Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Association	NAIA
Founded	1992
Commissioner	Eric Ward
Sports fielded	27 men's: 14; women's: 13; ;
No. of teams	13 (12 on 2025)
Headquarters	Livonia, Michigan
Region	Midwest (East North Central)
Official website	www.whac.net
Locations

The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The conference consists of twelve colleges and universities located in the U.S. states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Founded in 1992, the conference was created as a successor group for the now-defunct NAIA District 23.

History

50km
30miles

Defiance

Northwestern Ohio

Lourdes

Siena Heights

UM-Dearborn

Madonna

Lawrence Tech

Rochester
Christian

Concordia

Cleary

Indiana Tech

Cornerstone

Aquinas

Location of WHAC members:

full member,

departing member.

The WHAC announced on January 27, 2012, added bowling and lacrosse for both men and women as conference sports effective the fall of 2012, becoming the first NAIA conference to offer championships in these sports.^[1]

Men's ice hockey was added as a conference sport effective the fall of 2017, making the WHAC the first conference in the NAIA to offer ice hockey as a conference championship sport.^[2] Initially, the five conference members that sponsor ice hockey will participate in a conference championship.^[2]^[3]

Chronological timeline

1992 – The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was founded. Charter members included Aquinas College, Concordia College Ann Arbor (now Concordia University Ann Arbor), Cornerstone College (now Cornerstone University), Siena Heights College (now Siena Heights University), Spring Arbor College (now Spring Arbor University) and Tri-State University (now Trine University), beginning the 1992–93 academic year.
1997 – Madonna University joined the WHAC in the 1997–98 academic year.
1998 – Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) joined the WHAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
2003 – Tri-State left the WHAC and the NAIA to join the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-III Independent (which would later join the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), beginning the 2004–05 academic year) after the 2002–03 academic year.
2004 – Spring Arbor left the WHAC to join the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC; now the Crossroads League) after the 2003–04 academic year.
2004 – The University of Michigan–Dearborn joined the WHAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
2005 – Davenport University joined the WHAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
2010 – The University of Northwestern Ohio joined the WHAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
2011 – Lourdes University joined the WHAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
2012 – Lawrence Technological University and Marygrove College joined the WHAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
2016 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2016–17 academic year:
- Rochester College (now Rochester Christian University)^[4] for baseball
- and former full member Spring Arbor for men's and women's bowling
2017 – Davenport left the WHAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) after the 2016–17 academic year.
2017 – Rochester had joined the WHAC for all sports in the 2017–18 academic year.
2017 – Marygrove left the WHAC as the school announced that it would close at the end of the fall 2017 semester, which occurred during the 2017–18 academic year.
2018 – Cleary University joined the WHAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
2018 – Four institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year):
- Bethel University of Indiana for women's lacrosse
- Goshen College for men's volleyball
- Huntington University for men's and women's bowling
- and Taylor University for men's lacrosse
2019 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year):
- Mount Vernon Nazarene University for men's and women's bowling
- Spring Arbor for competitive cheer and dance
- and Taylor for women's lacrosse
2020 – Three institutions left the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2019–20 academic year:
- Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's and women's bowling
- Spring Arbor for competitive cheer and dance
- and Taylor for women's lacrosse
2020 – Five institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
- Bethel (Ind.) for men's and women's bowling
- Brescia University and Point Park University for competitive cheer
- Marian University for men's wrestling
- and Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's volleyball
2021 – Bethel (Ind.), Huntington and Spring Arbor left the WHAC as affiliate members for men's and women's bowling after the 2020–21 academic year.
2022 – Three institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2022–23 academic year:
- Bethel (Ind.) and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for men's volleyball
- and Marian (Ind.) for women's lacrosse
2023 – Brescia left the WHAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer after the 2022–23 academic year.
2023 – Marian (Ind.) added competitive dance to its WHAC affiliate membership in the 2023–24 academic year:
2024 – Two institutions left the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
- Point Park for competitive cheer to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Mountain East Conference (MEC)
- and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for men's volleyball
2024 – Defiance College joined the WHAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
2024 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2024–25 academic year:
- The University of St. Francis for men's and women's bowling
- and Saint Xavier University for eSports
2024 – Concordia–Ann Arbor announced that they would be discontinuing all athletic programs and leaving the WHAC at the end of the 2024–25 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The WHAC currently has 13 full members, all but one are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^[a]	Basketball?
Aquinas College	Grand Rapids, Michigan	1886	Catholic (D.S.G.R.)	2,300	Saints	1992	both
Cleary University	Howell, Michigan	1883	Nonsectarian	600	Cougars	2018	both^[b]
Concordia University Ann Arbor	Ann Arbor, Michigan	1963	Lutheran LCMS	1,200	Cardinals	1992	both
Cornerstone University	Grand Rapids, Michigan	1941	Interdenominational	2,200	Golden Eagles	1992	both
Defiance College	Defiance, Ohio	1850	United Church	505	Yellow Jackets	2024	both
Indiana Institute of Technology	Fort Wayne, Indiana	1930	Nonsectarian	7,000	Warriors	1998	both
Lawrence Technological University	Southfield, Michigan	1932	Nonsectarian	3,000	Blue Devils	2012	both
Lourdes University	Sylvania, Ohio	1958	Catholic (Franciscan)	1,500	Gray Wolves	2011	both
Madonna University	Livonia, Michigan	1930	Catholic (Felician Sisters)	3,100	Crusaders	1997	both
University of Michigan–Dearborn	Dearborn, Michigan	1959	Public^[c]	9,500	Wolverines	2004	both
University of Northwestern Ohio	Lima, Ohio	1920	Nonsectarian	3,500	Racers	2010	both
Rochester Christian University^[d]	Rochester Hills, Michigan	1959	Churches of Christ	1,100	Warriors	2017^[e]	both
Siena Heights University	Adrian, Michigan	1919	Catholic (O.P.)	2,500	Saints	1992	both

