Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), commonly known as the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) from approximately 1910 through the late 1960s, is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the western United States, mostly in Colorado with members in Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Established1909
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision II
Members15
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 11
RegionMountain States and Great Plains
Former namesColorado Faculty Athletic Conference (1909–1910)
Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (1910–1967)
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Colorado
CommissionerChris Graham (since 2013)
Websitermacsports.org
Locations

History

Founded in 1909, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is the fifth oldest active college athletic conference in the United States, the oldest in NCAA Division II, and the sixth to be founded after the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Big Ten Conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Missouri Valley Conference. For its first 30 years, the RMAC was considered a major conference, equivalent to today's NCAA Division I, before seven of its larger members left in 1938 to form the Mountain States Conference, also called the Skyline Conference.

The original name of Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference was changed to Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (RMFAC) on May 7, 1910. The presidents assumed control of the league from the faculty in 1967 and changed the name to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Colorado Athletic Conference dissolved in 1996 with the RMAC absorbing the remaining CAC teams.[1][2]

Member schools

Current members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined
Adams State University Alamosa, Colorado 1921 Public 3,701 Grizzlies           1956
Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota 1883 Public 4,722 Yellow Jackets           2012
Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska 1911 Public 3,000 Eagles           1989
Colorado Christian University Lakewood, Colorado 1914 Private (Christian) 5,100 Cougars           1996
Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction, Colorado 1925 Public 11,000 Mavericks                1975
Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado 1873 Public 5,468 Orediggers           1909
Colorado State University–Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado 1933 Public 6,805 ThunderWolves           1967;
1976;
1996
University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado 1965 Public 10,300 Mountain Lions           1997
Fort Lewis College Durango, Colorado 1911 Public 4,000 Skyhawks                1967;
1994
Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado 1965 Public 24,000 Roadrunners           1996
New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico 1893 Public 3,500 Cowboys & Cowgirls           1968;
1974;
1990
Regis University Denver, Colorado 1877 Private (Catholic) 9,722 Rangers           1967;
1996
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, South Dakota 1885 Public 2,640 Hardrockers           2014
Western Colorado University Gunnison, Colorado 1901 Public 2,400 Mountaineers           1924
Westminster College Salt Lake City, Utah 1875 Private (Nonsectarian) 3,108 Griffins           1967;
2015
  • Colorado–Colorado Springs was an affiliate member in 1996–97.
  • Fort Lewis was an affiliate member from 1990 to 1994.

Affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Sport Primary
conference
University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, Nebraska 1905 Public 7,052 Lopers           2014 swimming & diving (W) Mid-America
Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, Oklahoma 1910 Private
(BGCO)
2,097 Bison           2016 lacrosse (W);
swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W)
Great American
Oklahoma Christian University Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1950 Private
(Churches of Christ)
2,479 Eagles & Lady Eagles           2017 swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W)
Lone Star
San Francisco State University San Francisco, California 1899 Public 28,290 Gators           1997 wrestling California
  • Nebraska–Kearney was a full member in 1989–90 and from 1994 to 2012.

Former members

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 1875 Private Cougars 1918 1938 West Coast
(NCAA D-I)
University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado 1876 Public Buffaloes 1909 1938 Pac-12
(NCAA D-I)
Colorado College Colorado Springs, Colorado 1874 Private Tigers 1909;
1914
1910;
1967
Southern Collegiate
(NCAA D-III)
Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 1870 Public Rams 1909 1938 Mountain West
(NCAA D-I)
University of Denver Denver, Colorado 1864 Private Pioneers 1910 1938 The Summit
(NCAA D-I)
Dixie State University St. George, Utah 1911 Public Trailblazers 2018 2020 Western Athletic Conference
(NCAA D-1)
Emporia State University Emporia, Kansas 1863 Public Hornets 1967 1972 Mid-America
Fort Hays State University Hays, Kansas 1902 Public Tigers 1967;
1989
1972;
2006
Mid-America
Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho 1901 Public Bengals 1948 1958 Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 1893 Public Bobcats 1917 1959 Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
University of Nebraska Omaha Omaha, Nebraska 1908 Public Mavericks 1967 1972 The Summit
(NCAA D-I)
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado 1889 Public Bears 1924 1972 Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, Kansas 1903 Public Gorillas 1967 1972 Mid-America
Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 1897 Public Thunderbirds 1967 1986 Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
University of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 1850 Public Utes 1910 1938 Pac-12
(NCAA D-I)
Utah State University Logan, Utah 1888 Public Aggies 1914 1938 Mountain West
(NCAA D-I)
Washburn University Topeka, Kansas 1865 Public Ichabods 1967 1972 Mid-America
Wayne State College Wayne, Nebraska 1910 Public Wildcats 1989 1990 Northern Sun
Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico 1893 Public Mustangs 1967;
2006
1990;
2016
Lone Star
University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming 1886 Public Cowboys 1921 1938 Mountain West
(NCAA D-I)
  • Denver — was an affiliate member in 1996–97.
  • Fort Hays State — wrestling was an affiliate member in 2006–2012.

