Great Plains Athletic Conference
FormerlyNebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1969–1992)
Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (1992–2000)
AssociationNAIA
Founded1969
CommissionerCorey Westra (since 2003)
Sports fielded
  • 21
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 10
No. of teams12
HeadquartersSioux City, Iowa
RegionMidwestern United States
Official websitewww.gpacsports.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Member institutions are located in Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The conference was founded in 1969 as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC), later becoming the Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference (1992) before being renamed the Great Plains Athletic Conference (2000).

History

Great Plains Athletic Conference
Location of GPAC members: current, affiliate, departing

The Great Plains Athletic Conference was founded on September 22, 1969, as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC).[1] The first president of the conference was Art Nicolia (NWU) while Glen Hinkle (Doane) was the vice president and Roger Olsen (Dana) was the secretary/treasure. Jack Anderson (NWU) was named the first publicist on February 28, 1970.[2] The six charter members were Concordia University, Dana College, Doane University, Hastings College, Midland University, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.[3] With the addition of Northwestern College in 1992, the NIAC was renamed the Nebraska–Iowa Athletic Conference. The NIAC became the Great Plains Athletic Conference in 2000 with the addition of Dakota Wesleyan University, Dordt University, Mount Marty University, and the University of Sioux Falls. Later, Briar Cliff University and Morningside University joined the GPAC in 2002 and 2003 respectively. The College of Saint Mary, a women's only institution, joined in 2015. In 2018, University of Jamestown joined the conference as a full-member, while Presentation College joined the conference as an associate member. All former members of the NIAC remain affiliated with the GPAC except for Dana College, which closed in 2010, the University of Sioux Falls, which left the conference in 2011, and Nebraska Wesleyan University, which left the conference in 2016. Paul Clark was the commissioner of the GPAC when it formed in 2000. Corey Westra in Sioux City, Iowa, is the current commissioner of the league.[4]

On January 17, 2023, Presentation will end its affiliate status with the GPAC as it announced that it will close, effective that spring.[5]

Chronological timeline

  • 1969 – On September 22, 1969, the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) was founded as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC). Charter members included Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University of Nebraska), Dana College, Doane College (now Doane University), Hastings College, Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) and Nebraska Wesleyan University, beginning the 1969–70 academic year.
  • 1992 – Northwestern College of Iowa joined the NIAC. Therefore, the NIAC has been rebranded as the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference (NIAC), beginning the 1992–93 academic year.
  • 2000 – Dakota Wesleyan University, Dordt College (now Dordt University), Mount Marty College (now Mount Marty University) and the University of Sioux Falls joined the NIAC. Therefore, the NIAC has been rebranded as the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), beginning the 2000–01 academic year.
  • 2002 – Briar Cliff College (now Briar Cliff University) joined the GPAC in the 2002–03 academic year.
  • 2003 – Morningside College (now Morningside University) joined the GPAC in the 2003–04 academic year.
  • 2010 – Dana left the GPAC as the school announced that it would close after the 2009–10 academic year.
  • 2011 – Sioux Falls left the GPAC and the NAIA for the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-II Independent (which would later join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), beginning the 2012–13 academic year) after the 2010–11 academic year.
  • 2015 – The College of Saint Mary joined the GPAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2016 – Nebraska Wesleyan left the GPAC and the NAIA to fully align in the NCAA Division III ranks (during that time, they held dual membership with both the NAIA and the NCAA), primarily competing as a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC; now known as the American Rivers Conference) after the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2018 – The University of Jamestown joined the GPAC effective in the 2018–19 academic year.
  • 2018 – Presentation College joined the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's soccer in the 2018 fall season (2018–19 academic year).
  • 2020 – Central Christian College of Kansas and Ottawa University joined the GPAC as affiliate members for men's volleyball in the 2021 fall season (2020–21 academic year).
  • 2021 – Kansas Wesleyan University joined the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's volleyball in the 2022 fall season (2021–22 academic year).
  • 2023 - Presentation left the GPAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's soccer as the school announced that it would close after the 2022-23 academic year.
  • 2023 - Waldorf University joined the GPAC as an affiliate member in both men's and women's soccer effective the 2023-24 academic year.
  • 2023 - Waldorf will join the GPAC as a full member effective the 2024-25 academic year.[6]
  • 2023 - On October 10, GPAC presidents voted to remove Jamestown (who is pursuing a move to NCAA Division II) from the GPAC at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.[7]

Member schools

Current members

The GPAC currently has 12 full members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1]
Briar Cliff University Sioux City, Iowa 1930 Catholic
(Franciscan)
1,150 Chargers 2002
Concordia University, Nebraska Seward, Nebraska 1894 Lutheran LCMS 2,200 Bulldogs 1969
Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota 1885 United Methodist 895 Tigers 2000
Doane University Crete, Nebraska 1872 United Church of Christ 1,000 Tigers 1969
Dordt University Sioux Center, Iowa 1955 Christian Reformed 1,454 Defenders 2000
Hastings College Hastings, Nebraska 1882 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
1,150 Broncos 1969
University of Jamestown[lower-alpha 2] Jamestown, North Dakota 1883 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
1,000 Jimmies 2018
Midland University Fremont, Nebraska 1883 Lutheran ELCA 1,394 Warriors 1969
Morningside University Sioux City, Iowa 1894 United Methodist 2,824 Mustangs 2003
Mount Marty University Yankton, South Dakota 1936 Catholic
(Benedictines)
1,100 Lancers 2000
Northwestern College Orange City, Iowa 1882 Reformed 1,099 Red Raiders 1992
College of Saint Mary[lower-alpha 3] Omaha, Nebraska 1923 Catholic
(R.S.M.)
1,070 Flames 2015
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Jamestown has been removed from the GPAC after the 2023-24 academic year due to a pending move up to NCAA Division II. They will rejoin the North Star Athletic Association in the 2024-25 academic year[7][8]
  3. This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.

