Northwest Conference Explained

Northwest Conference
Founded:	1926
Association:	NCAA
Division:	Division III
Teams:	9
Sports:	20
Mens:	9
Womens:	11
Region:	Pacific Northwest
Headquarters:	Hillsboro, Oregon
Commissioner:	Shana Levine
Website:	nwcsports.com
Map:	File:Northwest-Conference-states.png
Map Size:	250
Color:	153f35;
Font Color:	FFFFFF

The Northwest Conference (NWC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in the states of Oregon and Washington. It was known as the Pacific Northwest Conference from 1926 to 1984.

History

The NWC was formed in 1926, making it one of the oldest continuously existing athletics conferences in the western United States. For 60 years, the Northwest Conference sponsored sports exclusively for men, but in 1984 it joined with the Women's Conference of Independent Colleges to become the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, shortening the name to its current moniker in 1996 when it joined the NCAA.

The charter members included Willamette University, Pacific University, Whitman College, the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound), Linfield College (now Linfield University), and the College of Idaho. In 1931, Albany College joined, left in 1938, and re-joined in 1949 using its present name of Lewis & Clark College. Pacific Lutheran University was added in 1965, and Whitworth University in 1970. In 1978, the College of Idaho dropped out of the conference. Whitworth also left in 1984, but then returned in 1988. In 1996, George Fox University joined when the conference moved to the NCAA and Puget Sound re-joined in that same year since 1948. From 2006 to 2010, Menlo College was also a part of the conference as an associate member in football.

The College of Idaho reinstated its football program in 2014 after a 37-year hiatus^[1] and joined the Frontier Conference for football. College of Idaho is now a member of the NAIA's Cascade Collegiate Conference for other sports. Whitworth left the NWC in 1984 but returned in 1988. George Fox University and Seattle University joined the conference in 1997. Seattle dropped out again in 1999 to become members of NCAA Division II.^[2] Menlo College joined the conference in 2005 as a football-only member.

Chronological timeline

• 1926 – The NWC was founded as the Pacific Northwest Conference (PNWC). Charter members include the College of Idaho, Linfield College (now Linfield University), Pacific University, the College of Puget Sound (now the University of Puget Sound), Whitman College and Willamette University, beginning the 1926–27 academic year.
• 1931 – Albany College (now Lewis & Clark College) joined the PNWC in the 1931–32 academic year.
• 1938 – Lewis & Clark left the PNWC after the 1937–38 academic year.
• 1948 – Puget Sound left the PNWC after the 1947–48 academic year.
• 1949 – Lewis & Clark re-joined back to the PNWC in the 1949–50 academic year.
• 1965 – Pacific Lutheran College (now Pacific Lutheran University) joined the PNWC in the 1965–66 academic year.
• 1970 – Whitworth College (now Whitworth University) joined the PNWC in the 1970–71 academic year.
• 1978 – The College of Idaho left the PNWC after the 1977–78 academic year.
• 1984 – Whitworth left the PNWC after the 1983–84 academic year.
• 1984 – The PNWC merged with the Women's Conference of Independent Colleges (WCIC) to become the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges (NCIC), therefore adding women's sports in the conference, beginning the 1984–85 academic year.
• 1988 – Whitworth re-joined back to the NCIC in the 1988–89 academic year.
• 1995 – George Fox College (now George Fox University) joined the NCIC in the 1995–96 academic year.
• 1996 – Puget Sound re-joined back to the NCIC in the 1996–97 academic year.
• 1996 – The NCIC has rebranded its name to become the Northwest Conference (NWC), beginning the 1996–97 academic year.
• 1996 – The NWC has joined full membership in the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) after years spent in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), beginning the 1996–97 academic year.
• 1997 – Seattle University joined the NWC in the 1997–98 academic year.
• 1999 – Seattle left the NWC to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) after the 1998–99 academic year.
• 2006 – Menlo College joined the NWC as an associate member for football in the 2006 fall season (2006–07 academic year).
• 2011 – Menlo left the NWC as an associate member for football after the 2010 fall season (2010–11 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The NWC currently has nine full members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Colors	Football?
George Fox University	Newberg, Oregon	1885	Quakers	4,039^[3]	Bruins	1996		Yes
Lewis & Clark College	Portland, Oregon	1867	Nonsectarian	2,205	Pioneers	1931; 1949		Yes
Linfield University	McMinnville, Oregon	1858	Baptist	1,755^[4]	Wildcats	1926		Yes
Pacific University	Forest Grove, Oregon	1849	United Church of Christ	3,589^[5]	Boxers	1926		Yes
Pacific Lutheran University	Parkland, Washington	1890	Lutheran ELCA	3,100^[6]	Lutes	1965		Yes
University of Puget Sound	Tacoma, Washington	1888	United Methodist	2,600^[7]	Loggers	1926; 1996		Yes
Whitman College	Walla Walla, Washington	1859	Nonsectarian	1,544^[8]	Blues	1926		No
Whitworth University	Spokane, Washington	1890	Presbyterian	2,220^[9]	Pirates	1970; 1988		Yes
Willamette University	Salem, Oregon	1842	Methodist Mission	2,402^[10]	Bearcats	1926		Yes

