View source for Heart of America Athletic Conference

{{Short description|College athletic conference}}
{{Infobox sports league
| name         = {{nowrap|Heart of America Athletic Conference}}
| color        = #002d72
| font_color   = white
| logo         = HAAC logo 2015.png
| logo_size    = 200
| founded      = 1971
| association   = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]]
| teams        = 15
| sports       = 23
| mens         = 12
| womens       = 11
| region       = [[West North Central states|West North Central]]
| headquarters = [[Overland Park, Kansas]]
| commissioner = Nik Rule
| since        = 2024
| website      = {{URL|https://heartofamericaconference.com/}}
| map          = HAAC-USA-states.PNG
| map_size     = 250
}}

The '''Heart of America Athletic Conference''' ('''HAAC''' or '''The Heart''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haacsports.com/article/2806.php |title=Heart unveils new brans, logo |publisher=Heart of America Athletic Conference |date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309052545/https://www.heartofamericaconference.com/article/2806.php |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is a [[List of college athletic conferences in the United States|college athletic conference]] affiliated with the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA). Member institutions are located in [[Iowa]], [[Kansas]], [[Missouri]], and [[Nebraska]] in the [[United States]].

==History==
{{OSM Location map 
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| title = Heart of America Athletic Conference 
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}}

The HAAC's earliest ancestor was the '''[[Missouri College Athletic Union]]''' (MCAU), which was formed in 1924 when the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (now the [[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association]] or MIAA) split in two. The old MIAA's private schools formed the [[Missouri College Athletic Union|Athletic Union]], while the state teachers' colleges stayed in the MIAA.<ref>[http://community-2.webtv.net/SEKSPORTS2/SEKSPORTS2/page5.html MIAA] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120709223210/http://community-2.webtv.net/SEKSPORTS2/SEKSPORTS2/page5.html |date=July 9, 2012 }}</ref> It was reorganized as the HAAC in 1971 when it began admitting schools outside Missouri. However, the HAAC does not presently claim the Athletic Union's history as its own.

In early 2014, [[Grand View University]] and [[William Penn University]] were announced as members for the 2015–16 school year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/10/4741333/heart-of-america-conference-adds.html |title=Heart of America Conference adds two Iowa members |work=The Kansas City Star |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref>  In April 2015, [[Clarke University]] and [[Mount Mercy University]] were also announced as members for the 2016–17 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haacsports.com/article/2773.php |title=Clarke, Mount Mercy approved for membership |publisher=Heart of America Athletic Conference |date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033349/https://www.heartofamericaconference.com/article/2773.php |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2019, [[Park University]] was approved for HAAC membership and joined in the 2020–21 school year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Park set to join Heart of America in 2020 |url=http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/Clip/news/park-set-to-join-heart-of-america-in-2020.htm |access-date=March 18, 2020 |work=Victory Sports Network |date=October 9, 2019}}</ref> On February 10, 2022, long-serving [[Evangel University]] accepted its invitation to join the [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference]], also Kansas-based, in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Evangel University Accepts Invitation to Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference |url=https://www.evangelathletics.com/general/2021-22/releases/20220210fk768y |access-date=February 26, 2022 |work=Evangel Valor |date=February 10, 2022}}</ref>

On July 24, 2023, [[William Woods University]] (alongside St. Ambrose) announced they would join the conference as associate members in football beginning in the 2024 fall season (2024–25 school year). The expansion made it NAIA's largest football conference with 14 teams playing in two divisions.<ref>[https://abc17news.com/sports/2023/07/24/william-woods-football-joins-heart-of-america-conference/ "William Woods football joins Heart of America conference"] ''ABC 17 News''. Retrieved 2023-07-26.</ref>

The current commissioner of the conference is Lori Thomas. Thomas, the first female commissioner in NAIA history, began her term in 2014,<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=About us |url=http://www.haacsports.com/f/About_Us.php |publisher=Heart of America Athletic Conference |date=2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722001941/http://www.haacsports.com/f/About_Us.php |archive-date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> succeeding Larry Lady who retired after 22 years as commissioner.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

