Heart of America Athletic Conference

History

The HAAC's earliest ancestor was the Missouri College Athletic Union, which was formed in 1924 when the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) split in two. The old MIAA's private schools formed the Athletic Union, while the state teachers' colleges stayed in the MIAA It was reorganized as the HAAC in 1971 when it began admitting schools outside Missouri. However, the HAAC does not presently claim the Athletic Union's history as its own.

All 10 conference schools are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The only sport that utilizes divisions in the NAIA is basketball, and the HAAC is competing in its seventh season at the Division I level during the 2014–15 school year.

Three schools have been members of the conference since its inception – Baker University, Graceland University and Missouri Valley College.

In 1971, College of Emporia (KS), Ottawa University (KS), Tarkio College (MO), and William Jewell College were members, but they have since withdrawn from the conference. College of Emporia closed in 1974. Ottawa joined the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) in 1982, Tarkio closed in the spring of 1991 and William Jewell left at the conclusion of the 2010–11 school year to join the ranks of NCAA Division II. Central Methodist University, also an original member in 1971, withdrew from the conference in 1986, but was reinstated as a member in 1991.

Culver-Stockton College and MidAmerica Nazarene University became members in 1980. Evangel University joined in 1987 while Benedictine joined in 1991 when Central Methodist was reinstated. Lindenwood University began competing in the conference in 1996 but concluded their affiliation at the conclusion of the 2010–11 school year as they began their transition to NCAA Division II status. Avila University began competing in all sports but football during the 2000–01 season and fielded its first football team ever in 2001. Peru State College became the newest school to join the storied conference as they began full competition during the 2011–12 academic year.

In early 2014, Grand View University and William Penn University were announced as members for the 2015–16 school year. In April 2015, Clarke University and Mount Mercy University were announced as members for the 2016–17 school year.

The current commissioner of the conference is Lori Thomas. Thomas, the first female commissioner in NAIA history, began her term on July 1, 2014, succeeding Larry Lady who retired after 22 years as commissioner.

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)