Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
Established	1909
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	16 (15 in 2016)
Sports fielded	23 (men's: 12; women's: 11)
Region	Mountain States
Former names	Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference (1909–1910) Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (1910–1967)
Headquarters	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Website	rmacsports.org
Locations

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the western United States, mostly in Colorado with members in Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota. It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II.

History

Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the fifth oldest college athletic conference in the United States (oldest in Division II), surpassed only by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Big Ten Conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Missouri Valley Conference. For its first thirty years, the RMAC was considered a major conference equivalent to today's Division I, before 7 larger members left and formed the Mountain States Conference (also called the Skyline Conference).

The Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference changed its name to the Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (RMFAC) on May 7, 1910. Continued until 1967 when the name of the conference changed to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The RMAC merged with the Colorado Athletic Conference in 1996.^[1]

Member schools

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined
Adams State University	Alamosa, Colorado	1925	3,701	Grizzlies		1956
Black Hills State University	Spearfish, South Dakota	1883	4,722	Yellow Jackets		2012
Chadron State College	Chadron, Nebraska	1911	3,000	Eagles		1989
Colorado Christian University	Lakewood, Colorado	1914	5,100	Cougars		1996
Colorado Mesa University	Grand Junction, Colorado	1925	11,000	Mavericks		1975
Colorado School of Mines	Golden, Colorado	1873	5,468	Orediggers		1909
Colorado State University–Pueblo	Pueblo, Colorado	1933	6,805	ThunderWolves		1967; 1976; 1996
University of Colorado Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs, Colorado	1965	10,300	Mountain Lions		1997
Fort Lewis College	Durango, Colorado	1911	4,000	Skyhawks		1967; 1994
Metropolitan State University of Denver	Denver, Colorado	1965	24,000	Roadrunners		1996
New Mexico Highlands University	Las Vegas, New Mexico	1893	3,500	Cowboys & Cowgirls		1968; 1974; 1990
Regis University	Denver, Colorado	1877	9,722	Rangers		1967; 1996
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	Rapid City, South Dakota	1885	2,640	Hardrockers		2014
Western New Mexico University	Silver City, New Mexico	1893	3,820	Mustangs		1967; 2006
Western State Colorado University	Gunnison, Colorado	1901	2,400	Mountaineers		1924
Westminster College	Salt Lake City, Utah	1875	3,108	Griffins		1967; 2015

• Reclassifying member in yellow.
• Colorado–Colorado Springs — was an affiliate member in 1996–97.
• Fort Lewis College — was an affiliate member from 1990–1994.
• Western New Mexico University — will join the Lone Star Conference in 2016.^[2]

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined	Sport	Primary Conference
California Baptist University	Riverside, California	1950	8,541	Lancers		2013	swimming & diving (M); swimming & diving (W); wrestling	Pacific West
Dixie State University	St. George, Utah	1911	8,570	Trailblazers		2016	football	Pacific West
Lindenwood University	St. Charles, Missouri	1827	11,904	Lions & Lady Lions		2013 (lacrosse); 2014 (swimming)	lacrosse (W); swimming & diving (M); swimming & diving (W)	Mid-America
University of Nebraska at Kearney	Kearney, Nebraska	1905	7,052	Lopers		2014	swimming & diving (W)	Mid-America
Rockhurst University	Kansas City, Missouri	1910	3,000	Hawks		2013 (lacrosse-W); 2015 (lacrosse-M)	lacrosse (M); lacrosse (W)	Great Lakes Valley
San Francisco State University	San Francisco, California	1899	28,290	Gators		1997	wrestling	California Collegiate

• Nebraska–Kearney — was a full member in 1989–90, and from 1994–2012.

Future affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joins	Sport	Primary Conference
Oklahoma Baptist University	Shawnee, Oklahoma	1910	2,097	Bison		2016	lacrosse (W)	Great American

• Reclassifying member in yellow.

