Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
Encyclopedia
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is a college-level athletic
conference. The UMAC is a member-conference of the NCAA
Division III. The UMAC was formerly affiliated with the NAIA
. Corey Borchardt is the current commissioner of the UMAC, and was appointed to the position in 2008. The UMAC was started in 1972 as the Twin Rivers Conference, and assumed its current name in 1983. Member institutions are located in Minnesota
, South Dakota
and Wisconsin
.
The UMAC sponsors intercollegiate competition in men's baseball
, men's and women's basketball
, men's and women's cross country
, men's football
, men's and women's golf
, men's and women's soccer, women's softball
, men's and women's tennis
, men's and women's track and field
, and women's volleyball
.
In 2008, North Central University
located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
became an associate member of the UMAC in five sports: men's & women's cross country, men's golf, and men's & women's tennis. Eureka College
, Greenville College
, MacMurray College
and Westminster College became associate members of the UMAC in football in 2009.
. Two member schools sponsor men's hockey as a varsity sport. Northland is a member of Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association
and St. Scholastica is a member of Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
conference. The UMAC is a member-conference of 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...
Division III. The UMAC was formerly affiliated with the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
. Corey Borchardt is the current commissioner of the UMAC, and was appointed to the position in 2008. The UMAC was started in 1972 as the Twin Rivers Conference, and assumed its current name in 1983. Member institutions are located in 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...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and 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...
.
The UMAC sponsors intercollegiate competition in men's 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...
, men's and women's 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...
, men's and women's 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...
, men's 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...
, men's and women's 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....
, men's and women's soccer, women's 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...
, men's and women's 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...
, men's and women's 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...
, and women's 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...
.
In 2008, North Central University
North Central University
North Central University is a coeducational, undergraduate, primarily residential college owned and operated by 11 Assemblies of God districts of the upper Midwest. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA...
located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
became an associate member of the UMAC in five sports: men's & women's cross country, men's golf, and men's & women's tennis. Eureka College
Eureka College
Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership...
, Greenville College
Greenville College
Greenville College is located in Greenville, Illinois, a small Illinois city, located 45 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri on Interstate 70...
, MacMurray College
MacMurray College
MacMurray College is a career-directed liberal arts college located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Its enrollment in fall 2011 was 548. It is from Springfield and from Chicago....
and Westminster College became associate members of the UMAC in football in 2009.
Member institutions
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Varsity Teams | Joined UMAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Lutheran College is a private residential liberal arts college founded in 1927. BLC is a Christian coeducational college operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod... |
Vikings | Mankato, Minnesota Mankato, Minnesota Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located... |
1927 | Private/Lutheran (ELS) | 550 | 10 | 2004 |
| Crown College Crown College (Minnesota) Crown College is a private Christian college in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, an exurb of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. It is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and... |
Storm | St. Bonifacius, Minnesota St. Bonifacius, Minnesota St. Bonifacius is a settlement in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It is centered around Minnesota State Highway 7 and County Road 92, and located about 25 miles west of Minneapolis. It is part of the Waconia School District. The population was 2,283 at the 2010 census. Crown College is also located in... |
1916 | Private/Christian and Missionary Alliance | 1,300 | 11 | 1994 |
| Martin Luther College Martin Luther College This article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod... |
Knights | New Ulm, Minnesota New Ulm, Minnesota New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,522 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brown County.... |
1995 | Private/Lutheran (WELS) | 800 | 15 | 1995 |
| University of Minnesota Morris | Cougars | Morris, Minnesota Morris, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 5,068 people, 1,929 households, and 985 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,183.2 people per square mile . There were 2,067 housing units at an average density of 482.6 per square mile... |
1960 | Public | 1,900 | 16 | 2003 |