===Chronological timeline===
* 1971 – The Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) was founded. Charter members included [[Baker University]], [[Central Methodist University|Central Methodist College]] (now Central Methodist University), the [[College of Emporia]], [[Graceland University|Graceland College]] (now Graceland University), [[Missouri Valley College]], [[Ottawa University]], [[Tarkio College]] and [[William Jewell College]], beginning the 1971–72 academic year.
* 1974 – The College of Emporia left the HAAC as the school announced that it would close after the 1973–74 academic year.
* 1980 – [[Culver–Stockton College]] and [[MidAmerica Nazarene University|Mid-America Nazarene College]] (now MidAmerica Nazarene University) joined the HAAC in the 1980–81 academic year.
* 1982 – Ottawa left the HAAC to rejoin the [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference]] (KCAC) after the 1981–82 academic year.
* 1986 – Central Methodist left the HAAC to become an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] after the 1985–86 academic year.
* 1987 – [[Evangel University|Evangel College]] (now Evangel University) joined the HAAC in the 1987–88 academic year.
* 1991 – [[Benedictine College]] joined the HAAC (with Central Methodist rejoining), both effective in the 1991–92 academic year.
* 1996 – [[Lindenwood University|Lindenwood College]] (now Lindenwood University) joined the HAAC in the 1996–97 academic year.
* 2000 – [[Avila University|Avila College]] (now Avila University) joined the HAAC in the 2000–01 academic year.
* 2011 – Two institutions left the HAAC and the NAIA to join the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] ranks of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), both effective after the 2010–11 academic year:
** Lindenwood as an [[NCAA Division II independent schools|NCAA D-II Independent]] (which would later join the [[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association]] (MIAA), beginning the 2012–13 school year)
** and William Jewell to the [[Great Lakes Valley Conference]] (GLVC)
* 2011 – [[Peru State College]] joined the HAAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
* 2015 – [[Grand View University]] and [[William Penn University]] (both coming from the defunct [[Midwest Collegiate Conference]] (MCC)) joined the HAAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
* 2016 – [[Clarke University]] and [[Mount Mercy University]] (also both coming from the defunct Midwest Collegiate (MCC) after spending a season as NAIA Independents) joined the HAAC in the 2016–17 academic year.
* 2017 – [[Dickinson State University]] joined the HAAC as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2018 – Avila left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2020 – [[Park University]] joined the HAAC in the 2020–21 academic year.
* 2020 – Three institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
** [[Missouri Baptist University]] and the [[University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis]] (UHSP) for men's volleyball
** and [[Waldorf University]] for men's & women's wrestling
* 2021 – Two institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2021–22 academic year:
** [[St. Ambrose University]] for only men's wrestling
** and [[Iowa Wesleyan University]] for men's & women's wrestling
* 2022 – Two institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year):
** [[Mount Vernon Nazarene University]] for men's lacrosse
** and St. Ambrose for men's and women's lacrosse
* 2023 – Evangel left the HAAC to join the KCAC after the 2022–23 academic year.
* 2023 – Iowa Wesleyan left the HAAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's wrestling after the 2023–24 academic year; as the school announced that it ceased operations.
* 2023 – Two institutions added other single sports into their HAAC affiliate memberships, both effective in the 2023–24 academic year:
** Dickinson State for women's wrestling
** and Missouri Baptist for football
* 2024 – Two institutions left the HAAC as affiliate members, both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
** Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's lacrosse
** and Waldorf for men's and women's wrestling
* 2024 – Thirteen institutions joined the HAAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2024–25 academic year:
** [[Central Christian College of Kansas]], [[Dordt University]], [[Kansas Wesleyan University]] and [[Morningside University]] for men's volleyball
** [[Columbia College (Missouri)|Columbia College]] for men's lacrosse
** [[John Brown University]] and [[Texas Wesleyan University]] for men's and women's tennis
** [[Midland University]] for men's and women's lacrosse
** [[Ottawa University]] for men's and women's lacrosse and men's volleyball
** Missouri Baptist for men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis
** St. Ambrose for football
** the USHP for women's lacrosse
** and [[William Woods University]] for football, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis
* 2025 – Missouri Baptist and William Woods joined the HAAC as full members for all sports, beginning the 2025–26 academic year.

