Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

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