Notes

Former members

The NWC had two former full members, which both were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Colors	Current conference
College of Idaho	Caldwell, Idaho	1891	Presbyterian	1,042	Yotes	1926	1978		Cascade (CCC)
Seattle University	Seattle, Washington	1891	Catholic	7,755	Redhawks	1997	1999		Western (WAC)

Notes

Former associate members

The NWC had one former associate member, which was also a private school:

Notes

Membership timeline

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bar:3 color:Full from:1926 till:1943 text:Pacific (Ore.) (1926–present) bar:3 color:OtherC1 from:1943 till:1946 bar:3 color:Full from:1946 till:1985 bar:3 color:FullxF from:1985 till:2010 bar:3 color:Full from:2010 till:end

bar:4 color:Full from:1926 till:1943 text:Puget Sound (1926–1948) bar:4 color:OtherC1 from:1943 till:1946 bar:4 color:Full from:1946 till:1948 bar:4 color:FullxF from:1996 till:1997 text:(1996–present) bar:4 color:Full from:1997 till:end

bar:5 color:Full from:1926 till:end text:Whitman (1926–present) bar:5 color:OtherC1 from:1943 till:1946 bar:5 color:Full from:1946 till:1977 bar:5 color:FullxF from:1977 till:end

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bar:7 color:Full from:1931 till:1938 text:Lewis & Clark (1931–1938) bar:7 color:AssocF from:1946 till:1949 bar:7 color:Full from:1949 till:1985 text:(1949–present) bar:7 color:FullxF from:1985 till:1997 bar:7 color:Full from:1997 till:end

bar:8 color:FullxF from:1965 till:1966 text:Pacific Lutheran (1965–present) bar:8 color:Full from:1966 till:1985 bar:8 color:FullxF from:1985 till:1997 bar:8 color:Full from:1997 till:end

bar:9 color:FullxF from:1970 till:1972 text:Whitworth (1970–1984) bar:9 color:Full from:1972 till:1984 bar:9 color:FullxF from:1988 till:1997 text:(1988–present) bar:9 color:Full from:1997 till:end

bar:10 color:FullxF from:1995 till:2014 text:George Fox (1995–present) bar:10 color:Full from:2014 till:end

bar:11 color:FullxF from:1997 till:1999 text:Seattle (1997–1999)

bar:12 color:AssocF from:2006 till:2011 text:Menlo (2006–2010)

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Sports

See also: Northwest Conference men's basketball tournament. The Northwest Conference sponsors championship competition in nine men's and 11 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.^[11]

Teams in the Northwest Conference competition!Sport!Men's!Women's

Baseball	9	–
Basketball	9	9
Cross country	9	9
Football	8	–
Golf	9	9
Lacrosse	–	8
Soccer	9	9
Softball	–	8
Swimming	9	9
Tennis	8	8
Track and field	9	9
Volleyball	–	9
Rowing	–	4

McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophy

Each year the NWC awards one of its member institutions the NWC McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophy, based on a points system. The award is named in honor of Jane McIlroy, former athletic director of Linfield (1950-82), and John Lewis of Willamette (1947-72).

