River States Conference
| River States Conference | |
|---|---|
| RSC | |
 | |
| Established | 1916 |
| Association | NAIA |
| Members | 13 |
| Sports fielded |
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| Region | Eastern |
| Headquarters | Middletown, Ohio |
| Commissioner | Michael Schell (since March 15, 2018) |
| Website | www |
| Locations | |
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The River States Conference (RSC), formerly known as Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), is a collegiate athletic conference with membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Although it was historically a Kentucky-only conference, it has now expanded to include members in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and at various times in the past has also had members in Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia.
In March 2016, the KIAC announced it would change its name to the River States Conference, effective July 1, 2016, to better reflect its membership, which has expanded beyond Kentucky and now includes members in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.[1]
Member schools[]
Current members[]
- Notes
- ^ Alice Lloyd left the KIAC after the 1991–92 school year; and re-joined in the 2005–06 school year.
- ^ Midway was a women's college until after the 2016–17 school year.[2] The school began sponsoring men's sports effective the 2017–18 school year.
- ^ Oakland City[3] had been a member until after the 1974–75 school year, during the conference's KIAC era.
- ^ Rio Grande left the KIAC after the 1970–71 school year; and re-joined in the 2014–15 school year.
Former members[]
School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year each institution was a conference member.
- Notes
- ^ Known as Bellarmine University since 2000.
- ^ Known as Bethel University since 2009.
- ^ Known as Campbellsville University since 1996.
- ^ Known as University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise) since 1999.
- ^ UVA Wise dropped "Highland" from its nickname in 2017.
- ^ Closed at the end of the fall 2019 semester (2019–20 school year).
- ^ Known as University of the Cumberlands since 2005.
- ^ Cumberlands changed its nickname to Patriots in 2002.
- ^ Renamed Eastern Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Eastern Kentucky University since 1966.
- ^ Kentucky Wesleyan moved to its current campus in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1956.
- ^ Renamed Morehead State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Morehead State University since 1966.
- ^ Mountain State competed as an independent in men's basketball during its tenure in the conference.
- ^ Renamed Murray State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Murray State University since 1966.
- ^ Closed at the end of the fall 2021 semester (2021–22 school year).
- ^ Known as Thomas More University since 2018.
- ^ Renamed Western Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and known as Western Kentucky University since 1966.
Membership timeline[]
Full members (non-football) Assoc. member (Other sports) Other Conference
Conference sports[]
The River States Conference currently sponsors 17 sports (8 men's and 9 women's).
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  |
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| Basketball | |
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| Cross Country | |
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| Golf | |
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| Soccer | |
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| Softball |
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| Tennis | |
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| Track & Field Indoor | |
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| Track & Field Outdoor | |
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| Volleyball |
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References[]
- ^ "KIAC announces River States Conference as new name, unveils new logo". March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
- ^ "Midway University Trustees vote to accept men into its daytime undergraduate programs" (Press release). Midway University. May 16, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ VSN Staff (March 31, 2020). "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". Victory Sports Network. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
External links[]
- River States Conference