The Crossroads League (formerly the Mid-Central College Conference) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Its members are private Christian colleges in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The current conference commissioner is Larry DeSimpelare.
History
In June 2012, the conference voted to change its name to the Crossroads League, a name to better reflect the conference having grown beyond its Central Indiana roots.
Chronological timeline 1959 – On June 1, 1959, the Crossroad League was founded as the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC). Charter members included Concordia Senior College, Grace College (now Grace College & Seminary), Huntington College, Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) and Tri-State College (now Trine University), beginning the 1959–60 academic year. 1963 – On September 17, 1963, the MCCC joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a sponsored athletic conference, beginning the 1963–64 academic year. 1966 – Saint Francis College (now the University of Saint Francis of Indiana) joined the MCCC in the 1966–67 academic year. 1969 – On Nov. 6, 1969, Goshen College joined the MCCC, beginning the 1970–71 academic year. 1972 – Concordia Senior College left the MCCC after the 1971–72 academic year. 1973 – Marion College (now Indiana Wesleyan University) joined the MCCC in the 1973–74 academic year. 1978 – Indiana Tech left the MCCC after the 1977–78 academic year. 1979 – Grace left the MCCC after the 1978–79 academic year. 1980 – Tri-State announced that it would leave the MCCC on May 8, and Saint Francis (Ind.) announced the same on May 12, both effective after the 1980–81 academic year. 1980 – On November 5, 1980, Bethel College (now Bethel University) joined the MCCC, with Grace re-joining as well, both effective beginning the 1981–82 academic year. 1986 – Bethel initially withdrew from the MCCC after the 1985–86 academic year. However on August 25, 1986, Bethel was re-instated into the conference for the 1986–87 academic year. 1986 – Women's sports were introduced in the MCCC, beginning the 1986–87 academic year. 1987 – On September 14, 1987, Marian College (now Marian University) joined the MCCC in the 1987–88 academic year. 1994 – Taylor University joined the MCCC, with Saint Francis (Ind.) re-joining, both effective beginning the 1994–95 academic year. 2004 – Spring Arbor University joined the MCCC in the 2004–05 academic year. 2010 – On November 30, 2010, Mount Vernon Nazarene University joined the MCCC in the 2010–11 academic year. 2012 – On June 27, 2012, the MCCC was rebranded as the Crossroads League, beginning the 2012–13 academic year. 2027 – Manchester University will join the Crossroads, beginning the 2027–28 academic year.
Member schools Current members The Crossroads League currently has ten full members; all are private, Christian schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana 1947 Missionary 1,167 Pilots 1981 Goshen College Goshen, Indiana 1894 Mennonite 847 Maple Leafs 1970 Grace College & Seminary Winona Lake, Indiana 1948 Charis Fellowship 2,304 Lancers 1959;1981 Huntington University Huntington, Indiana 1897 United Brethren in Christ 1,776 Foresters 1959 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, Indiana 1920 Wesleyan Church 16,535 Wildcats 1973 Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana 1851 Catholic 3,486 Knights 1987 Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio 1964 Nazarene 1,671 Cougars 2011 Fort Wayne, Indiana 1890 Catholic 1,763 Cougars 1966;1994 Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, Michigan 1873 Free Methodist 2,441 Cougars 2004 Taylor University Upland, Indiana 1846 Nondenominational 2,548 Trojans 1994
Notes
Future members The Crossroads will have one future full member, a private school:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Currentconference Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana 1860 Church of the Brethren 1,276 Spartans 2027 Heartland (HCAC)
Notes
Former members The Crossroads had three former full members, all were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Nickname Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentconference Concordia Senior College Fort Wayne, Indiana 1957 Lutheran LCMS Cadets 1959 1972 NAIA Independent(1972–77) Closed in 1977 Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana 1930 Nonsectarian Warriors 1959 1978 Chicagoland (CCAC)(1978–98) Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)(1998–present) Trine University Angola, Indiana 1884 Nonsectarian Thunder 1959 1981 various Michigan (MIAA)(2004–present)
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports
+ Conference sportsSportMen'sWomen'sBaseball Basketball Cross Country Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field Outdoor Volleyball
Notes
Commissioners Cup Each year, the member institution with the most points based on final rankings in each sport, is awarded the Commissioners Cup (formerly known as the All Sports Trophy). The current holder is Indiana Wesleyan University, which has won the last twelve cups in a row and holds the record for cups won, with eighteen.
Notable athletes Stevimir Ercegovac (Taylor University), 4-time national shot put champion, Olympian Steve Platt (Huntington University), professional basketball player Steve Smith (University of St. Francis), College Slam Dunk Champion Eric Stults (Bethel College), pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers Justin Masterson (Bethel College), pitcher with the Boston Red Sox Katie Sowers (Goshen College), first female and first openly gay coach to coach in a Super Bowl Addison Wiley (Huntington University), professional distance runner
References
External links