River States Conference
The River States Conference (RSC), formerly known as Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), is a collegiate athletic conference with membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Although it was historically a Kentucky-only conference, it has now expanded to include members in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and at various times in the past has also had members in Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia.
River States Conference | |
---|---|
RSC | |
Established | 1916 |
Association | NAIA |
Division | Division I Division II |
Members | 12 (13 in 2020) |
Sports fielded |
|
Region | Eastern |
Headquarters | Middletown, Ohio |
Commissioner | Michael Schell (since March 15, 2018) |
Website | www |
Locations | |
In March 2016, the KIAC announced it would change its name to the River States Conference, effective July 1, 2016, to better reflect its membership, which has expanded beyond Kentucky and now includes members in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.[1]
Member schools
Current members
- Alice Lloyd left the KIAC in 1992 and rejoined in 2005.
- Midway was a women's college until 2016.[2] The school began sponsoring men's sports in 2017.
- Rio Grande left the KIAC in 1971 and rejoined in 2014.
Future members
Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oakland City University | Oakland City, Indiana | 1885 | Private (Baptist) | 2,350 | Mighty Oaks | 2020[3][lower-alpha 1] |
- Oakland City had been a member from 1968 to 1975, during the conference's KIAC era.
Former members
School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year each institution was a conference member.
- Known as Bellarmine University since 2000.
- Bellarmine will join the NCAA Division I ASUN Conference in 2020.
- Known as Bethel University since 2009.
- Known as Campbellsville University since 1996.
- Known as University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA–Wise) since 1999.
- UVA–Wise dropped "Highland" from its nickname in 2017.
- Closed at the end of the Fall 2019 semester.
- Known as University of the Cumberlands since 2005.
- Cumberlands changed its nickname to Patriots in 2002.
- Renamed Eastern Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Eastern Kentucky University since 1966.
- Kentucky Wesleyan moved to its current campus in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1956.
- Renamed Morehead State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Morehead State University since 1966.
- Mountain State competed as an independent in men's basketball during its tenure in the conference.
- Renamed Murray State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Murray State University since 1966.
- Known as Oakland City University since 1995.
- Rejoining the RSC in July 2020.
- Known as Thomas More University since 2018.
- Renamed Western Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Western Kentucky University since 1966.
Conference sports
The River States Conference currently fields 17 sports (8 men's and 9 women's):
Sport | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Cross Country | ||
Golf | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Tennis | ||
Track & Field Indoor | ||
Track & Field Outdoor | ||
Volleyball |
References
- "KIAC announces River States Conference as new name, unveils new logo". March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- "Midway University Trustees vote to accept men into its daytime undergraduate programs" (Press release). Midway University. May 16, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- VSN Staff (March 31, 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved March 31, 2020.