# Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The conference consists of twelve colleges and universities located in the U.S. states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Founded in 1992, the conference was created as a successor group for the now-defunct NAIA District 23.

## History

The WHAC announced on January 27, 2012, added bowling and lacrosse for both men and women as conference sports effective the fall of 2012, becoming the first NAIA conference to offer championships in these sports.
Men's ice hockey was added as a conference sport effective the fall of 2017, making the WHAC the first conference in the NAIA to offer ice hockey as a conference championship sport. Initially, the five conference members that sponsor ice hockey will participate in a conference championship.

### Chronological timeline

* 1992 – The Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) was founded. Charter members included Aquinas College, Concordia College Ann Arbor (now Concordia University Ann Arbor), Cornerstone College (now Cornerstone University), Siena Heights College (now Siena Heights University), Spring Arbor College (now Spring Arbor University) and Tri-State University (now Trine University), beginning the 1992–93 academic year.
* 1997 – Madonna University joined the WHAC in the 1997–98 academic year.
* 1998 – Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) joined the WHAC in the 1998–99 academic year.
* 2003 – Tri-State left the WHAC and the NAIA to join the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-III Independent (which would later join the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), beginning the 2004–05 academic year) after the 2002–03 academic year.
* 2004 – Spring Arbor left the WHAC to join the Mid-Central College Conference (MCCC; now the Crossroads League) after the 2003–04 academic year.
* 2004 – The University of Michigan–Dearborn joined the WHAC in the 2004–05 academic year.
* 2005 – Davenport University joined the WHAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
* 2010 – The University of Northwestern Ohio joined the WHAC in the 2010–11 academic year.
* 2011 – Lourdes University joined the WHAC in the 2011–12 academic year.
* 2012 – Lawrence Technological University and Marygrove College joined the WHAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
* 2016 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members, both effective in the 2016–17 academic year:
** Rochester College (now Rochester Christian University) for baseball
** and former full member Spring Arbor for men's and women's bowling
* 2017 – Davenport left the WHAC and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) after the 2016–17 academic year.
* 2017 – Rochester had joined the WHAC for all sports in the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2017 – Marygrove left the WHAC as the school announced that it would close at the end of the fall 2017 semester, which occurred during the 2017–18 academic year.
* 2018 – Cleary University joined the WHAC in the 2018–19 academic year.
* 2018 – Four institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members, all effective in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year):
** Bethel University of Indiana for women's lacrosse
** Goshen College for men's volleyball
** Huntington University for men's and women's bowling
** and Taylor University for men's lacrosse
* 2019 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2019 spring season (2018–19 academic year):
** Mount Vernon Nazarene University for men's and women's bowling
** Spring Arbor for competitive cheer and dance
** and Taylor for women's lacrosse
* 2020 – Three institutions left the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), all effective after the 2019–20 academic year:
** Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's and women's bowling
** Spring Arbor for competitive cheer and dance
** and Taylor for women's lacrosse
* 2020 – Five institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
** Bethel (Ind.) for men's and women's bowling
** Brescia University and Point Park University for competitive cheer
** Marian University for men's wrestling
** and Mount Vernon Nazarene for men's volleyball
* 2021 – Bethel (Ind.), Huntington and Spring Arbor left the WHAC as affiliate members for men's and women's bowling after the 2020–21 academic year.
* 2022 – Three institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), all effective in the 2022–23 academic year:
** Bethel (Ind.) and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College for men's volleyball
** and Marian (Ind.) for women's lacrosse
* 2023 – Brescia left the WHAC as an affiliate member for competitive cheer after the 2022–23 academic year.
* 2023 – Marian (Ind.) added competitive dance to its WHAC affiliate membership in the 2023–24 academic year:
* 2024 – Two institutions left the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or removed other single sports from their affiliate memberships), both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
** Point Park for competitive cheer to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the Mountain East Conference (MEC)
** and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for men's volleyball
* 2024 – Defiance College joined the WHAC in the 2024–25 academic year.
* 2024 – Two institutions joined the WHAC as affiliate members (and/or added other single sports into their affiliate memberships), both effective in the 2024–25 academic year:
** The University of St. Francis for men's and women's bowling
** and Saint Xavier University for eSports
* 2024 – Concordia–Ann Arbor announced that they would be discontinuing all athletic programs and leaving the WHAC at the end of the 2024–25 academic year.