==Member schools==
===Current members===
The HAAC currently has fifteen full members, all but one are [[Private university|private]] schools. All but one of the private schools are religiously affiliated:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=full|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
|-
| '''[[Baker University]]'''
| [[Baldwin City, Kansas]]
| 1858
| [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| 1,945
| [[Baker Wildcats|Wildcats]]
| 1971
|-
| '''[[Benedictine College]]'''
| [[Atchison, Kansas]]
| 1858
| [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]<br />{{small|([[Benedictines]])}}
| 2,465
| [[Benedictine Ravens|Ravens]]
| 1991
|-
| '''[[Central Methodist University]]'''
| [[Fayette, Missouri]]
| 1854
| United Methodist
| 1,017
| [[Central Methodist Eagles|Eagles]]
| 1971;<br />1991{{efn|group=full|Central Methodist left the HAAC after the 1985–86 school year; before rejoining in the 1991–92 school year.}}
|-
| '''[[Clarke University]]'''
| [[Dubuque, Iowa]]
| 1843
| Catholic<br />{{small|([[Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary|B.V.M.]])}}
| 1,025
| [[Clarke Crusaders|Pride]]
| 2016
|-
| '''[[Culver–Stockton College]]'''
| [[Canton, Missouri]]
| 1853
| [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]]
| 1,069
| [[Culver-Stockton Wildcats|Wildcats]]
| 1980
|-
| '''[[Graceland University]]'''
| [[Lamoni, Iowa]] 
| 1895
| [[Community of Christ]]
| 1,195
| [[Graceland Yellowjackets|Yellowjackets]]
| 1971
|-
| '''[[Grand View University]]'''
| [[Des Moines, Iowa]]
| 1896
| [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|Lutheran ELCA]]
| 1,796
| [[Grand View Vikings|Vikings]]
| 2015
|-
| '''[[MidAmerica Nazarene University]]'''
| [[Olathe, Kansas]]
| 1966
| [[Church of the Nazarene|Nazarene]]
| 1,539
| [[MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers|Pioneers]]
| 1980
|-
| '''[[Missouri Baptist University]]'''
| [[Creve Coeur, Missouri]]
| 1957
| [[Missouri Baptist Convention|Baptist]]
| 5,641
| [[Missouri Baptist Spartans|Spartans]]
| 2025{{efn|group=full|Prior to becoming a full member, Missouri Baptist competed as an affiliate member of the HAAC for men's volleyball from 2020–21 to 2024–25; football from 2023–24 to 2024–25; and men's & women's lacrosse and men's & women's tennis during the 2024–25 school year.}}
|-
| '''[[Missouri Valley College]]'''
| [[Marshall, Missouri]]
| 1889
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]]<br />{{small|(PCUSA)}}
| 1,619
| [[Missouri Valley Vikings|Vikings]]
| 1971
|-
| '''[[Mount Mercy University]]'''
| [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]
| 1928
| Catholic<br />{{small|([[Sisters of Mercy|R.S.M.]])}}
| 1,451
| [[Mount Mercy Mustangs|Mustangs]]
| 2016
|-
| '''[[Park University]]'''
| [[Parkville, Missouri]]
| 1875
| Nonsectarian
| 6,634
| [[Park Pirates|Pirates]]
| 2020
|-
| '''[[Peru State College]]'''
| [[Peru, Nebraska]]
| 1865
| Public
| 1,638
| [[Peru State Bobcats|Bobcats]]
| 2011
|-
| '''[[William Penn University]]'''
| [[Oskaloosa, Iowa]]
| 1873
| [[Quakers]]
| 1,536
| [[William Penn Statesmen|Statesmen]] &<br />[[William Penn Lady Statesmen|Lady Statesmen]]
| 2015
|-
| '''[[William Woods University]]'''
| [[Fulton, Missouri]]
| 1870
| [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]]
| 1,729
| [[William Woods Owls|Owls]]
| 2025{{efn|group=full|Prior to becoming a full member, William Woods competed as an affiliate member of the HAAC for football, men's lacrosse and men's & women's tennis during the 2024–25 school year.}}
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=full}}
<!--
===Future members===
The HAAC will have two new members, both are [[Private university|private]] schools as well as current HAAC affiliate members.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joining{{efn|group=future|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! Current<br />conference
|-
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=future}}
-->
===Affiliate members===
The HAAC currently has eleven affiliate members, all but one are [[Private university|private]] schools:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=aff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! HAAC<br />sport
! Primary<br />conference
|-
| '''[[Columbia College (Missouri)|Columbia College]]'''
| [[Columbia, Missouri]]
| 1851
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 6,046
| [[Columbia Cougars|Cougars]]
| 2024
| Men's lacrosse
| [[American Midwest Conference|American Midwest]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Dickinson State University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Dickinson, North Dakota]]
| rowspan=2 | 1918
| rowspan=2 | Public
| rowspan=2 | 1,453
| rowspan=2 | [[Dickinson State Blue Hawks|Blue Hawks]]
| 2017
| Men's wrestling
| rowspan=2 | [[Frontier Conference|Frontier]]
|-
| 2023
| Women's wrestling
|-
| '''[[Dordt University]]'''
| [[Sioux Center, Iowa]]
| 1955
| [[Christian Reformed Church in North America|Christian Reformed]]
| 1,929
| [[Dordt Defenders|Defenders]]
| 2024
| Men's volleyball
| [[Great Plains Athletic Conference|Great Plains (GPAC)]]
|- 
| rowspan=2 | '''[[John Brown University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Siloam Springs, Arkansas]]
| rowspan=2 | 1919
| rowspan=2 | [[Interdenominationalism|Interdenominational]]
| rowspan=2 | 2,341
| rowspan=2 | [[John Brown Golden Eagles|Golden Eagles]]
| rowspan=2 | 2024
| Men's tennis
| rowspan=2 | [[Sooner Athletic Conference|Sooner (SAC)]]
|-
| Women's tennis
|-
| '''[[Kansas Wesleyan University]]'''
| [[Salina, Kansas]]
| 1886
| [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| 951
| [[Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes|Coyotes]]
| 2024