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Brigham Young University	Provo, Utah	1875	Cougars	1918	1938	West Coast (NCAA D-I)
University of Colorado Boulder	Boulder, Colorado	1876	Buffaloes	1909	1938	Pac-12 (NCAA D-I)
Colorado College	Colorado Springs, Colorado	1874	Tigers	1909; 1914	1910; 1967	Southern Collegiate (NCAA D-III)
Colorado State University	Fort Collins, Colorado	1870	Rams	1909	1938	Mountain West (NCAA D-I)
University of Denver	Denver, Colorado	1864	Pioneers	1910	1938	The Summit (NCAA D-I)
Emporia State University	Emporia, Kansas	1863	Hornets	1967	1972	Mid-America
Fort Hays State University	Hays, Kansas	1902	Tigers	1967; 1989	1972; 2006	Mid-America
Idaho State University	Pocatello, Idaho	1901	Bengals	1948	1958	Big Sky (NCAA D-I)
Montana State University	Bozeman, Montana	1893	Bobcats	1917	1959	Big Sky (NCAA D-I)
University of Nebraska Omaha	Omaha, Nebraska	1908	Mavericks	1967	1972	The Summit (NCAA D-I)
University of Northern Colorado	Greeley, Colorado	1889	Bears	1924	1972	Big Sky (NCAA D-I)
Pittsburg State University	Pittsburg, Kansas	1903	Gorillas	1967	1972	Mid-America
Southern Utah University	Cedar City, Utah	1897	Thunderbirds	1967	1986	Big Sky (NCAA D-I)
University of Utah	Salt Lake City, Utah	1850	Utes	1910	1938	Pac-12 (NCAA D-I)
Utah State University	Logan, Utah	1888	Aggies	1914	1938	Mountain West (NCAA D-I)
Washburn University	Topeka, Kansas	1865	Ichabods	1967	1972	Mid-America
Wayne State College	Wayne, Nebraska	1910	Wildcats	1989	1990	Northern Sun
University of Wyoming	Laramie, Wyoming	1886	Cowboys	1921	1938	Mountain West (NCAA D-I)

• Denver — was an affiliate member in 1996–97.

Former affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Nickname	Joined	Left	Sport	Primary Conference
Grand Canyon University	Phoenix, Arizona	1949	Antelopes	2007 (wrestling); 2008 (swimming)	2013	swimming & diving (M); swimming & diving (W); wrestling	Western Athletic (NCAA D-I)
University of the Incarnate Word	San Antonio, Texas	1881	Cardinals	2008	2013	swimming & diving (M); swimming & diving (W)	Southland (NCAA D-I)
Minnesota State University Moorhead	Moorhead, Minnesota	1887	Dragons	2009	2012	swimming & diving (W)	Northern Sun
Montana State University Billings	Billings, Montana	1927	Yellowjackets	2007	2015	tennis (M); tennis (W)	Great Northwest
Northern State University	Aberdeen, South Dakota	1901	Wolves	2009	2012	swimming & diving (W)	Northern Sun
University of Texas of the Permian Basin	Odessa, Texas	1973	Falcons	2008	2013	swimming & diving (M); swimming & diving (W)	Heartland (Lone Star in 2016)

Membership timeline

There have been 47 different schools associated with the RMAC either through full or associate membership. Of those schools only the Colorado School of Mines has been with the conference every year since it was founded in 1909.

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

Membership evolution

• 1909: The Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference was formed on March 6 with four charter members: University of Colorado, Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University), Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines.
• 1910: The league changed its name to the Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (RFMAC). The University of Denver and University of Utah join the league, but Colorado College drops out after a fallout with Colorado School of Mines. Membership is at five schools.
• 1914: Colorado College rejoins the RFMAC. Utah State University also joins the league to bring membership up to seven.
• 1917: Montana State University joins the conference.
• 1918: Brigham Young University joins the league as the ninth member.
• 1921: The University of Wyoming joins the conference.
• 1924: Western State College and the University of Northern Colorado join the league, giving the RFMAC 12 members.
• 1937: Colorado, Colorado State, Brigham Young, Utah, Utah State, Wyoming and Denver leave the conference to form the Skyline Conference. The five remaining members of the RFMAC were Colorado College, Colorado Mines, Montana State, Northern Colorado and Western State.
• 1948: Idaho State University joins as the sixth member.
• 1956: Adams State College joins the conference as the seventh member.
• 1958: Idaho State leaves the conference.
• 1959: Montana State leaves the conference, membership is back down to five.
• 1967: The RFMAC changes its name to the current Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Eleven schools join the conference in 1967. They were: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Fort Lewis College, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Pittsburg State University, the University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University-Pueblo), Southern Utah State University, Regis University, Washburn University, Western New Mexico University and Westminster College of Utah. Colorado College is not included in this new league. The new league divided into two divisions: Mountains and Plains.
• 1968: New Mexico Highlands University joins the RMAC.
• 1969: New Mexico Highlands leaves the RMAC due to financial aid restrictions.
• 1972: For economic reasons, the two divisions were split into two separate conferences. The Mountain Division kept the RMAC name while the Plains Division became known as the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The two allied conferences worked under the name of the Mountain and Plains Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MPIAA). RMAC membership stood at eight with Adams State, Colorado Mines, Fort Lewis, Regis, Southern Utah State, Western New Mexico, Western State and Westminster. Northern Colorado ended up leaving the association to become an independent.
• 1974: New Mexico Highlands rejoins the RMAC as the ninth member.
• 1975: Mesa State College becomes the 10th member of the RMAC.
• 1976: The MPIAA was dissolved for economic reasons and the two conferences went their separate ways. Colorado State University-Pueblo switched conferences and joined the RMAC as its 11th member.
• 1978: The RMAC beings sponsoring women's championships.
• 1979: Westminster drops athletics and as a result leaves the RMAC, leaving the league with 10 members.
• 1983: Regis leaves the RMAC to become an independent, leaving the league with nine teams.
• 1986: Southern Utah State left the league, dropping membership to eight.
• 1988: New Mexico Highlands withdraws from the conference to shrink the membership to seven schools.
• 1989: Chadron State College, Fort Hays State University, Kearney State College (now University of Nebraska at Kearney) and Wayne State College announce intentions to join.
• 1990: Wayne State College and Kearney State College withdraw their interest in joining the league. Western New Mexico and Colorado State University-Pueblo announce that they are leaving the RMAC. Fort Lewis announces their intention to leave, however they stay on as an associate member of the conference. New Mexico Highlands rejoins the RMAC.
• 1992: The RMAC becomes affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level.
• 1994: Fort Lewis once again became a full member of the RMAC. Nebraska-Kearney also was voted into membership.
• 1996: Colorado Christian University and Metropolitan State College join the RMAC. Regis and Colorado State University-Pueblo rejoin the league. All four are full members. Also, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the University of Denver join the RMAC as affiliate and associate members, respectively. The RMAC, now comprising fourteen schools, splits into two seven-team divisions.
• 1997: Denver leaves to move up to Division I. Colorado-Colorado Springs becomes a full member. San Francisco State joins the RMAC as an associate member in wrestling only.
• 2006: Fort Hays State leaves the RMAC for the MIAA (FHSU does remain in the RMAC as an associate member in wrestling). Western New Mexico rejoins the conference, keeping membership at 14 schools.
• 2007: Grand Canyon University joins the RMAC as an associate member only in wrestling. Montana State University-Billings joins the RMAC as an associate member for women's golf and men's and women's tennis.
• 2008: Texas-Permian Basin and the University of the Incarnate Word join the RMAC as associate members for swimming only.
• 2009: Northern State University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead join the RMAC as associate members in swimming.
• 2012: Nebraska-Kearney will leave the RMAC to join the MIAA. Black Hills State University moves up from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and will join the RMAC to keep the number of full members at 14.
• 2014: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology joins the RMAC.^[3]
• 2015: Westminster College (Utah) will re-join the RMAC.

