Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Founded as the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) in 1987, it reincorporated under its current name in 1998 with the addition of several schools from Ohio.

Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
HCAC
Established1987
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision III
Members10
Sports fielded
  • 18
    • men's: 9
    • women's: 9
RegionOhio Valley
HeadquartersCarmel, Indiana
CommissionerJay Jones (since 2019[1])
Websiteheartlandconf.org
Locations
HCAC school banners hang at the Clive M. Beck Athletic and Recreation Center at Transylvania University. This picture was taken in 2009, before Earlham's arrival in the conference and Mount St. Joseph's designation as a "University".

Original members of the HCAC included Anderson, Bluffton, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, Mount St. Joseph, Wabash, and Wilmington. Of the ten current members, six were founding members of the former ICAC.

Former members include DePauw (1987-1998), Taylor (1988-1991), Wabash (1987-1999), and Wilmington (1998-2000). Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology (1988-1998) re-joined as of July 1, 2006.

History

The Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference (ICAC) was formed in June 1987, with 1990–91 being the first full season of competition (all eight teams competing in eight varsity sports).

Charter members in 1987 included Anderson University, DePauw University, Franklin College, Hanover College, Manchester College, and Wabash College. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Taylor University later joined in 1988.

The addition of three Ohio schools (Bluffton College, the College of Mount St. Joseph, and Wilmington College) and the departure of two Indiana schools (DePauw and Rose-Hulman) during the 1998–99 season prompted a change in name to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Wabash and Wilmington later departed in the 1998–99 and 1999–00 seasons respectively. Transylvania University joined in 2001. Rose-Hulman re-joined the HCAC, effectively for the 2006–07 season.

The most recent expansion was when Earlham College of Richmond, Indiana was accepted as the 10th member of the conference in October 2009 to begin competition in the fall of 2010.

Member schools

All of the conference's members throughout its history have been private schools. All have a religious affiliation except current member Rose-Hulman and former member Wabash.

Note
  1. Rose–Hulman left the HCAC following the end of the 1997–98 season; but returned in the 2006–07 season.
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Colors
Anderson University Anderson, Indiana Ravens 1917 Private / Church of God (Anderson) 2,565 1987 Orange and Black
         
Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio Beavers 1899 Private / Mennonite 1,094 1998 Purple and White
         
Defiance College Defiance, Ohio Yellow Jackets 1850 Private / United Church of Christ 1,000 2000 Purple and Gold
         
Earlham College Richmond, Indiana Quakers 1847 Private / Quaker 1,194 2010 Maroon and White
         
Franklin College Franklin, Indiana Grizzlies 1834 Private / Baptist 1,047 1987 Navy Blue and Old Gold
         
Hanover College Hanover, Indiana Panthers 1827 Private / Presbyterian (USA) 1,068 1987 Red and Blue
         
Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana Spartans 1860 Private / Church of the Brethren 1,250 1987 Black and Gold
         
Mount St. Joseph University Delhi Township, Hamilton County, Ohio Lions 1920 Private / Catholic 1,889 1998 Blue and Gold
         
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana Fightin' Engineers 1874 Private / Nonsectarian 1,970 1988 Old Rose and White
         
Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky Pioneers 1780 Private / Disciples of Christ 1,120 2001 Crimson and White
         

Former members
Institution Location Nickname Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joined Left Current Conference
DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana Tigers 1837 Methodist 2,350 1987 1998 NCAC
Taylor University Upland, Indiana Trojans 1846 Interdenominational Christian 1,887 1988 1991 Crossroads
(NAIA)
Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana Little Giants 1832 Nonsectarian 910 1987 19991 NCAC
Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio Quakers 1870 Quaker 990 1998 2000 OAC
Note
  1. Wabash left the HCAC for all-sports after the 1998–99 season except for football (which later left following the 1999–00 season).

Membership timeline
Earlham CollegeTransylvania UniversityDefiance CollegeWilmington College (Ohio)Mount St. Joseph UniversityBluffton UniversityTaylor UniversityRose–Hulman Institute of TechnologyWabash CollegeHanover CollegeFranklin College (Indiana)DePauw UniversityAnderson University (Indiana)

Sports
See also: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

Member teams compete in women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball and men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field.

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References
  1. http://heartlandconf.org/general/2019-20/082119-Jay-Jones-Bio
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