| Men's volleyball
| [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|Kansas (KCAC)]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Midland University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Fremont, Nebraska]]
| rowspan=2 | 1883
| rowspan=2 | [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|Lutheran ELCA]]
| rowspan=2 | 1,557
| rowspan=2 | [[Midland Warriors|Warriors]]
| rowspan=2 | 2024
| Men's lacrosse
| rowspan=2 | [[Great Plains Athletic Conference|Great Plains (GPAC)]]
|-
| Women's lacrosse
|-
| '''[[Morningside University]]'''
| [[Sioux City, Iowa]]
| 1894
| United Methodist
| 2,158
| [[Morningside Mustangs|Mustangs]]
| 2024
| Men's volleyball
| [[Great Plains Athletic Conference|Great Plains (GPAC)]]
|-
| rowspan=3 | '''[[Ottawa University]]'''
| rowspan=3 | [[Ottawa, Kansas]]
| rowspan=3 | 1865
| rowspan=3 | [[American Baptist Churches USA|Baptist]]
| rowspan=3 | 1,055
| rowspan=3 | [[Ottawa Braves|Braves]]
| rowspan=3 | 2024
| Men's lacrosse
| rowspan=3 | [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|Kansas (KCAC)]]
|-
| Women's lacrosse
|-
| Men's volleyball
|-
| rowspan=4 | '''[[St. Ambrose University]]'''
| rowspan=4 | [[Davenport, Iowa]]
| rowspan=4 | 1882
| rowspan=4 | [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]<br />{{small|([[Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport|Diocese of<br />Davenport]])}}
| rowspan=4 | 2,703
| rowspan=4 | [[St. Ambrose Fighting Bees|Fighting Bees]]
| 2021
| Men's wrestling
| rowspan=4 | [[Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference|Chicagoland (CCAC)]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2022
| Men's lacrosse
|-
| Women's lacrosse
|-
| 2024
| Football
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Texas Wesleyan University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Fort Worth, Texas]]
| rowspan=2 | 1890
| rowspan=2 | United Methodist
| rowspan=2 | 2,595
| rowspan=2 | [[Texas Wesleyan Rams|Rams]]
| rowspan=2 | 2024
| Men's tennis
| rowspan=2 | [[Sooner Athletic Conference|Sooner (SAC)]]
|-
| Women's tennis
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis|University of Health Sciences<br />and Pharmacy in St. Louis]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]]
| rowspan=2 | 1864
| rowspan=2 | Nonsectarian
| rowspan=2 | 631
| rowspan=2 | [[UHSP Eutectics|Eutectics]]
| 2020
| Men's volleyball
| rowspan=2 | [[American Midwest Conference|American Midwest]]
|-
| 2024
| Women's lacrosse
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=aff}}
<!--
===Future affiliate members===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joining{{efn|group=futaff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! HAAC<br />sport
! Primary<br />conference
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=futaff}}
-->
===Former members===
The HAAC has seven former full members, all were [[Private university|private]] schools:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=former|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! Left{{efn|group=former|Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.}}
! Subsequent<br />conference
! Current<br />conference
|-
| '''[[Avila University]]'''
| [[Kansas City, Missouri]]
| 1916
| [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]<br />{{small|([[Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet|C.S.J.]])}}
| 1,733
| [[Avila Eagles|Eagles]]
| 2000
| 2018
| colspan=2" | [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|Kansas (KCAC)]]<br />(2018–present)
|-
| {{sort|Emporia|'''[[College of Emporia]]'''}}
| [[Emporia, Kansas]]
| 1882
| [[Presbyterian Church|Presbyterian]]
| N/A
| [[College of Emporia Fighting Presbies|Fighting Presbies]]
| 1971
| 1974
| colspan=2" | Closed in 1974
|-
| '''[[Evangel University]]'''
| [[Springfield, Missouri]]
| 1955
| [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]]
| 2,157
| [[Evangel Valor|Valor]]
| 1987
| 2023
| colspan=2" | [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|Kansas (KCAC)]]<br />(2023–present)
|-
| '''[[Lindenwood University]]'''
| [[St. Charles, Missouri]]
| 1827
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian]]<br />{{small|(PCUSA)}}
| 7,288
| [[Lindenwood Lions|Lions]]
| 1996
| 2011
| various{{efn|group=former|Lindenwood had joined the following subsequent conferences: as an [[NCAA Division II independent schools|NCAA D-II Independent]] during the 2011–12 school year; the [[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}} (MIAA) from 2012–13 to 2018–19; and the [[Great Lakes Valley Conference]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2}} (GLVC) from 2019–20 to 2021–22.}}
| [[Ohio Valley Conference|Ohio Valley (OVC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D1|Currently an [[NCAA Division I]] athletic conference.}}<br />(2022–present)
|-
| '''[[Ottawa University]]'''
| [[Ottawa, Kansas]]
| 1865
| [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]]
| 1,055
| [[Ottawa Braves|Braves]]
| 1971
| 1982
| colspan=2" | [[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|Kansas (KCAC)]]<br />(1982–present)
|-
| '''[[Tarkio College]]'''
| [[Tarkio, Missouri]]
| 1883
| [[United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America|Presbyterian]]<br />{{small|(UPCUSA)}}
| N/A
| [[Tarkio Owls|Owls]]
| 1971
| 1992
| colspan=2" | Closed in 1992
|-
| '''[[William Jewell College]]'''
| [[Liberty, Missouri]]
| 1849
| [[Nonsectarian]]
| 886
| [[William Jewell Cardinals|Cardinals]]
| 1971
| 2011
| colspan=2" | [[Great Lakes Valley Conference|Great Lakes Valley (GLVC)]]{{efn|group=former|name=D2|Currently an [[NCAA Division II]] athletic conference.}}<br />(2011–present)
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=former}}