In each sport, the conference champion is awarded 18 points, second place is awarded 16 points, and so on. The school with the most points at the conclusion of the academic year wins the trophy. Football, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, men's baseball, women's softball, and men's and women's track and field are the 18 sports in which points are awarded.

Pacific Lutheran has won the award 15 times, more than any other school. Whitworth has won the trophy 14 times, Linfield has won the trophy three times while Puget Sound has won it twice.^{[12] [13]}

McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophy winners!Year!Institution

2024	Whitworth
2023	George Fox
2022	George Fox
2021	No trophy awarded
2020	No trophy awarded
2019	Whitworth
2018	Whitworth
2017	Whitworth
2016	Whitworth
2015	Whitworth
2014	Whitworth
2013	Whitworth
2012	Whitworth
2011	Whitworth
2010	Whitworth
2009	Whitworth
2008	Whitworth
2007	Puget Sound
2006	Puget Sound
2005	Whitworth
2004	Linfield
2003	Linfield
2002	Pacific Lutheran
2001	Linfield
2000	Pacific Lutheran
1999	Pacific Lutheran
1998	Pacific Lutheran
1997	Pacific Lutheran
1996	Pacific Lutheran
1995	Pacific Lutheran
1994	Willamette
1993	Pacific Lutheran
1992	Pacific Lutheran
1991	Pacific Lutheran
1990	Pacific Lutheran
1989	Pacific Lutheran
1988	Pacific Lutheran
1987	Pacific Lutheran
1986	Pacific Lutheran

National championships

Year	Sport	Institution	Location	Association/Division
2023	Women's Golf	George Fox	Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida	NCAA Division III
2018	Women's Track & Field	George Fox	La Crosse, Wisconsin	NCAA Division III (Co-Champions with UMass Boston)
2013	Baseball	Linfield	Appleton, Wisconsin	NCAA Division III
2012	Softball	Pacific Lutheran	Salem, Virginia	NCAA Division III
2011	Softball	Linfield	Salem, Virginia	NCAA Division III
2009	Women's Basketball	George Fox	Holland, Michigan	NCAA Division III
2007	Softball	Linfield	Salem, Virginia	NCAA Division III
2004	Football	Linfield	Salem, Virginia	NCAA Division III
2004	Baseball	George Fox	Appleton, Wisconsin	NCAA Division III
1999	Football	Pacific Lutheran	Salem, Virginia	NCAA Division III
1999	Women's Swimming	Puget Sound	Federal Way, Washington	NAIA
1998	Women's Swimming	Puget Sound	Federal Way, Washington	NAIA
1997	Men's Soccer	Seattle	Birmingham, Alabama	NAIA
1997	Men's Swimming	Puget Sound	Federal Way, Washington	NAIA
1996	Men's Swimming	Puget Sound	San Antonio, Texas	NAIA
1996	Women's Swimming	Puget Sound	San Antonio, Texas	NAIA
1995	Men's Swimming	Puget Sound	San Antonio, Texas	NAIA
1995	Women's Cross Country	Puget Sound	Kenosha, Wisconsin	NAIA
1994	Women's Cross Country	Puget Sound	Kenosha, Wisconsin	NAIA
1993	Football	Pacific Lutheran	Portland, Oregon	NAIA Division II
1993	Women's Cross Country	Puget Sound	Kenosha, Wisconsin	NAIA
1993	Volleyball	Puget Sound	San Diego, California	NAIA
1993	Men's Basketball	Willamette	Nampa, Idaho	NAIA Division II
1992	Women's Cross Country	Puget Sound	Kenosha, Wisconsin	NAIA
1992	Softball	Pacific Lutheran	Pensacola, Florida	NAIA
1991	Women's Soccer	Pacific Lutheran	Boca Raton, Florida	NAIA
1990	Women's Swimming	Puget Sound	Canton, Ohio	NAIA
1989	Women's Soccer	Pacific Lutheran	Due West, South Carolina	NAIA
1989	Women's Swimming	Puget Sound	Brown Deer, Wisconsin	NAIA
1988	Women's Cross Country	Pacific Lutheran	Kenosha, Wisconsin	NAIA
1988	Women's Soccer	Pacific Lutheran	Abilene, Texas	NAIA
1988	Softball	Pacific Lutheran	Pensacola, Florida	NAIA
1987	Football	Pacific Lutheran	Tacoma, Washington	NAIA Division II
1986	Football	Linfield	McMinnville, Oregon	NAIA Division II
1984	Football	Linfield	McMinnville, Oregon	NAIA Division II
1982	Football	Linfield	McMinnville, Oregon	NAIA Division II
1980	Football	Pacific Lutheran	Tacoma, Washington	NAIA Division II
1971	Baseball	Linfield	Phoenix, Arizona	NAIA
1966	Baseball	Linfield	St. Joseph, Missouri	NAIA
1960	Baseball	Whitworth†	Sioux City, Iowa	NAIA