| Northland College Northland College (Wisconsin) Northland College is a small, coeducational, liberal arts college in Ashland, Wisconsin, USA. Founded as the North Wisconsin Academy in 1892, the college was established in 1906. Originally affiliated with the Congregational Church, the college remains loosely tied to the Congregational Church's... |
LumberJacks LumberJills |
Ashland, Wisconsin Ashland, Wisconsin Ashland is a city in Ashland and Bayfield counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The city is a port on Lake Superior, near the head of Chequamegon Bay. The population was 8,695 at the 2010 census.... |
1906 | Private/United Church of Christ |
700 | 12 | 1998 |
| Northwestern College Northwestern College (Minnesota) Northwestern College is a private Christian college located in Roseville, Minnesota, and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1902 as Northwestern Bible and Missionary Training School by Dr... |
Eagles | Roseville, Minnesota Roseville, Minnesota As of the census of 2000, there were 33,690 people, 14,598 households, and 8,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,543.9 people per square mile . There were 14,917 housing units at an average density of 1,126.4 per square mile... |
1902 | Private/ Non-denominational |
2,944 | 16 | 1972 |
| Presentation College | Saints | Aberdeen, South Dakota Aberdeen, South Dakota Aberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper... |
1951 | Private/Catholic | 770 | 11 | 2002 |
| College of St. Scholastica The College of St. Scholastica The College of Saint Scholastica is a private college with its main campus located in Duluth, Minnesota. The College was founded in 1912 by a group of pioneering Benedictine Sisters who offered college courses to six young women. Today St. Scholastica educates more than 4,000 students annually and... |
Saints | Duluth, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1912 | Private/Catholic | 3,309 | 16 | 1995 |
Associate members
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Varsity Teams | Joined UMAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central University North Central University North Central University is a coeducational, undergraduate, primarily residential college owned and operated by 11 Assemblies of God districts of the upper Midwest. It is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA... |
Rams Lady Rams |
Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States... |
1930 | Private/Assemblies of God | 1200 | 14 | 2008 |
| Eureka College Eureka College Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership... |
Red Devils | Eureka, Illinois Eureka, Illinois Eureka is a city in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,295 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Woodford County. The city was founded in the year 1855. Eureka is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.... |
1855 | Private/Christian Church | 680 | 16 | 2009 |
| Greenville College Greenville College Greenville College is located in Greenville, Illinois, a small Illinois city, located 45 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri on Interstate 70... |
Panthers | Greenville, Illinois Greenville, Illinois Greenville is a city in Bond County, Illinois, United States, east of St. Louis. The estimated population as of July 2009 is 7,284. The population was 6,955 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bond County.... |
1892 | Private/Free Methodist | 1,200 | 14 | 2009 |
| MacMurray College MacMurray College MacMurray College is a career-directed liberal arts college located in Jacksonville, Illinois. Its enrollment in fall 2011 was 548. It is from Springfield and from Chicago.... |
Highlanders | Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville, Illinois Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County.... |
1846 | Private | 683 | 10 | 2009 |
| Westminster College | Blue Jays | Fulton, Missouri Fulton, Missouri Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County... |
1851 | Private/Presbyterian | 1,050 | 8 | 2009 |
Conference facilities
| School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethany Lutheran | Non-football school | N/A | Sports and Fitness Center | 800 |
| Crown | Storm Field | 1,400 | Wild Athletic Center | 700 |
| Martin Luther | MLC Bowl | 2,200 | Luther Student Center | 700 |
| Minnesota-Morris | Big Cat Stadium | 3,500 | UMM P.E. Center | 4,000 |
| Northland | Non-football school | N/A | Kendrigan Gymnasium | 1,000 |
| Northwestern | Reynolds Field Reynolds Field (Northwestern) Reynolds Field is a 1,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Roseville, Minnesota. It is home to the Northwestern College Eagles. The facility was dedicated in honor of long-time coach “Chub” Reynolds in September of 1990.-External links:*... |
1,500 | Ericksen Center | 1,500 |
| Presentation | Swisher Field | 6,000 | Strode Center | 1,500 |
| St. Scholastica | Duluth Public Schools Stadium and Griggs Field |
TBA 4,000 |
Reif Gymnasium | 1,600 |
| North Central | Non-football school | N/A | Clark-Danielson Gymnasium | NA |
| Eureka | McKinzie Stadium | 2,500 | ||
| Greenville | Francis Stadium Francis Field (Greenville) Francis Field is a 2,000-seat football stadium in Greenville, Illinois. It is home to the Greenville College Panthers football team. The facility opened in 1987.-External links:*... |
2,000 | ||
| MacMurray | Freesen Field | 3,000 | ||
| Westminster | Priest Field | 1,000 |
Full members
- Concordia University, Saint PaulConcordia University, Saint PaulConcordia University is a liberal arts university located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Concordia University was founded in 1893 and currently enrolls approximately 2,800 students...