===Former affiliate members===
The HAAC has four former affiliate members; which all were [[private university|private]] schools:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Institution
! Location
! Founded
! Affiliation
! Enrollment
! Nickname
! Joined{{efn|group=faff|Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.}}
! Left{{efn|group=faff|Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.}}
! HAAC<br />sport
! Primary<br />conference
|-
| '''[[Central Christian College of Kansas]]'''
| [[McPherson, Kansas]]
| 1884
| [[Free Methodist Church|Free Methodist]]
| 455
| [[Central Christian Tigers|Tigers]]
| 2024
| 2025
| Men's volleyball
| [[Sooner Athletic Conference|Sooner (SAC)]]{{efn|group=faff|After competing in the HAAC as an affiliate member, Central Christian (Ks.)'s men's volleyball team later competed as an affiliate member within the [[California Pacific Conference]] (CalPac).}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Iowa Wesleyan University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Mount Pleasant, Iowa]]
| rowspan=2 | 1842
| rowspan=2 | [[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| rowspan=2 | N/A
| rowspan=2 | [[Iowa Wesleyan Tigers|Tigers]]
| rowspan=2 | 2021
| rowspan=2 | 2023
| Men's wrestling
| rowspan=2 | Closed in 2023
|-
| Women's wrestling
|-
| '''[[Mount Vernon Nazarene University]]'''
| [[Mount Vernon, Ohio]]
| 1964
| [[Church of the Nazarene|Nazarene]]
| 1,845
| [[Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars|Cougars]]
| 2022
| 2024
| Men's lacrosse
| [[Crossroads League|Crossroads]]{{efn|group=faff|After competing in the HAAC as an affiliate member, Mount Vernon Nazarene's men's lacrosse team later competed as an Independent.}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Waldorf University]]'''
| rowspan=2 | [[Forest City, Iowa]]
| rowspan=2 | 1903
| rowspan=2 | [[For-profit higher education in the United States|For-profit]]{{efn|group=faff|Formerly affiliated with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA) until 2010.}}
| rowspan=2 | 2,657
| rowspan=2 | [[Waldorf Warriors|Warriors]]
| rowspan=2 | 2020
| rowspan=2 | 2024
| Men's wrestling
| rowspan=2 | [[Great Plains Athletic Conference|Great Plains (GPAC)]]
|-
| Women's wrestling
|}

