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 | |
 | |
| Established | 1987 |
| Association | NCAA |
| Division | Division III |
| Members | 10 |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Region | Ohio Valley |
| Headquarters | Carmel, Indiana |
| Commissioner | Jay Jones (since 2019[1]) |
| Website | heartlandconf.org |
| Locations | |
 | |
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
- 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
- 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
Sports
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.