The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III which is located in the Midwestern and Southern United States. There are 9 full member institutions as of the 2025–26 academic year.
History
Key milestones February 1991: The first SLIAC men's basketball tournament is held. February 1995: Westminster wins the men's basketball tournament title to earn the SLIAC's first automatic bid to an NCAA Division III national championship event. March 1996: MacMurray wins the women's basketball tournament title to earn the conference's first automatic bid to an NCAA Division III women's national championship event. November 1996: Blackburn, MacMurray, and Westminster share the first-ever SLIAC football title. September 1999: The SLIAC begins its tenth year of operation. November 1999: The fourth and final (until 2008) conference football title is awarded (six teams needed for conference to sponsor a sport). May 2007: William Wolper hired as the Conference's first full-time Commissioner (officially started in July). September 2008: Football begins play as the 13th conference sport after a nine-year hiatus. April 2009: The SLIAC announced it would cease its sponsorship of football; five football-playing schools join the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) as associate members for the sport. Huntingdon and LaGrange end football affiliation with the conference.
Recent events On April 16, 2009, the SLIAC announced it would cease its sponsorship of football; five football-playing schools join the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) as associate members for the sport. Huntingdon and LaGrange ended their football affiliation with the conference.
On June 9, 2020, Iowa Wesleyan University announced that it would leave the NCAA and return to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) after the 2020–21 academic year.
On June 17, 2021, Mississippi University for Women (MUW) was admitted to join the SLIAC as a full member, beginning the 2023–24 academic year.
On August 22, 2022, Lyon College was admitted to join the SLIAC as a full member, beginning the 2023–24 academic year.
Chronological timeline Source:
1989 – In September 1989, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) was founded. Charter members included Blackburn College of Illinois, Fontbonne College (later Fontbonne University), Maryville College of the Sacred Heart (now Maryville University), Parks College, Principia College and Webster University, beginning the 1989–90 academic year. 1990 – MacMurray College and Westminster College of Missouri joined the SLIAC in the 1990–91 academic year; also conference competition for all sports began along the way. 1995 – Greenville University joined the SLIAC in the 1995 86 academic year. 1996 – Parks left the SLIAC after the 1995–96 academic year; as it ceased operations and its academic programs were moved to the Saint Louis University campus. 2006 – Eureka College and Lincoln Christian College (later Lincoln Christian University) joined the SLIAC in the 2006–07 academic year. 2007 – Lincoln Christian left the SLIAC at the end of the fall 2007 semester, during the 2007–08 academic year. 2008 – Huntingdon College and LaGrange College joined the SLIAC as affiliate members for football in the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year); as the conference announced the return of football after a nine-year hiatus. 2009: Huntingdon and LaGrange left the SLIAC as affiliate members for football after the 2008 fall season (2008–09 academic year). Spalding University joined the SLIAC in the 2009–10 academic year. 2010 – The University of Dallas joined the SLIAC as an affiliate member for men's golf and men's and women's cross country in the 2010–11 academic year. 2011 – U. of Dallas left the SLIAC as an affiliate member for men's golf (after spending one season) to join as a full member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after the 2010–11 academic year. 2013 – Iowa Wesleyan College (later Iowa Wesleyan University) joined the SLIAC in the 2013–14 academic year. 2019 – Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College of Illinois, Lake Forest College and Monmouth College joined the SLIAC as affiliate members for men's and women's golf in the 2019–20 academic year. 2020 – MacMurray left the SLIAC after the 2019–20 academic year; as the school ceased operations due to financial struggles. 2021 – Iowa Wesleyan left the SLIAC and the NCAA to return to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as an Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) after the 2020–21 academic year. 2023: Lyon College and the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) joined the SLIAC in the 2023–24 academic year. The University of the Ozarks and Schreiner University joined the SLIAC as affiliate members for men's and women's wrestling in the 2023–24 academic year. 2025: Fontbonne left the SLIAC after the 2024–25 academic year; as the school ceased operations. McMurry University joined the SLIAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's wrestling (alongside Huntingdon returning for those sports) in the 2025–26 academic year.
