Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

For other uses, see IIAC.

The Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.

History

At one time the IIAC was a robust league that claimed most of the Illinois institutions of higher education. It was nicknamed the "Little Nineteen," but in 1928 had a membership of 23 schools. Former Illinois State University track coach Joe Cogdal, associated with the IIAC for 43 years of its 62-year history, noted that the league had roots in the 1870s when a number of schools banded together for oratorical contests. Their first intercollegiate football game was played in 1881 between Illinois State University and Knox College, and by 1894 a football association was established.

The IIAC was formed in April 1908 with eight charter members: Illinois State Normal University (now Illinois State University), Illinois Wesleyan University, Bradley Polytechnic Institute (now Bradley University), Millikin University, Monmouth College, Knox College, Lombard College and Illinois College. The first track meet was held on May 22, 1908. The group quickly expanded. Eastern Illinois State Teachers College (now Eastern Illinois University) and Western Illinois University joined in 1912 and 1915 respectively.

In 1920, the name "Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference" was adopted, providing the initials IIAC. Conference membership reached a peak of 23 member schools in 1928, when virtually all of the small colleges in Illinois were included.

Private schools withdrew during much of the 1930s, until in 1942 only the five state schools remained: Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Western Illinois University. In 1950, the league name became the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, when Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University brought the membership to seven. In 1961, Eastern Michigan University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale withdrew; Northern Illinois University followed in 1966. The conference disbanded at the end of the 1969–1970 academic year.

Membership

Institution Location Founded Years in IIAC (approx.) Team Nickname Current Conference Current Division
Illinois State University Normal, Illinois 1857 1910–1970 Redbirds MVC Division I
Bradley University Peoria, Illinois 1897 1910–1937 Braves MVC Division I
Eureka College Eureka, Illinois 1855 1910–1942 Red Devils SLIAC Division III
Hedding College (defunct) Abingdon, Illinois 1855 1910–1926 Orangemen N/A N/A
Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois 1829 1910–1937 Blueboys & Lady Blues Midwest Division III
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois 1850 1910–1937 Titans CCIW Division III
Lincoln College, Illinois Lincoln, Illinois 1865 1910–1928 Lynx
Lombard College (defunct) Galesburg, Illinois 1853 1910–1929 Golden Tornado/Olive N/A N/A
Millikin University Decatur, Illinois 1901 1910–1937 Big Blue CCIW Division III
Shurtleff College (defunct) Alton, Illinois 1827 1910–1937 Pioneers/Bison N/A N/A
William & Vashti College (defunct) Aledo, Illinois 1908 1910–1917 unknown N/A N/A
Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois 1860 1912–1937 Vikings CCIW Division III
Carthage College Carthage, Illinois 1847 1912–1941 Redmen CCIW Division III
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, Illinois 1895 1912–1970 Panthers OVC Division I
McKendree College (now University) Lebanon, Illinois 1828 1912–1938 Bearcats GLVC Division II
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois 1869 1913–1962 Maroons/Salukis MVC Division I
Blackburn College Carlinville, Illinois 1837 1914–1923 Beavers SLIAC Division III
St. Viator College (defunct) Bourbonnais, Illinois 1865 1916–1938 Irish/Green N/A N/A
Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois 1899 1914–1970 Leathernecks The Summit Division I
Knox College Galesburg, Illinois 1837 1919–1937 Prairie Fire Midwest Division III
Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois 1860 1919–1937 Thunder CCIW Division III
Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois 1857 1919–1937 Foresters Midwest Division III
Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois 1895 1920–1965 Huskies MAC Division I
Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois 1853 1921–1937 Fighting Scots Midwest Division III
Mount Morris College (defunct) Mount Morris, Illinois 1839 1922–1931 Mountaineers/Mounders N/A N/A
Elmhurst College Elmhurst, Illinois 1871 1925–1941 Bluejays CCIW Division III
North Central College Naperville, Illinois 1861 1927–1937 Cardinals CCIW Division III
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan 1892 1950–1970 Chippewas MAC Division I
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan 1849 1950–1961 Hurons (now Eagles) MAC Division I

Football champions

Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

  • 1914 – No champion
  • 1915 – Illinois College
  • 1916 – Millikin (IL)
  • 1917 – Lombard (IL)
  • 1918 – No champion
  • 1919 – Unknown
  • 1920 – Unknown
  • 1921 – Unknown
  • 1922 – Unknown
  • 1923 – Unknown
  • 1924 – Bradley
  • 1925 – Bradley and Monmouth (IL)
  • 1926 – Bradley and Monmouth (IL)
  • 1927 – Bradley
  • 1928 – Eastern Illinois and Monmouth (IL)
  • 1929 – Knox and Lombard (IL)
  • 1930 – Millikin
  • 1931 – Monmouth (IL)
  • 1932 – Illinois Wesleyan and McKendree
  • 1933 – Illinois Wesleyan
  • 1934 – Augustana (IL) and Millikin
  • 1935 – Millikin and Monmouth (IL)
  • 1936 – Illinois Wesleyan and Saint Viator
  • 1937 – Bradley, Illinois College, and Illinois State
  • 1938 – Northern Illinois
  • 1939 – Illinois State and Western Illinois
  • 1940 – Carthage and Illinois State
  • 1941 – Illinois State and Northern Illinois
  • 1942 – Western Illinois
  • 1943 – No champion
  • 1944 – Northern Illinois
  • 1945 – Illinois State
  • 1946 – Northern Illinois
  • 1947 – Southern Illinois
  • 1948 – Eastern Illinois
  • 1949 – Western Illinois

Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

  • 1950 – Illinois State
  • 1951 – Northern Illinois
  • 1952 – Central Michigan
  • 1953 – Central Michigan
  • 1954 – Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan
  • 1955 – Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan
  • 1956 – Central Michigan
  • 1957 – Eastern Michigan
  • 1958 – Western Illinois
  • 1959 – Western Illinois
  • 1960 – Southern Illinois
  • 1961 – Southern Illinois
  • 1962 – Central Michigan
  • 1963 – Northern Illinois
  • 1964 – Northern Illinois and Western Illinois
  • 1965 – Northern Illinois
  • 1966 – Central Michigan
  • 1967 – Central Michigan and Illinois State
  • 1968 – Central Michigan and Illinois State
  • 1969 – Western Illinois

See also

External links

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