The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a college athletic conference that competes in the NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

's Division III. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

, although there are three associate members from Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

 and one from Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System

University of Wisconsin System

The University of Wisconsin System is a university system of public universities in the state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher education systems in the country, enrolling more than 182,000 students each year and employing more than 32,000 faculty and staff statewide...

.

History

In 1913, representatives from Wisconsin's eight normal school

Normal school

A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...

s--Superior Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Superior

University of Wisconsin-Superior

The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public university located in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees...

), River Falls State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-River Falls

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

The University of Wisconsin–River Falls is a liberal arts undergraduate and graduate university and a member of the University of Wisconsin System. UW–River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin on the famed trout fishing Kinnickinnic River. The campus consists of 32 major buildings, ten of...

), Stevens Point Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin...

), La Crosse State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse is a public university located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA...

), Oshkosh State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers both bachelor and master degrees...

), Whitewater Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater is part of the University of Wisconsin System, located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It became Wisconsin's second public college on April 21, 1868 when it opened its doors to 39 students taught by nine faculty members...

), Milwaukee State Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is Wisconsin's premier public urban university. It is a coed public research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States. It is also the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and a member of the University of Wisconsin System...

) and Platteville Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

University of Wisconsin–Platteville is a public university located in Platteville, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers both bachelor and master degrees...

--met in Madison to organize the Wisconsin State Normal Conference. Stout Institute (now the University of Wisconsin-Stout

University of Wisconsin-Stout

The University of Wisconsin–Stout is a member campus of the University of Wisconsin System. The school was founded in 1891 in Menomonie, Wisconsin and enrolls more than 9,300 students...

) joined in 1914, followed by Eau Claire Normal School (now the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire is a public liberal arts university located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has an annual enrollment of more than 10,000 students...

) in 1917.

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. The conference remained unusually stable over the years; the only change in membership being UW-Milwaukee's departure in 1964.

In 1971, the member schools of the WSUC joined with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Parkside

University of Wisconsin-Parkside

The University of Wisconsin–Parkside is a four-year public university located in Kenosha and Somers, Wisconsin, in the center of the Chicago-Milwaukee Conurbation, and just two miles from the Lake Michigan shoreline...

 and Carthage College

Carthage College

Carthage College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin midway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the campus is on the shore of Lake Michigan and is home to 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time...

 to form the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. By 1975, UW-Milwaukee, Carroll College

Carroll College

Carroll College can refer to:*Carroll College *Carroll University...

, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay is a public university located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers both bachelor and master degrees....

 and Marquette University

Marquette University

Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...

 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.

Member schools

Institution	Nickname	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Total Enrollment
Wisconsin–Eau Claire	Blugolds	Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire, Wisconsin Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...	1916	Public	11,140
Wisconsin–La Crosse	Eagles	La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...	1909	Public	9,880
Wisconsin–Oshkosh	Titans	Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wisconsin As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...	1871	Public	12,753
Wisconsin–Platteville	Pioneers	Platteville, Wisconsin Platteville, Wisconsin Platteville is the largest city in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin. The population was 11,224 at the 2010 census, growing 12% since the 2000 Census. Much of this growth is likely due to the enrollment increase of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville...	1866	Public	7,512
Wisconsin–River Falls	Falcons	River Falls, Wisconsin River Falls, Wisconsin River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in the Twin Cities Wisconsin suburbs, which is the eighth largest metropolitan area in the state...	1874	Public	6,555
Wisconsin–Stevens Point University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin...	Pointers	Stevens Point, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Wisconsin Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...	1894	Public	9,163
Wisconsin–Stout	Blue Devils	Menomonie, Wisconsin Menomonie, Wisconsin Two other spellings of the name appear elsewhere, see Menomonee and Menominee. For the town, see Menomonie .Menomonie is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County in the western part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city's population was 16,264 as of the 2010 census...	1891	Public	9,017
Wisconsin–Superior University of Wisconsin–Superior The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public university located in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees...	Yellowjackets	Superior, Wisconsin Superior, Wisconsin Superior is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2 and 53, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior.Superior is at the western...	1893	Public	2,689
Wisconsin–Whitewater	Warhawks	Whitewater, Wisconsin Whitewater, Wisconsin Whitewater is a city in Jefferson and Walworth Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.-Geography:...	1868	Public	10,962

Former members

Institution	Current Conference	Years
Wisconsin–Milwaukee	Horizon League Horizon League The Horizon League is a ten school, NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located in five of the Midwestern United States....	1913–1964

Additionally, Winona State University

Winona State University

Winona State University is a comprehensive public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States, a college and river town located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, with around 8,900 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students...

, Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...

 and Hamline University

Hamline University

-Red Wing location :Hamline was named in honor of Leonidas Lent Hamline, a bishop of the Methodist Church whose interest in the frontier led him to donate $25,000 toward the building of an institution of higher learning in what was then the territory of Minnesota. Today, a statue of Bishop Hamline...

 are gymnastics-only members. Finlandia University

Finlandia University

Finlandia University is a university in Hancock, Michigan, United States, and the only private university in the Upper Peninsula. Founded in 1896 as Suomi College, it is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.-History:...

 is an affilliate member for men's soccer.

Sports

Member teams field men's and women's teams in cross country

Cross country running

Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...

, basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

, track and field

Track and field

Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...

, swimming

Swimming (sport)

Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...

 and diving

Diving

Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...

, and soccer. Men's teams are fielded for baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

, football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

, ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 and wrestling

Collegiate wrestling

Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...

. Women's teams are fielded for golf

Golf

Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....

, gymnastics

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...

, softball

Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

, tennis

Tennis

Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...

 and volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

.

Conference facilities

School	Football stadium	Capacity	Basketball arena	Capacity
UW–Eau Claire	Carson Park	6,500	W. L. Zorn Arena W. L. Zorn Arena W. L. Zorn Arena, more commonly known as Zorn Arena, is an arena located on the campus of UW-Eau Claire in Eau Claire, WI. With a seating capacity of 3,500, the facility is home to the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Men's & Women's Basketball teams, UW-Eau Claire commencement ceremonies and other events ....	2,450
UW–La Crosse	Veterans Memorial Stadium Veterans Memorial Stadium (La Crosse) Veterans Memorial Stadium is a stadium in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It is primarily used for American football and track and field, and is the home field of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse "Eagles". Veterans Memorial Stadium seats around 6,200 in the main grandstand and upon completion of the...	10,000	Mitchell Hall	2,880
UW–Oshkosh	Titan Stadium	9,800	Kolf Sports Center Kolf Sports Center The Kolf Sports Center is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The sports center was named for Robert Kolf, who was the university's head track coach from 1931 to 1959.-History:...	5,800
UW–Platteville	Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium is a stadium in Platteville, Wisconsin. It is used for collegiate and high school American football and collegiate soccer, and is the home field of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville "Pioneers"....	10,000	Williams Fieldhouse Williams Fieldhouse Williams Fieldhouse is a 2,300-seat multi-purpose arena in Platteville, Wisconsin. It is home to the NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers basketball team....	2,300
UW–River Falls	Ramer Field Ramer Field Ramer Field is a stadium in River Falls, Wisconsin. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the University of Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons. It used to host the training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1991 to 2009. In addition Ramer Field is the home to the River...	4,800	Karges Center	2,000
UW–Stevens Point	Goerke Field Goerke Field Goerke Field is a stadium in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It is primarily used for American football and is the home to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers and the Stevens Point Area Senior High School Panthers. The stadium was outfitted with artificial turf in 2008 due to the...	4,000	Quandt Fieldhouse	3,281
UW–Stout	Don and Nona Williams Stadium Don and Nona Williams Stadium Don and Nona Williams Stadium is a football stadium located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The stadium is home to the UW–Stout Blue Devils, the Menomonie High School Indians, plus other high school games, as well as other sports at UW–Stout...	5,000	Johnson Fieldhouse	1,800
UW–Superior	Non-Football School	N/A	Mertz Morterelli Memorial Fieldhouse	2,500
UW–Whitewater	Forrest Perkins Stadium	13,200	Williams Center	3,000

External links