Polytechnic
Men's Gymnastics: 1984^
UW–Whitewater
Women's Golf: 1985%
Women's Gymnastics: 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2017*, 2018*
UW–Superior (former member)
Men's Ice Hockey: 1976^
Marquette University (former member)
Women's Cross Country: 1982^
UW–Green Bay (former member)
Women's Swimming and Diving: 1984^
UW–Parkside (former member)
Women's Cross Country: 1980^
^ National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
^^ Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW)
* National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA)
% National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA)
Conference facilities
| School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UW–Eau Claire | Carson Park | 6,500 | Sonnentag Event Center | 5,000 |
| UW–La Crosse | Veterans Memorial Stadium | 10,000 | Mitchell Hall | 2,880 |
| UW–Oshkosh | Titan Stadium | 9,800 | Kolf Sports Center | 5,800 |
| UW–Platteville | Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium | 10,000 | Williams Fieldhouse | 2,300 |
| UW–River Falls | Ramer Field | 4,800 | Don Page Arena | 2,149 |
| UW–Stevens Point | Goerke Field | 4,000 | Quandt Fieldhouse | 3,281 |
| UW–Stout Polytechnic | Don and Nona Williams Stadium | 4,500 | Johnson Fieldhouse | 1,800 |
| UW–Whitewater | Forrest Perkins Stadium | 21,000[12] | Williams Center | 3,000 |