;Notes:
{{notelist|group=faff}}

===Membership timeline===
<timeline>
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1971 till:2027
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5

Colors =
          id:line value:black
          id:bg value:white
          id:Full value:rgb(0.7,0.9,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
          id:FullxF value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
          id:AssocF value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
          id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.8,0.9,0.7) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only
          id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference
          id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used

PlotData =
 width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

 bar:1 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:[[Baker University|Baker]] (1971–present)

 bar:2 color:Full from:1971 till:1986 text:[[Central Methodist University|Central Methodist]] (1971–1986) 
 bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1986 till:1991 text:[[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Ind.]]
 bar:2 color:Full from:1991 till:end text:(1991–present)

 bar:3 color:Full from:1971 till:1974 text:[[College of Emporia]] (1971–1974)

 bar:4 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:[[Graceland University|Graceland]] (1971–present)

 bar:5 color:Full from:1971 till:end text:[[Missouri Valley College|Missouri Valley]] (1971–present)

 bar:6 color:Full from:1971 till:1982 text:[[Ottawa University|Ottawa]] (1971–1982)
 bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:1982 till:end text:[[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|KCAC]]

 bar:7 color:Full from:1971 till:1992 text:[[Tarkio College|Tarkio]] (1971–1992)

 bar:8 color:Full from:1971 till:2011 text:[[William Jewell College|William Jewell]] (1971–2011)
 bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:end text:[[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]]

 bar:9 color:Full from:1980 till:end text:[[Culver–Stockton College|Culver–Stockton]] (1980–present)

 bar:10 color:Full from:1980 till:end text:[[MidAmerica Nazarene University|MidAmerica Nazarene]] (1980–present)

 bar:11 color:Full from:1987 till:2023 text:[[Evangel University|Evangel]] (1987–2023)
 bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:2023 till:end text:[[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|KCAC]]

 bar:12 color:Full from:1991 till:end text:[[Benedictine College|Benedictine]] (1991–present)

 bar:13 color:Full from:1996 till:2011 text:[[Lindenwood University|Lindenwood]] (1996–2011)
 bar:13 shift:(-20) color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2012 text:[[NCAA Division II independent schools|D-II Ind.]]
 bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:2012 till:2019 text:[[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association|MIAA]]
 bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:2019 till:2022 text:[[Great Lakes Valley Conference|GLVC]]
 bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:2022 till:end text:[[Ohio Valley Conference|OVC]]

 bar:14 color:FullxF from:2000 till:2001 text:[[Avila University|Avila]] (2000–2018) 
 bar:14 color:Full from:2001 till:2018
 bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2018 till:end text:[[Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference|KCAC]]

 bar:15 color:Full from:2011 till:end text:[[Peru State College|Peru State]] (2011–present)

 bar:16 color:Full from:2015 till:end text:[[Grand View University|Grand View]] (2015–present)

 bar:17 color:Full from:2015 till:end text:[[William Penn University|William Penn]] (2015–present)

 bar:18 color:FullxF from:2016 till:2018 text:[[Clarke University|Clarke]] (2016–present)
 bar:18 color:Full from:2018 till:end 

 bar:19 color:FullxF from:2016 till:2026 text:[[Mount Mercy University|Mount Mercy]] (2016–present)
 bar:19 color:Full from:2026 till:end

 bar:20 color:AssocOS from:2017 till:end text:[[Dickinson State University|Dickinson State]] (2017–present)

 bar:21 color:FullxF from:2020 till:end text:[[Park University|Park]] (2020–present)

 bar:22 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2023 text:[[Missouri Baptist University|Missouri Baptist]] (2020–present)
 bar:22 color:AssocF from:2023 till:2025
 bar:22 color:Full from:2025 till:end

