The Heartland Conference was a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level, which was founded in 1999. The majority of members were in Texas, with additional members in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The conference office was located in Waco, Texas.
History The conference was formed in 1999 by founding members Drury University, University of the Incarnate Word, Lincoln University, Rockhurst University, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University and Texas Wesleyan University. Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Dallas Baptist University joined in 2002. Founding members Drury and Rockhurst left the Heartland Conference to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2005. Western New Mexico University and Montana State University - Billings joined in 2005. However, WNMU re-joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2006 and MSUB joined the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2007. Newman University, Texas A&M International University and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin joined the conference in 2006, making the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith joined the conference in the Fall of 2009 after transitioning from the NJCAA.University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Accepts Invitation to Join Heartland Conference - arkansasbusiness.com - March 2, 2009 In the fall of 2010, Lincoln left for the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics AssociationLincoln returns to MIAA - St. Joseph News-Press - February 2, 2009 and Incarnate Word left for the Lone Star Conference. In July 2011, McMurry University announced that it had been accepted as candidate for D-II membership and would join the Heartland Conference in the fall of 2012. In February 2012, Oklahoma Christian University announced its intention to seek membership in NCAA Division II. In Spring 2012, Rogers State University, a member of the NAIA Sooner Athletic Conference, applied for membership. The conference confirmed in July 2012 that Oklahoma Christian's teams would play full conference schedules starting in Fall 2012 and that Rogers State and Lubbock Christian University would begin conference play in 2013-14.
On August 30, 2017, the Lone Star Conference announced that eight of the nine members of the Heartland Conference would join in fall 2019; the remaining member, Newman, announced it would seek other affiliation at that time. On February 8, 2018, Newman announced that it would become an associate member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association beginning in the 2019–20 season. On October 18, 2018 Rogers State decided to join the MIAA instead of the Lone Star.
Chronological timeline 1999 – The Heartland Conference was founded. Charter members included Drury College (now Drury University), the University of the Incarnate Word, Lincoln University of Missouri, Rockhurst College (now Rockhurst University), St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University and Texas Wesleyan University, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year. 2002 – Dallas Baptist University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University joined the Heartland in the 2002–03 academic year. 2005: Drury and Rockhurst to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) after the 2004–05 academic year. Montana State University at Billings and Western New Mexico University joined the Heartland in the 2005–06 academic year. 2006: Western New Mexico left the Heartland to join the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) after the 2005–06 academic year. Newman University, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (Texas–Permian Basin or UTPB) and Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) joined the Heartland in the 2006–07 academic year. 2007 – Montana State–Billings left the Heartland to join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) after the 2006–07 academic year. 2009 – The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (Arkansas–Fort Smith or UAFS) joined the Heartland in the 2009–10 academic year. 2010 – Two institutions left the Heartland to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2009–10 academic year: Incarnate Word (UIW) to the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Lincoln (Mo.) to return to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) 2012 – McMurry University and Oklahoma Christian University joined the Heartland in the 2012–13 academic year. 2013 – Lubbock Christian University and Rogers State University joined the Heartland in the 2013–14 academic year. 2016: Texas–Permian Basin (UTPB) left the Heartland to join the Lone Star after the 2015–16 academic year. However, it would remain in the Heartland as an affiliate member for men's soccer beginning the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year). Eastern New Mexico University, Midwestern State University and West Texas A&M University joined the Heartland as affiliate members for men's soccer in the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year). 2019 – The Heartland ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 2018–19 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 2019–20 school year: Arkansas–Fort Smith (UAFS), Dallas Baptist, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, St. Edward's (Tex.), St. Mary's (Tex.) and Texas A&M International (TAMIU) joined the Lone Star to renew their rivalries with Texas–Permian Basin (UTPB) and Western New Mexico Newman (Ks.) and Rogers State joined the MIAA to renew their rivalries with Lincoln (Mo.) and men's soccer affiliates Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Texas–Permian Basin (UTPB) and West Texas A&M returned to their primary home conference once the Lone Star began to re-sponsor the sport
