Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

On July 1, 1997 the nine members of the former Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) and the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) were joined together to form a single conference--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Dr. Gary F. Karner was appointed commissioner in July 1996 to direct the merged conferences. Effective with the 2001-02 academic year, Lawrence University joined the conference in the sport of wrestling. Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University and Winona State University became members of the conference in the sport of women's gymnastics during the 2004-05 academic year.

The WIAC has continued the record of athletics and academic excellence established by its predecessors. The conference is widely recognized as the premier Division III conference in the country as evident by the number of NCAA championships captured annually by WIAC teams and the overall finish of WIAC institutions in the Division III United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings. The conference also has assumed a significant leadership role in the governance structure of the NCAA and has been recognized for its advances in gender equity and the community activism of its student-athletes.

Wisconsin State University Conference

An organizational meeting of the Wisconsin State University Athletic Conference, then to be known as the State Normal Conference, was held in Madison in July of 1913. The two-fold purpose of this meeting was to secure for each school a schedule of games and to establish rules to regulate and control athletic competition within the proposed conference. The basic purposes of the rules have been to limit and control competition to bona fide students who are making regular progress in their studies toward a diploma or degree; to insure faculty control of athletics; and to promote harmony among the members. With the exception of a short period during World War II, the conference has maintained a regular schedule of games.

The schools represented at the organizational meeting in 1913 were Superior, River Falls, Stevens Point and La Crosse, which were to become known as the Northern Division; with Oshkosh, Whitewater, Milwaukee and Platteville constituting the membership of the Southern Division. Each division determined its champion, and then met for a play-off game or a series, mainly in football and basketball. These championship games were played the first year of the organization and for many years thereafter.

To insure faculty control of athletics, the constitution stated that each institution shall have one representative and one vote; also that the representative must not be one who is paid primarily for services connected with athletics and with the physical education department of the university.

From the original membership of eight, the conference increased to ten schools. Stout Institute, now University of Wisconsin-Stout, became a member in 1914, and the first record of membership of the then Eau Claire Normal was in January 1917. These two, along with the original eight, maintained continuous membership over the years until June, 1964, at which time the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (formerly Milwaukee State Teachers College) terminated its membership in the conference.

In July 1966, Fred Jacoby was appointed as the first commissioner of athletics for the conference. With rapidly increasing enrollments, expanding athletics programs, and increased time needed to administer the affairs of the conference, it was a needed and necessary appointment.

In August 1971, Max Sparger replaced Fred Jacoby as commissioner of athletics. In September 1971, the conference member institutions became part of the newly merged University of Wisconsin System. This merger did not, however, affect the operational procedures and constitution of the Wisconsin State University Conference.

In August 1993, Dr. Dennis Keihn was named commissioner following the retirement of Max Sparger. Keihn was succeeded by Dr. Gary Karner in 1996.

Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

In 1958, the Wisconsin Athletic and Recreation Federation of College Women (WARFCW) was formed for the purpose of coordinating athletic activity among Wisconsin institutions of higher education. This organization followed the national model (ARFCW) in which governance was primarily the responsibility of student leaders. The WARFCW included representatives from: Eau Claire State College, La Crosse State College, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Oshkosh State College, Platteville State College, Ripon College, River Falls State College and University of Wisconsin-Madison. The WARFCW held sports days in archery, badminton, basketball, golf, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball.

In 1966, a motion to form a women’s athletic conference was presented, but defeated. Then, in 1969 at the annual convention held at Carthage College (Kenosha), a motion to limit the number of sports days per sport to one was passed. This constituted a state meet in each particular sport. Member institutions were allowed to travel to other member schools for dual meets.

In the winter of the 1969-70 academic year, a number of schools, which are currently members of the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC), participated in a unique state basketball tournament at the then Wisconsin State University at Stevens Point. As a result of playing a partial round robin, three state champions were recognized. The triumvirate championship of basketball, with its sportsday hues, was questioned later in the spring of 1970 at the state track meet involving essentially the same schools. At that meet, Martha van Steenderen (UW-Whitewater), Chair of the Wisconsin State Division for Girls’ and Women’s Sports (DGWS), appointed Dr. Judy Wilson of River Falls and Dr. Mary Jo Mullen of Stevens Point to investigate Minnesota’s intercollegiate athletic organization for women and report back to the Wisconsin Athletic and Recreation Federation for College Women (WARFCW) schools.

Dr. Wilson and Dr. Mullen began their work, with Dr. Wilson contacting the Minnesota contingent and Dr. Mullen organizing the fall 1970 meeting for the presentation of their report. Marty Beck of Bemidji, Sue Day and Joyce Locks of Winona State served as resource people. Dr. Mullen chaired the fall 1970 meeting at Stevens Point to which eleven universities sent representatives.

At that time, an agreement was reached that the development of a conference was needed. Dr. Mullen took the draft of the Constitution of the newly formed WWIAC and presented it for final approval at a meeting held at UW-Eau Claire on January 29-30, 1971. After two days of deliberations, the WWIAC became a reality. In the spring of 1971, the first “Governing Board” meeting was held.

The original membership consisted of twelve schools (the nine current members plus Carthage College, UW-Madison and UW-Parkside) and grew to its maximum of 16 by 1975 with the addition of UW-Milwaukee, Carroll College, UW-Green Bay and Marquette University.

All members were at one time affiliated with the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), and the Midwest Association of Athletics for Women (MAIAW). Initially, the AIAW conducted regional and national championships with a large school/small school format. This initial format was later changed to a three division format determined by percentages of financial assistance based on athletic ability.

In 1982, the AIAW dissolved and members affiliated with the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and/or the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), Division III. As of the 1993-94 academic year, all WWIAC institutions had only NCAA Division III affiliation.

In 1975, the University of Wisconsin System allocated a part-time position for coordination of the WWIAC. Gail Grimm was appointed Executive Secretary, and was succeeded in 1977 by Dr. Emogene Nelson (UW-River Falls). It was through Dr. Nelson’s efforts that a commissioner’s position became a reality. In August 1979, Dr. Janice Stocker became the first WWIAC Commissioner, resigning in August 1984. Judy Kruckman (UW-Eau Claire) served as acting Commissioner until her appointment in June 1985.

In 1984-85, the Conference functioned for the first time as a non-scholarship (no financial assistance allowed based on athletic ability) organization, and Faculty Athletics Representatives acted upon recommendations made by the Athletics Directors.

Judy Kruckman served as commissioner until 1996, at which time Dr. Gary Karner was chosen to oversee both the WWIAC and WSUC.