 bar:23 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:end text:[[University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis|UHSP]] (2020–present)

 bar:24 color:AssocOS from:2020 till:2024 text:[[Waldorf University|Waldorf]] (2020–2024)

 bar:25 shift:(-50) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2023 text:[[Iowa Wesleyan University|Iowa Wesleyan]] (2021–2023)

 bar:26 shift:(-40) color:AssocOS from:2021 till:2024 text:[[St. Ambrose University|St. Ambrose]] (2021–present)
 bar:26 color:AssocF from:2024 till:end 

 bar:27 shift:(-100) color:AssocOS from:2022 till:2024 text:[[Mount Vernon Nazarene University|Mount Vernon Nazarene]] (2022–2024)

 bar:28 shift:(-130) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:2025 text:[[Central Christian College of Kansas|Central Christian (Ks.)]] (2024–2025)

 bar:29 shift:(-100) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Columbia College (Missouri)|Columbia (Mo.)]] (2024–present)

 bar:30 shift:(-60) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Dordt University|Dordt]] (2024–present)

 bar:31 shift:(-90) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[John Brown University|John Brown]] (2024–present)

 bar:32 shift:(-110) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Kansas Wesleyan University|Kansas Wesleyan]] (2024–present)

 bar:33 shift:(-70) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Midland University|Midland]] (2024–present)

 bar:34 shift:(-90) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Morningside University|Morningside]] (2024–present)

 bar:35 shift:(-70) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Ottawa University|Ottawa]] (2024–present)

 bar:36 shift:(-110) color:AssocOS from:2024 till:end text:[[Texas Wesleyan University|Texas Wesleyan]] (2024–present)

 bar:37 shift:(-90) color:AssocF from:2024 till:2025 text:[[William Woods University|William Woods]] (2024–present)
 bar:37 color:Full from:2025 till:end

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1971

TextData =
 fontsize:M
 textcolor:black
 pos:(0,25) tabs:(400-center)
 text:^"Heart of America Athletic Conference membership history"

#> If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.
{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}|&nbsp;Full member (all sports)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}|&nbsp;Full member (non-football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|178|204}}|&nbsp;Associate member (football-only)&nbsp;}}
<#
</timeline>

{{Font color||{{RGB|178|229|204}}|&nbsp;Full member (all sports)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|229|204|178}}|&nbsp;Full member (non-football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||
{{RGB|229|178|204}}|&nbsp;Associate member (football)&nbsp;}}
{{Font color||{{RGB|204|229|178}}|&nbsp;Associate member (sport)&nbsp;}}

==Sports==
The conference also sponsors co-ed varsity sports of dance and cheer.

{| width=450 style="float:right"
|-
|colspan=2|The following divisional format is used.
|-
|width=50%|{{center|'''North'''}}
* Clarke
* Culver–Stockton
* Graceland
* Grand View
* Mount Mercy
* Peru State
* St. Ambrose{{efn|group=div|name=fo|Football only}}
* William Penn
|width=50%|{{center|'''South'''}}
* Baker
* Benedictine
* Central Methodist
* MidAmerica Nazarene
* Missouri Baptist
* Missouri Valley
* Park{{efn|group=div|Everything but football}}
* William Woods
|-
|colspan=2|Notes
{{notelist|group=div}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center"
|+ Conference sports
! Sport || Men's || Women's
|-
| {{left}}[[College baseball|Baseball]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
| {{left}}[[College basketball|Basketball]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Ten-pin bowling|Bowling]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Cross country running|Cross Country]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[American football|Football]] || {{Y}} ||
|-
| {{left}}[[Golf]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[College lacrosse|Lacrosse]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[College soccer in the United States|Soccer]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[College softball|Softball]] || || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Tennis]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Track and field|Track & Field Indoor]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Track and field|Track & Field Outdoor]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Volleyball]] || {{Y}}|| {{Y}}
|-
| {{left}}[[Collegiate wrestling|Wrestling]] || {{Y}} || {{Y}}
|}

==See also==
*[[Heart of America (college rugby)]]
*Football seasons: [[2011 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season|2011]], [[2012 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season|2012]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}

{{Heart of America Athletic Conference navbox}}
{{NAIA conference navbox}}

[[Category:Heart of America Athletic Conference| ]]
[[Category:Sports in Overland Park, Kansas]]
[[Category:NAIA conferences]]