Notes

^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
^ The Cleary men's and women's basketball teams joined the WHAC five years after becoming a full member for other sports (2023–24).
^ Part of the University of Michigan system.
^ Formerly known as Rochester University prior to 2024 and Rochester College prior to 2019.
^ Before joining for full membership, Rochester Christian competed in the WHAC as an affiliate member for baseball during the 2016–17 school year.

Affiliate members

The WHAC currently has seven affiliate members, all are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^[a]	WHAC sport(s)	Current conference
Bethel University	Mishawaka, Indiana	1947	Missionary	1,964	Pilots	2018^w.lax. 2022^m.vb.	women's lacrosse men's volleyball	Crossroads
Goshen College	Goshen, Indiana	1894	Mennonite	971	Maple Leafs	2018	men's volleyball	Crossroads
Marian University	Indianapolis, Indiana	1851	Catholic (S.S.F.)	3,595	Knights	2020^m.wr 2022^w.lax 2023^dance	men's wrestling women's lacrosse competitive dance	Crossroads
Mount Vernon Nazarene University	Mount Vernon, Ohio	1964	Nazarene	2,622	Cougars	2020	men's volleyball	Crossroads
University of St. Francis	Joliet, Illinois	1920	Catholic (Franciscans)	3,297	Fighting Saints	2024^m.bowl. 2024^w.bowl.	men's bowling women's bowling	Chicagoland (CCAC)
Saint Xavier University	Chicago, Illinois	1846	Catholic (R.S.M.)	3,523	Cougars	2024	eSports	Chicagoland (CCAC)
Taylor University	Upland, Indiana	1846	Nondenominational	1,887	Trojans	2018	men's lacrosse	Crossroads

Notes

^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

Former members

The WHAC had four former full members, all were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^[a]	Left^[b]	Current conference
Davenport University	Grand Rapids, Michigan	1866	Nonsectarian	6,456	Panthers	2005	2017	Great Lakes (GLIAC)^[c]
Marygrove College	Detroit, Michigan	1899	Catholic (I.H.M.)	N/A	Mustangs	2012	2018^[d]	Closed in 2019^[d]
Spring Arbor University	Spring Arbor, Michigan	1873	Free Methodist	2,600	Cougars	1992	2004	Crossroads
Tri-State University^[e]	Angola, Indiana	1884	Nonsectarian	4,104	Thunder	1992	2003	Michigan (MIAA)^[f]

Notes

^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ ^a ^b Marygrove announced that all athletics would cease after the 2017 fall season (with men's & women's soccer and volleyball remaining) of the 2017–18 academic year; with their August 2017 announcement of the closing of school's undergraduate programs.^[5]
^ Currently known as Trine University since 2008.
^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

