Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Explained

Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Founded:1983
Conference:Independent
Teams:10
Sports:basketball
Region:Upper Midwest
Commissioner:Dan Hovestol
Website:NIAC website

The Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is an independent college athletic conference. The NIAC is made up of ten schools in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba. The NIAC sponsors men's and women's basketball for member institutions.

The conference features five Christian colleges (Canadian Mennonite, Free Lutheran Bible, Oak Hills Christian, Providence and Trinity Bible) as well as four Native American schools: Leech Lake Tribal (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College (Three Affiliated Tribes), Sisseton Wahpeton College (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) and Turtle Mountain (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa).

History

Leech Lake Tribal and Red Lake Nation joined the NIAC in 2013.[1]

Canadian Mennonite[2] and Cankdeska Cikana were added to the league for the 2016–17 season.

Expansion for 2017-18 included Providence University College, Red River College and Sisseton Wahpeton College bringing the member total to ten.[3]

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College was admitted to the NIAC for the 2019–20 season.

Member schools

InstitutionLocationFoundedEnrollmentNickname
Canadian Mennonite UniversityWinnipeg, Manitoba19991,750Blazers
Free Lutheran Bible CollegePlymouth, Minnesota1966140Conquerors
Leech Lake Tribal CollegeCass Lake, Minnesota1990267Lakers
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish CollegeNew Town, North Dakota1973300Storm
Oak Hills Christian CollegeBemidji, Minnesota1927175Wolfpack
Providence University CollegeOtterburne, Manitoba1925464Pilots
Red River CollegeWinnipeg, Manitoba193832,000Rebels
Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeSisseton, South Dakota1979250Mustangs
Trinity Bible CollegeEllendale, North Dakota1948333Lions
Turtle Mountain Community CollegeBelcourt, North Dakota1972630Mighty Mikinocks

Former members

Champions

YearMen's ChampionScoreMen's Runner upHost CityWomen's ChampionScoreWomen's Runner up
2006Providence
2007Providence
2008St. Cloud Technical
2009St. Cloud TechnicalSt. Cloud Technical
2010St. Cloud TechnicalTrinity Bible
2011CrossroadsTrinity Bible
2012Trinity BibleTrinity Bible
2013Turtle MountainTrinity Bible
2014Trinity Bible95-81Turtle MountainBemidji, MNTrinity Bible75-57Turtle Mountain
2015Trinity Bible87-78AFLBSEllendale, NDTurtle Mountain74-33Leech Lake Tribal
2016Turtle Mountain80-70Trinity BibleBelcourt, NDTrinity Bible65-57[4] [5] Turtle Mountain
2017Trinity Bible98-72AFLBSBemidji, MNTurtle Mountain74-67Trinity Bible
2018Leech Lake Tribal95-81ProvidenceFort Toten, NDSisseton Wahpeton88-86Canadian Mennonite
2019Sisseton Wahpeton103-85Leech Lake TribalSisseton, SDProvidence73-60Trinity Bible
2020Red River91-82Sisseton WahpetonBemidji/Cass LakeCanadian Mennonite72-71Providence

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Area tribal colleges to start hoops programs, join Oak Hills in NIAC. 20 April 2013. Bemidji Pioneer.
  2. Web site: Shooting Two: CMU Basketball Adds New US College Conference Affiliation. 31 May 2016. CMU Blazer Athletics.
  3. Web site: Providence and Red River College basketball joining NIAC in 2017-2018 Season. 26 May 2017. MCAC Athletics.
  4. Web site: Lions Win NIAC Conference Tournament. 20 February 2016. Trinity Bible College.
  5. Web site: Trinity Bible nabs NIAC awards. 26 February 2016. Aberdeen News.