Member schools Current members The SLIAC currently has nine full members; all but one are private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment NicknameColors Varsityteams Joined Blackburn College Carlinville, Illinois 1837 Presbyterian 382 Beavers 12 1989 Eureka College Eureka, Illinois 1855 Disciples of Christ 559 Red Devils 16 2006 Greenville University Greenville, Illinois 1892 Free Methodist 1,088 Panthers 14 1995 Lyon College Batesville, Arkansas 1872 Presbyterian 496 Scots 21 2023 Mississippi University for Women(MUW) Columbus, Mississippi 1884 Public 2,339 Owls 17 2023 Principia College Elsah, Illinois 1912 Scientist 323 Panthers 12 1989 Spalding University Louisville, Kentucky 1814 Catholic 1,692 Golden Eagles 11 2009 Webster University Webster Groves, Missouri 1915 Catholic 5,000 Gorloks 11 1989 Westminster College Fulton, Missouri 1851 Presbyterian 610 Blue Jays 8 1990
Notes
Affiliate members The SLIAC has nine affiliate members, all are private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined SLIACsport(s) Primaryconference Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa 1846 Nonsectarian 1,638 Pioneers 2019 Men's golf Midwest (MWC) 2019 Women's golf Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama 1854 United Methodist 900 Hawks 2025 Men's wrestling USA South 2025 Women's wrestling Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois 1829 UCC & PCUSA 1,029 Blueboys &Lady Blues 2019 Men's golf Midwest (MWC) 2019 Women's golf Knox College Galesburg, Illinois 1837 Nonsectarian 1,058 Prairie Fire 2019 Men's golf Midwest (MWC) 2019 Women's golf Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois 1857 Nonsectarian 1,395 Foresters 2019 Men's golf Midwest (MWC) 2019 Women's golf McMurry University Abilene, Texas 1923 United Methodist 1,430 War Hawks 2025 Men's wrestling Southern (SCAC) 2025 Women's wrestling Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois 1853 Presbyterian 767 Fighting Scots 2019 Men's golf Midwest (MWC) 2019 Women's golf Clarksville, Arkansas 1834 Presbyterian 630 Eagles 2023 Men's wrestling Southern (SCAC) 2025 Women's wrestling Schreiner University Kerrville, Texas 1923 Presbyterian 1,103 Mountaineers 2023 Men's wrestling Southern (SCAC) 2025 Women's wrestling
Notes
Former members The SLIAC had six former full members; all were private schools. Only one remains in operation as a standalone institution.
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Varsityteams Joined Left Currentconference Fontbonne University Clayton, Missouri 1923 Catholic 944 Griffins 10 1989 2025 Closed in 2025 Iowa Wesleyan University Mount Pleasant, Iowa 1842 United Methodist 571 Tigers 12 2013 2021 Closed in 2023 Lincoln Christian University Lincoln, Illinois 1944 Christian Churchesand Churches of Christ 1,000 Red Lions 10 2006 2008 Closed in 2024 MacMurray College Jacksonville, Illinois 1846 United Methodist 683 Highlanders 10 1990 2020 Closed in 2020 Maryville University Town and Country, Missouri 1872 Catholic 2,500 Saints 14 1989 2009 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) Parks College Cahokia, Illinois 1927 Catholic N/A Falcons N/A 1989 1996 N/A
Notes
Former affiliate members The SLIAC had three former affiliate members, all were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left SLIACsport(s) Primaryconference Irving, Texas 1956 Catholic 3,500 Crusaders 2010 2011 Men's cross country Southern (SCAC) 2010 2011 Women's cross country 2010 2011 Men's golf Huntingdon College Montgomery, Alabama 1854 United Methodist 900 Hawks 2008 2009 Football USA South LaGrange College LaGrange, Georgia 1831 United Methodist 1,137 Panthers 2008 2009 Football USA South
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports
The SLIAC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:
+ Conference sportsSportMen'sWomen'sBaseballBasketballCross countryGolfSoccerSoftballTrack and fieldVolleyballWrestling
References
External links