Former affiliate members

The WHAC had nine former affiliate members, all were private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined^[a]	Left^[b]	WHAC sport(s)	Current conference
Bethel University	Mishawaka, Indiana	1947	Missionary	1,964	Pilots	2020^m.bowl. 2020^w.bowl.	2021^m.bowl. 2021^w.bowl.	men's bowling women's bowling	Crossroads
Brescia University	Owensboro, Kentucky	1925	Catholic (Ursulines)	1,100	Bearcats	2020	2023	competitive cheer	River States (RSC)
Huntington University	Huntington, Indiana	1897	United Brethren in Christ	1,089	Foresters	2018^m.bowl. 2018^w.bowl.	2021^m.bowl. 2021^w.bowl.	men's bowling women's bowling	Crossroads
Mount Vernon Nazarene University	Mount Vernon, Ohio	1964	Nazarene	2,622	Cougars	2019^m.bowl. 2019^w.bowl.	2020^m.bowl. 2020^w.bowl.	men's bowling women's bowling	Crossroads
Point Park University	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	1960	Nonsectarian	3,376	Pioneers	2020	2024	competitive cheer	Mountain East (MEC)^[c]
Rochester College^[d]	Rochester Hills, Michigan	1959	Churches of Christ	1,100	Warriors	2016	2017	baseball	Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana	1840	Catholic (Sisters of Providence)	1,700	Pomeroys	2022	2024	men's volleyball	River States (RSC)
Spring Arbor University^[e]	Spring Arbor, Michigan	1873	Free Methodist	2,600	Cougars	2016^m.bowl. 2016^w.bowl. 2019^cheer. 2019^dance	2021^m.bowl. 2021^w.bowl. 2020^cheer. 2020^dance	men's bowling women's bowling competitive cheer competitive dance	Crossroads
Taylor University	Upland, Indiana	1846	Nondenominational	1,887	Trojans	2019	2020	women's lacrosse	Crossroads

Notes

^ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
^ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
^ Formerly an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ Later known as Rochester University in 2019 and now currently known as Rochester Christian University since 2024.
^ Spring Arbor was a full member of the WHAC from 1992–93 to 2003–04.

Membership timeline

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

Sports

WHAC offers 14 men's and 13 women's sports.

Conference sports
Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Bowling	Y	Y
Cheer	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Dance		Y
Ice Hockey	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field Indoor	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball	Y	Y
Wrestling	Y

References

^ "WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13". WHAC. 27 January 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
^ ^a ^b "WHAC adds hockey and Tech gets tourney". The Journal Gazette. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
^ "2017-18 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY". WHAC. 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
^ "Rochester College Unanimously Accepted Into Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference". Rochester College. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
^ "What you need to know about the closing of Marygrove College". model D. October 29, 2019.

External links

Official website

[5] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[6] The Cleary men's and women's basketball teams joined the WHAC five years after becoming a full member for other sports (2023–24).

[7] Part of the University of Michigan system.

[8] Formerly known as Rochester University prior to 2024 and Rochester College prior to 2019.

[9] Before joining for full membership, Rochester Christian competed in the WHAC as an affiliate member for baseball during the 2016–17 school year.

[10] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[11] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[12] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[D2-13] Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

[Marygrove-15] Marygrove announced that all athletics would cease after the 2017 fall season (with men's & women's soccer and volleyball remaining) of the 2017–18 academic year; with their August 2017 announcement of the closing of school's undergraduate programs.^[5]

[16] Currently known as Trine University since 2008.

[D3-17] Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

[18] Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

[19] Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.

[D2-20] Formerly an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

[21] Later known as Rochester University in 2019 and now currently known as Rochester Christian University since 2024.

[22] Spring Arbor was a full member of the WHAC from 1992–93 to 2003–04.

[1] "WHAC Adds Two Conference Sports for 2012-13". WHAC. 27 January 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.

[TechHostsWHACHockey17-2] "WHAC adds hockey and Tech gets tourney". The Journal Gazette. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.

[1718WHACHockeyStandings-3] "2017-18 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY". WHAC. 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.

[4] "Rochester College Unanimously Accepted Into Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference". Rochester College. Retrieved October 13, 2016.

[14] "What you need to know about the closing of Marygrove College". model D. October 29, 2019.

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v t e NAIA conferences
Single Division	American Midwest Conference Appalachian Athletic Conference^† California Pacific Conference Cascade Collegiate Conference Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Continental Athletic Conference (Independent schools) Crossroads League Frontier Conference^† Great Plains Athletic Conference^† Great Southwest Athletic Conference HBCU Athletic Conference Heart of America Athletic Conference^† Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference^† Mid-South Conference^† North Star Athletic Association^† Red River Athletic Conference River States Conference Sooner Athletic Conference^† Southern States Athletic Conference Sun Conference^† Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference
Football-only	Mid-States Football Association^† NAIA independent football schools^†
^†Conference sponsors football