Member schools Final members The Heartland had nine final full members, all but three were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentprimaryconference Fort Smith, Arkansas 1928 Public 6,713 Lions 2009 2019 Lone Star (LSC)(2019–24) Mid-America (MIAA)(2024–present) Dallas Baptist University Dallas, Texas 1898 Baptist 5,500 Patriots 2002 2019 Lone Star (LSC)(2019–present) Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, Texas 1957 Churchesof Christ 2,100 Chaparrals &Lady Chaps 2013 2019 Newman University Wichita, Kansas 1933 Catholic 2,700 Jets 2006 2019 Mid-America (MIAA)(2019–present) Oklahoma Christian University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1950 Churchesof Christ 2,479 Eagles &Lady Eagles 2012 2019 Lone Star (LSC)(2019–present) Rogers State University Claremore, Oklahoma 1909 Public 4,227 Hillcats 2013 2019 Mid-America (MIAA)(2019–present) Austin, Texas 1885 Catholic 5,500 Hilltoppers 1999 2019 Lone Star (LSC)(2019–present) San Antonio, Texas 1852 Catholic 4,500 Rattlers 1999 2019 Texas A&M International University Laredo, Texas 1969 Public 4,298 Dustdevils 2006 2019
Notes
Final affiliate members The Heartland had four final affiliate members, all were public schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Heartlandsport(s) Primaryconference Eastern New Mexico University Portales, New Mexico 1934 Public 5,574 Greyhounds 2016 2019 men's soccer Lone Star (LSC)(2019–present) Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, Texas 1922 6,093 Mustangs Odessa, Texas 1973 3,600 Falcons West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas 1910 8,389 Buffaloes
Notes
Prior full members The Heartland had ten former full members, half were public schools and another half were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentconference Drury University Springfield, Missouri 1873 UCC & DOC 1,409 Panthers 1999 2005 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)(2005–present) San Antonio, Texas 1881 Catholic 9,366 Cardinals 1999 2010 Lone Star (LSC)(2010–13) Southland(2013–present) Lincoln University Jefferson City, Missouri 1866 Public 3,583 Blue Tigers 1999 2010 Mid-America (MIAA)(2010–2024) Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)(2024–present) McMurry University Abilene, Texas 1923 United Methodist 1,430 War Hawks 2012 2014 American Southwest (ASC)(2014–present) Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana 1927 Public 4,600 Yellowjackets 2005 2007 Great Northwest (GNAC)(2007–present) Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, Oklahoma 1909 Public 1,207 Aggies 2002 2017 Sooner (SAC)(2017–present) Rockhurst University Kansas City, Missouri 1910 Catholic 2,746 Hawks 1999 2005 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)(2005–present) Odessa, Texas 1973 Public 3,600 Falcons 2006 2016 Lone Star (LSC)(2016–present) Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, Texas 1890 United Methodist 2,373 Rams 1999 2001 Red River (RRAC)(2001–13) Sooner (SAC)(2013–present) Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico 1893 Public 3,820 Mustangs 2005 2006 Rocky Mountain (RMAC)(2006–16) Lone Star (LSC)(2016–present)
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports
Dallas Baptist's baseball team competed in NCAA Division I for much of its Heartland Conference tenure. At the time the league disbanded, the Patriots were single-sport members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Heartland Conference sponsored 13 sports, seven for women and six for men.
A divisional format was used for soccer (M).Midwestern State Newman Oklahoma Christian Rogers StateDallas Baptist St. Edward's St. Mary's Texas A&M InternationalEastern New Mexico Lubbock Christian Texas–Permian Basin West Texas A&M
+ Conference sports Sport Men's Women'sBaseball Basketball Cross Country Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Volleyball
Men's sponsored sports by school SchoolBaseballBasketballCrossCountryGolfSoccerTennisTotalHCSportsArkansas–Fort Smith5Dallas Baptist5Lubbock Christian5Newman6Oklahoma Christian5Rogers State5St. Edward's6St. Mary's5Texas A&M International5Totals89898547Affiliate membersEastern New Mexico1Midwestern State1Texas–Permian Basin1West Texas A&M1
Women's sponsored sports by school SchoolBasketballCrossCountryGolfSoccerSoftballTennisVolleyballTotalHCSportsArkansas–Fort Smith5Dallas Baptist5Lubbock Christian6Newman7Oklahoma Christian5Rogers State5St. Edward's7St. Mary's6Texas A&M International6Totals889875752
Other sponsored sports by school SchoolMenWomenBaseball ‡Swimming& DivingTrack& FieldIndoorTrack& FieldOutdoorWrestlingSwimming& DivingTrack& FieldIndoorTrack& FieldOutdoorDallas BaptistMVCINDINDINDINDNewmanMIAAOklahoma ChristianRMACINDGACRMACINDGACRogers StateGACGAC ‡ — D-I sport
National championships
SportSchoolYearMen's BasketballArkansas-Fort Smith1981BaseballSt. Mary's2001SoftballSt. Mary's2002Men's Golf (Individual)Jamie Amoretti (StMU)2006Women's BasketballLubbock Christian2016, 2019
Arkansas-Fort Smith (as Westark Junior College) won the 1981 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJACC) men's basketball national championship.
St. Mary's won NAIA national championships in Softball (1986) and Men's Basketball (1989).
St. Mary's Men's Golf team was named the Golf Coaches Association of America 2008-2009 Academic National Champions, which St. Mary's treats as a fifth team national.
Dallas Baptist won the 2003 National Christian College Athletic Association Baseball national championship.
Lubbock Christian won NAIA national championships in Baseball (1983 & 2009) and Softball (2008).
References