Former affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Type Nickname Joined Left Sport Primary
conference
California Baptist University Riverside, California 1950 Private Lancers 2013 2018 swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W);
wrestling
Western Athletic
(NCAA D-I)
Grand Canyon University Phoenix, Arizona 1949 Private 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 Private Cardinals 2008 2013 swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W)
Southland
(NCAA D-I)
Lindenwood University St. Charles, Missouri 1827 Private Lions 2013
2014
2014
2019
2016
2016
lacrosse (W);
swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W)
Great Lakes Valley
Maryville University St. Louis, Missouri 1872 Private Saints 2016 2017 lacrosse (M) Great Lakes Valley
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota 1887 Public Dragons 2009 2012 swimming & diving (W) Northern Sun
Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana 1927 Public Yellowjackets 2007 2015 tennis (M);
tennis (W)
Great Northwest
Northern State University Aberdeen, South Dakota 1901 Public Wolves 2009 2012 swimming & diving (W) Northern Sun
Rockhurst University Kansas City, Missouri 1910 Private Hawks 2013
2015
2019
2018
lacrosse (W);
lacrosse (M)
Great Lakes Valley
University of Texas of the Permian Basin Odessa, Texas 1973 Public Falcons 2008 2013 swimming & diving (M);
swimming & diving (W)
Lone Star

Membership timeline

A total of 49 different schools have been associated with the RMAC, either through full or associate membership. Of those schools, only Colorado 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

RMAC locations
  • 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 left to move up to Division I. Colorado-Colorado Springs became a full member. San Francisco State joined the RMAC as an associate member in wrestling only.
  • 2006: Fort Hays State left the RMAC for the MIAA (FHSU did remain in the RMAC as an associate member in wrestling). Western New Mexico rejoined the conference, keeping membership at 14 schools.
  • 2007: Grand Canyon University joined the RMAC as an associate member only in wrestling. Montana State University Billings joined 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 joined the RMAC as associate members for swimming only. Grand Canyon added men's and women's swimming to its RMAC membership.
  • 2009: Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead joined the RMAC as associate members in swimming.
  • 2012: Nebraska-Kearney left the RMAC to join the MIAA. Black Hills State University moved up from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and joined the RMAC to keep the number of full members at 14. Fort Hays State wrestling left once the MIAA began sponsoring that sport. Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State women's swimming left when their full-time home of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference began sponsoring the sport.
  • 2013: California Baptist University became an RMAC associate in three sports—men's and women's swimming, plus wrestling. Two schools joined for women's lacrosse only—Lindenwood University and Rockhurst University. Grand Canyon and Incarnate Word ended their RMAC associate memberships and started transitions to NCAA Division I; Grand Canyon moved to the Western Athletic Conference and Incarnate Word joined the Southland Conference, with the latter's swimming teams joining the league now known as the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. UT–Permian Basin moved its swimming teams to the single-sport New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference.
  • 2014: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology joined the RMAC.[3]
  • 2015: Westminster College (Utah) rejoined the RMAC.[4][5] Rockhurst added men's lacrosse to its RMAC membership. Oklahoma Baptist University joined in women's lacrosse, plus men's and women's swimming.
  • 2016: Western New Mexico left for the Lone Star Conference, dropping the RMAC's full-time membership to 15. Two schools joined as associate members: Dixie State University in football, and Maryville University in men's lacrosse.
  • 2017: Maryville men's lacrosse left the RMAC when its primary home of the Great Lakes Valley Conference began sponsoring the sport. Oklahoma Christian University became an associate in men's and women's swimming.
  • 2018: Dixie State became an all-sports RMAC member. California Baptist ended its RMAC associate memberships to move to Division I; both swimming teams joined CBU's new home of the WAC, while wrestling became an independent. After Rockhurst's affiliation contract with the RMAC in men's lacrosse expired, that team joined the school's other sports in the GLVC; women's lacrosse remained in the RMAC, as the GLVC then sponsored lacrosse only for men. The RMAC dropped men's tennis as a conference sport.
  • 2019: Dixie State announced it would leave the RMAC to join Division I and the WAC in 2020. Lindenwood and Rockhurst women's lacrosse left the RMAC once the GLVC began sponsoring that sport.
Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross CountryYY
FootballY
GolfYY
LacrosseYY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
Swimming & DivingYY
TennisY
Track & Field IndoorYY
Track & Field OutdoorYY
VolleyballY
WrestlingY

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country
Football Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming
& Diving
Track
& Field
Indoor
Track
& Field
Outdoor
Wrestling Total
RMAC
Sports
Adams State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Black Hills State Y Y Y Y Y 5
Chadron State Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Colorado Christian Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Colorado Mesa Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Colorado Mines Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 10
Colorado State–Pueblo Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 10
Colorado–Colorado Springs Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Dixie State Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Fort Lewis Y Y Y Y Y 5
Metropolitan State Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
New Mexico Highlands Y Y Y Y Y 5
Regis Y Y Y Y Y 5
South Dakota Mines Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Western Colorado Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Westminster Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Totals 10 16 16 11 10 4 12 2 11 12 7 111
Affiliate Members
Oklahoma Baptist Y 1
Oklahoma Christian Y 1
San Francisco State Y 1

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 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 10
Black Hills State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
Chadron State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Colorado Christian Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
Colorado Mesa Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Colorado Mines Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
Colorado State–Pueblo Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
Colorado–Colorado Springs Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Dixie State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Fort Lewis Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Metropolitan State Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
New Mexico Highlands Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Regis Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
South Dakota Mines Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
Western Colorado Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
Westminster Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
Totals 16 16 13 7 14 13 6 5 13 15 16 134
Affiliate Members
Nebraska–Kearney Y 1
Oklahoma Baptist Y Y 2
Oklahoma Christian Y 1

Other sponsored sports by school

School Men Women Co-ed
Tennis Beach
Volleyball
Skiing
Colorado Mesa IND IND
CSU–Pueblo IND
Metro State IND
Westminster RMISA
  • — D-I sport

Football champions

Basketball champions

References

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