Future members

The GPAC will have one future full member, which is a private school:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining[lower-alpha 1] Colors Current
conference
Waldorf University[6][lower-alpha 2] Forest City, Iowa 1903 For-profit[lower-alpha 3] 720 Warriors 2024–25     North Star (NSAA)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Waldorf is already an affiliate member in both men's and women's soccer.
  3. Formerly affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) until 2010.

Associate members

The GPAC currently has four associate members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] GPAC
sport
Primary
conference
Central Christian College of Kansas McPherson, Kansas 1884 Free Methodist 1,013 Tigers 2020 men's volleyball Sooner (SAC)
Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Kansas 1886 United Methodist 1,000 Coyotes 2021 men's volleyball Kansas (KCAC)
Ottawa University[9] Ottawa, Kansas 1865 Baptist 726 Braves 2020 men's volleyball Kansas (KCAC)
Waldorf University[lower-alpha 2] Forest City, Iowa 1903 For-profit 720 Warriors 2023m.soc;
2023w.soc
men's soccer
women's soccer
North Star (NSAA)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Waldorf will become a full member of the GPAC effective the 2024-25 school year.[6]

Former members

The GPAC had three former full members, all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Left[lower-alpha 2] Subsequent
conference
Current
conference
Dana College Blair, Nebraska 1884 Lutheran ELCA N/A Vikings 1969 2010 Closed in 2010
Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, Nebraska 1887 United Methodist 1,600 Prairie Wolves 1969 2016[lower-alpha 3] American Rivers (ARC)[lower-alpha 4]
(2016–present)
University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1883 Baptist 1,628 Cougars 2000 2011 NAIA/D-II Independent
(2011–12)
Northern Sun (NSIC)[lower-alpha 5]
(2012–present)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Nebraska Wesleyan was also an NCAA D-III Independent from 1982–83 to 2015–16, therefore it help dual membership with the NAIA and the NCAA.
  4. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  5. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Former affiliate members

The GPAC has one former affiliate member:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Left[lower-alpha 2] GPAC
sport
Current
primary
conference
Conference
in former
NSAA sport
Presentation College Aberdeen, South Dakota 1922 Catholic
(P.B.V.M.)
Saints 2018 2023 M & W soccer N/A Closed in 2023

Membership timeline

Waldorf UniversityKansas Wesleyan UniversityOttawa UniversityCentral Christian College of KansasPresentation College, South DakotaNorth Star Athletic AssociationUniversity of JamestownCollege of Saint MaryMorningside UniversityBriar Cliff UniversityNorthern Sun Intercollegiate ConferenceNCAA Division II independent schoolsUniversity of Sioux FallsMount Marty UniversityDordt UniversityDakota Wesleyan UniversityNorthwestern College (Iowa)American Rivers ConferenceNebraska Wesleyan UniversityMidland UniversityHastings CollegeDoane UniversityDana CollegeConcordia University Nebraska

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport) 

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBase­ballBasket­ballCross CountryFootballGolfSoccerTennisTrack & Field
(indoor)
Track & Field
(outdoor)
Wrest­lingTotal
Briar CliffGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
Concordia-NebraskaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Dakota WesleyanGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
DoaneGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
DordtGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed X8
HastingsGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
JamestownGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
MidlandGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
MorningsideGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Mount MartyGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed X9
Northwestern CollegeGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Totals111111111111711119104

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasket­ballCheer and DanceCross CountryGolfSoccerSoftballTennisTrack & Field
(indoor)
Track & Field
(outdoor)
VolleyballTotal
Briar CliffGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
Concordia-NebraskaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Dakota WesleyanGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
DoaneGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
DordtGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
HastingsGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
JamestownGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick8
MidlandGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
MorningsideGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Mount MartyGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Northwestern CollegeGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
College of Saint MaryGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Totals1210121212128121212114

Notes

  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition end.

References

  1. "23 Sep 1969, Page 13 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. September 23, 1969. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  2. "1 Mar 1970, Page 22 – The Lincoln Star at". Newspapers.com. March 1, 1970. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  3. History of the GPAC
  4. About Commissioner Corey Westra
  5. Sand, Elisa (January 17, 2023). "Presentation College closing Aberdeen campus". Aberdeen News. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Waldorf University to Join Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Membership Statement from the Great Plains Athletic Conference". Great Plains Athletic Conference. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  8. "University of Jamestown (N.D.) returns to North Star Athletic Association". North Star Athletic Association. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  9. GPAC Announces Men's Volleyball as Conference Sport Ottawa to Join GPAC as an Affiliate Member
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