## Member schools
### Current members

The WHAC currently has 13 full members, all but one are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Basketball? |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1886 | Catholic (D.S.G.R.) | 2,300 | Saints | 1992 | both |
| Cleary University | Howell, Michigan | 1883 | Nonsectarian | 600 | Cougars | 2018 | both |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 1963 | Lutheran LCMS | 1,200 | Cardinals | 1992 | both |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1941 | Interdenominational | 2,200 | Golden Eagles | 1992 | both |
| Defiance College | Defiance, Ohio | 1850 | United Church | 505 | Yellow Jackets | 2024 | both |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, Indiana | 1930 | Nonsectarian | 7,000 | Warriors | 1998 | both |
| Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, Michigan | 1932 | Nonsectarian | 3,000 | Blue Devils | 2012 | both |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania, Ohio | 1958 | Catholic (Franciscan) | 1,500 | Gray Wolves | 2011 | both |
| Madonna University | Livonia, Michigan | 1930 | Catholic (Felician Sisters) | 3,100 | Crusaders | 1997 | both |
| University of Michigan–Dearborn | Dearborn, Michigan | 1959 | Public | 9,500 | Wolverines | 2004 | both |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima, Ohio | 1920 | Nonsectarian | 3,500 | Racers | 2010 | both |
| Rochester Christian University | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 1959 | Churches of Christ | 1,100 | Warriors | 2017 | both |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian, Michigan | 1919 | Catholic (O.P.) | 2,500 | Saints | 1992 | both |

#### Notes

* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
* ↑ The Cleary men's and women's basketball teams joined the WHAC five years after becoming a full member for other sports (2023–24).
* ↑ Part of the University of Michigan system.
* ↑ Formerly known as Rochester University prior to 2024 and Rochester College prior to 2019.
* ↑ Before joining for full membership, Rochester Christian competed in the WHAC as an affiliate member for baseball during the 2016–17 school year.

### Affiliate members

The WHAC currently has seven affiliate members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | WHAC sport(s) | Current conference |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka, Indiana | 1947 | Missionary | 1,964 | Pilots | 2018$^{w.lax.}$ 2022$^{m.vb.}$ | women's lacrosse men's volleyball | Crossroads |
| Goshen College | Goshen, Indiana | 1894 | Mennonite | 971 | Maple Leafs | 2018 | men's volleyball | Crossroads |
| Marian University | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1851 | Catholic (S.S.F.) | 3,595 | Knights | 2020$^{m.wr}$ 2022$^{w.lax}$ 2023$^{dance}$ | men's wrestling women's lacrosse competitive dance | Crossroads |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 1964 | Nazarene | 2,622 | Cougars | 2020 | men's volleyball | Crossroads |
| University of St. Francis | Joliet, Illinois | 1920 | Catholic (Franciscans) | 3,297 | Fighting Saints | 2024$^{m.bowl.}$ 2024$^{w.bowl.}$ | men's bowling women's bowling | Chicagoland (CCAC) |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago, Illinois | 1846 | Catholic (R.S.M.) | 3,523 | Cougars | 2024 | eSports | Chicagoland (CCAC) |
| Taylor University | Upland, Indiana | 1846 | Nondenominational | 1,887 | Trojans | 2018 | men's lacrosse | Crossroads |

#### Notes

* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.