Sponsored sports

Conference sports Sport Men's Women's Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming & diving Tennis Track & Field Indoor Track & Field Outdoor Volleyball Wrestling

A divisional format is used for baseball and volleyball. Baseball Mountain Division Colorado Christian Colorado Mesa Colorado Mines Metropolitan State Plains Division Adams State Colorado State-Pueblo New Mexico Highlands Regis Volleyball Mountain Division Adams State Colorado Christian Colorado Mines Colorado State-Pueblo Fort Lewis College New Mexico Highlands Western New Mexico Western State Colorado Rocky Division Black Hills State Chadron State College Colorado Mesa Colorado-Colorado Springs Metropolitan State Regis South Dakota Mines Westminster College

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Football	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Wrestling	Total RMAC Sports
Adams State													11
Black Hills State													5
Chadron State College													6
Colorado Christian													7
Colorado Mesa													12
Colorado Mines													10
Colorado State-Pueblo													11
Colorado-Colorado Springs													6
Fort Lewis College													5
Metropolitan State													7
New Mexico Highlands													5
Regis													5
South Dakota Mines													7
Western New Mexico													5
Western State Colorado													6
Westminster College													7
Totals	8	16	16	11	11	4	11	3	5	11	12	7	115
Affiliate Members
California Baptist													2
Dixie State													1
Lindenwood													1
Rockhurst													1
San Francisco State													1

• Colorado-Colorado Springs — Baseball begins play in 2016.^[4]

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball	Total RMAC Sports
Adams State												10
Black Hills State												8
Chadron State College												7
Colorado Christian												8
Colorado Mesa												11
Colorado Mines												8
Colorado State-Pueblo												11
Colorado-Colorado Springs												8
Fort Lewis College												9
Metropolitan State												9
New Mexico Highlands												7
Regis												7
South Dakota Mines												6
Western New Mexico												6
Western State Colorado												7
Westminster College												8
Totals	16	16	13	6	13	13	5	5	13	14	16	130
Affiliate Members
California Baptist												1
Lindenwood												2
Nebraska-Kearney												1
Oklahoma Baptist												1
Rockhurst												1

• Colorado-Colorado Springs — Lacrosse (W) begins play in 2016.

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Women		Co-ed
		Beach Volleyball ^‡		Skiing ^‡
Colorado Mesa		IND
Westminster College				RMISA

• ^‡ — D-I sport

Football champions

Basketball champions

References

1. History
2. "WNMU to Join Lone Star Conference in Fall of 2016". Western New Mexico University Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
3. "Western State Colorado University - SDSM&T approved as 15th member of the RMAC". Gomountaineers.com. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
4. "UCCS to Add Baseball, Women's Lacrosse and Expanded Track & Field". UCCS Athletics. Retrieved September 24, 2015.

External links

• Official website