† - Whitworth was not a member of the NWC until 1970.

Football champions

• 1926 – College of Idaho
• 1927 – College of Idaho
• 1928 – Whitman
• 1929 – Willamette
• 1930 – Whitman
• 1931 – Whitman
• 1932 – Puget Sound
• 1933 – Puget Sound
• 1934 – Willamette
• 1935 – Linfield and Willamette
• 1936 – Willamette
• 1937 – Willamette
• 1938 – Pacific (OR) and Willamette
• 1939 – Pacific
• 1940 – Willamette
• 1941 – Willamette
• 1942 – Willamette
• 1943 – No champion
• 1944 – No champion
• 1945 – No champion

• 1946 – Willamette
• 1947 – Willamette
• 1948 – College of Idaho
• 1949 – College of Idaho, Lewis & Clark, and Pacific (OR)
• 1950 – Lewis & Clark
• 1951 – Lewis & Clark and Pacific (OR)
• 1952 – Lewis & Clark and Pacific (OR)
• 1953 – College of Idaho
• 1954 – College of Idaho, Lewis & Clark, and Willamette
• 1955 – College of Idaho and Lewis & Clark
• 1956 – Linfield
• 1957 – Linfield
• 1958 – Willamette
• 1959 – Willamette
• 1960 – Willamette
• 1961 – Linfield
• 1962 – Linfield
• 1963 – Lewis & Clark
• 1964 – Linfield
• 1965 – Linfield

• 1966 – Lewis & Clark
• 1967 – Lewis & Clark, Linfield, and Willamette
• 1968 – Willamette
• 1969 – Lewis & Clark, Linfield, Pacific Lutheran, and Whitman
• 1970 – Linfield
• 1971 – Linfield
• 1972 – Linfield
• 1973 – Pacific Lutheran
• 1974 – Linfield
• 1975 – Linfield, Pacific Lutheran, and Whitworth (WA)
• 1976 – Linfield
• 1977 – Linfield
• 1978 – Linfield
• 1979 – Pacific Lutheran
• 1980 – Linfield
• 1981 – Pacific Lutheran
• 1982 – Linfield
• 1983 – Pacific Lutheran
• 1984 – Linfield

Notes and References

1. Web site: The College of Idaho. College of Idaho reinstates football program. May 14, 2012. January 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313054521/http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/blog/news/2012/05/14/college-idaho-reinstates-football-program. March 13, 2013. dead.
2. Web site: NWC History . Northwest Conference.
3. Web site: About George Fox. March 31, 2023.
4. Web site: About Linfield: Facts and Figures. March 31, 2023.
5. Web site: Pacific University About. March 31, 2023.
6. Web site: About PLU: Quick Facts. March 31, 2023.
7. Web site: Puget Sound Facts and Figures. March 31, 2023.
8. Web site: Whitman College Enrollment. March 31, 2023.
9. Web site: About Whitworth Facts & Rankings. March 31, 2023.
10. Web site: About Willamette: Quick Facts. March 31, 2023.
11. Web site: Northwest Conference . 2024-07-31 . Northwest Conference . en.
12. Web site: Northwest Conference All-Sports Trophy . 2024-07-31 . nwcsports.com . en.
13. Web site: 2024-05-20 . Boxers finish seventh in final NWC All-Sports Trophy standings . 2024-07-31 . Pacific University Athletics . en.