### Former members

The WHAC had four former full members, all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current conference |
| Davenport University | Grand Rapids, Michigan | 1866 | Nonsectarian | 6,456 | Panthers | 2005 | 2017 | Great Lakes (GLIAC) |
| Marygrove College | Detroit, Michigan | 1899 | Catholic (I.H.M.) | N/A | Mustangs | 2012 | 2018 | Closed in 2019 |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor, Michigan | 1873 | Free Methodist | 2,600 | Cougars | 1992 | 2004 | Crossroads |
| Tri-State University | Angola, Indiana | 1884 | Nonsectarian | 4,104 | Thunder | 1992 | 2003 | Michigan (MIAA) |

#### Notes

* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
* ↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
* ↑ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
* 1 2 Marygrove announced that all athletics would cease after the 2017 fall season (with men's & women's soccer and volleyball remaining) of the 2017–18 academic year; with their August 2017 announcement of the closing of school's undergraduate programs.
* ↑ Currently known as Trine University since 2008.
* ↑ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

### Former affiliate members

The WHAC had nine former affiliate members, all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | WHAC sport(s) | Current conference |
| Bethel University | Mishawaka, Indiana | 1947 | Missionary | 1,964 | Pilots | 2020$^{m.bowl.}$ 2020$^{w.bowl.}$ | 2021$^{m.bowl.}$ 2021$^{w.bowl.}$ | men's bowling women's bowling | Crossroads |
| Brescia University | Owensboro, Kentucky | 1925 | Catholic (Ursulines) | 1,100 | Bearcats | 2020 | 2023 | competitive cheer | River States (RSC) |
| Huntington University | Huntington, Indiana | 1897 | United Brethren in Christ | 1,089 | Foresters | 2018$^{m.bowl.}$ 2018$^{w.bowl.}$ | 2021$^{m.bowl.}$ 2021$^{w.bowl.}$ | men's bowling women's bowling | Crossroads |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, Ohio | 1964 | Nazarene | 2,622 | Cougars | 2019$^{m.bowl.}$ 2019$^{w.bowl.}$ | 2020$^{m.bowl.}$ 2020$^{w.bowl.}$ | men's bowling women's bowling | Crossroads |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1960 | Nonsectarian | 3,376 | Pioneers | 2020 | 2024 | competitive cheer | Mountain East (MEC) |
| Rochester College | Rochester Hills, Michigan | 1959 | Churches of Christ | 1,100 | Warriors | 2016 | 2017 | baseball | Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC) |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana | 1840 | Catholic (Sisters of Providence) | 1,700 | Pomeroys | 2022 | 2024 | men's volleyball | River States (RSC) |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor, Michigan | 1873 | Free Methodist | 2,600 | Cougars | 2016$^{m.bowl.}$ 2016$^{w.bowl.}$ 2019$^{cheer.}$ 2019$^{dance}$ | 2021$^{m.bowl.}$ 2021$^{w.bowl.}$ 2020$^{cheer.}$ 2020$^{dance}$ | men's bowling women's bowling competitive cheer competitive dance | Crossroads |
| Taylor University | Upland, Indiana | 1846 | Nondenominational | 1,887 | Trojans | 2019 | 2020 | women's lacrosse | Crossroads |

#### Notes

* ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
* ↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
* ↑ Formerly an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
* ↑ Later known as Rochester University in 2019 and now currently known as Rochester Christian University since 2024.
* ↑ Spring Arbor was a full member of the WHAC from 1992–93 to 2003–04.

### Membership timeline

Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport)

## Sports

WHAC offers 14 men's and 13 women's sports.
Conference sports :
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
| Baseball | Y | |
| Basketball | Y | Y |
| Bowling | Y | Y |
| Cheer | Y | Y |
| Cross Country | Y | Y |
| Golf | Y | Y |
| Dance | | Y |
| Ice Hockey | Y | |
| Lacrosse | Y | Y |
| Soccer | Y | Y |
| Softball | | Y |
| Tennis | Y | Y |
| Track & Field Indoor | Y | Y |
| Track & Field Outdoor | Y | Y |
| Volleyball | Y | Y |
| Wrestling | Y | |