, joined NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceThe Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the Midwestern United States. Nine of its members are in Minnesota, with two members in South Dakota and one member each in the states of Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota. It participates in the NCAA's...
in 1999 - Dr. Martin Luther CollegeMartin Luther CollegeThis article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
, incorporated into Martin Luther College in 1995 - Loras CollegeLoras CollegeLoras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
, joined NCAA Division III and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceIowa Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceThe Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is an College Athletic Conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Iowa.-History:...
in 1986 - Mount Senario CollegeMount Senario CollegeMount Senario College was a private non-profit college located in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, in the Diocese of Superior.-Early history:...
, from 1972 until school disbanded athletics in December 2001; closed August 31, 2002 - Northwestern College (Wisconsin)Martin Luther CollegeThis article deals with the WELS-affiliated tertiary institution in Minnesota. See Luther College for the ELCA institution in Iowa.Martin Luther College is the college of ministry operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod...
, incorporated into Martin Luther College in 1995 - Pillsbury Baptist Bible CollegePillsbury Baptist Bible CollegePillsbury Baptist Bible College was an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Christian college in Owatonna, Minnesota, founded in 1957....
, (?–1988), member of the National Christian College Athletic AssociationNational Christian College Athletic AssociationThe National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
(NCCAA) - Trinity Bible CollegeTrinity Bible CollegeTrinity Bible College is a private college in Ellendale, North Dakota, affiliated with the Assemblies of God USA. The school was first founded in Devils Lake in 1948, but after several moves, settled in Ellendale in 1972 where it assumed ownership of the former campus of the North Dakota State...
, (football only, 1997?–2007), member of the National Christian College Athletic AssociationNational Christian College Athletic AssociationThe National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
(NCCAA) - Viterbo UniversityViterbo UniversityViterbo University is a Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States in the Diocese of La Crosse.-History:...
Associate members
- Blackburn College, (football only, 2002?–2007)
- Maranatha Baptist Bible CollegeMaranatha Baptist Bible CollegeMaranatha Baptist Bible College and Seminary is a Baptist college in Watertown, Wisconsin, offering a wide range of undergraduate degrees, including Bible, business management, accounting, office management, sport management, elementary and secondary teacher education, nursing, humanities, English,...
, (football only, to 2007) - Principia CollegeThe PrincipiaThe Principia is an educational institution for Christian Scientists located on two campuses in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Principia School, located in West St. Louis County, serves students from early childhood through high school...
, (football only, 2002?–2007) - Rockford CollegeRockford CollegeRockford College is a private American liberal arts college in Rockford, Illinois. It was founded in 1847 as Rockford Female Seminary and changed its name in 1892. The college is known as the alma mater of Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who was a member of the class of...
, (football only, 2002?–2007) - Westminster CollegeWestminster College, MissouriWestminster College is a private, selective, liberal arts institution in Fulton, Missouri, USA. It was founded by Presbyterians in 1849 as Fulton College and assumed the present name in 1851. The are located on the campus. The National Churchill Museum is a national historic site and includes...
, (football only, 2002?–2007)
Football champions
| Year | Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1975 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1976 | Concordia-Saint Paul Loras Maranatha Baptist Bible College Northwestern College (MN) Northwestern (WI) |
| 1977 | Concordia-Saint Paul Dr. Martin Luther College |
| 1978 | Northwestern College (WI) |
| 1979 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1980 | Mount Senario |
| 1981 | Concordia-Saint Paul Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1982 | Concordia-Saint Paul Mount Senario Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1983 | Mount Senario Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1984 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1985 | Mount Senario |
| 1986 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1987 | Mount Senario |
| 1988 | Concordia-Saint Paul |
| 1989 | Mount Senario |
| 1990 | Maranatha Baptist Bible College Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1991 | Concordia-Saint Paul |
| 1992 | Mount Senario |
| 1993 | Mount Senario |
| 1994 | Mount Senario |
| 1995 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 1996 | Maranatha Baptist Bible College Martin Luther College |
| 1997 | Mount Senario |
| 1998 | Maranatha Baptist Martin Luther College Mount Senario |
| 1999 | Mount Senario |
| 2000 | Mount Senario |
| 2001 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 2002 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 2003 | Westminster College |
| 2004 | Westminster College |
| 2005 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 2006 | University of Minnesota-Morris |
| 2007 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 2008 | Northwestern College (MN) |
| 2009 | North Division: Martin Luther College South Division: Greenville College |
| 2010 | Greenville College |
| 2011 | St. Scholastica |
Ice hockey affiliations
The UMAC does not sponsor ice hockeyIce 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...
. Two member schools sponsor men's hockey as a varsity sport. Northland is a member of Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference...
and St. Scholastica is a member of Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin in the midwestern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division III as a hockey-only conference....
.