History of the Conference

The modern-era Midwest Conference was created in the spring of 1994 with the merger of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC), which had been sponsoring men’s championships since 1921, and the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women (MACW), which was formed to conduct women’s championship competition in 1977. Stated intent of the union was to preserve the tradition of both leagues while enhancing administration efficiency and fostering equity between men and women’s sports.
 
Organization of the MCAC was conceived at a meeting on the campus of Coe College, May 12, 1921. Charter members were Beloit, Carleton, Coe, Cornell, Knox and Lawrence.  Hamline and Millikin joined the league in December 1921 but later withdrew. Ripon joined the Conference in 1923, Monmouth in 1924, Grinnell in 1940 and Lake Forest in 1974. Illinois College and St. Norbert joined in 1982 and Carroll followed in 1992. Carleton withdrew following the 1982-83 academic year.  St. Olaf also competed in the conference from 1952-74, as did the University of Chicago from 1976-87. Coe and Cornell withdrew following the 1996-97 academic year, and in 2012 Cornell returned to the league. Carroll departed in July of 2016 and St. Norbert left with the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year.
 
The purpose of the Conference since its formation has been to “maintain athletic activities on a plane in keeping with the dignity and high purpose of liberal education.”  Competitive sports are regarded as a valuable part of the educational experience and are maintained for the benefit of students.
 
The MACW formed in 1977 after the “status of women’s athletics” on MCAC campuses was assessed and reported to be growing.  The Conference adopted a governance structure similar to that of its male counterpart, empowering faculty with ultimate control and governance on major decisions. Geneva Meers, Cornell Professor of English, assumed the role of commissioner in 1978 and remained in that position until replaced by Ruth Peterson. Charter members of the MACW were Coe, Cornell, Grinnell, Knox and Monmouth.  Championships in basketball, cross country, outdoor track & field, softball, swimming and volleyball were offered in the first year.  Beloit was accepted to the league in 1981, Illinois College and the University of Chicago in 1982 and Lake Forest, Lawrence, Ripon and St. Norbert in 1983.  Indoor track became a championship sport in 1984 and soccer was added in 1986.
 
Track and field was the only sport contested in the MCAC’s inaugural year while football and basketball were added in 1922.  Lawrence, Coe and Millikin topped the initial football standings in 1922, and Beloit won the first basketball championship in 1922-23.  Cross country was added in 1929, tennis in 1931, golf in 1934, swimming in 1936, wrestling in 1938, baseball in 1953, soccer in 1971 and indoor track (which previously had an informal champion) in 1977.
 
After the establishment of the modern-era Midwest Conference in 1994, wrestling was dropped and women’s golf was added (1996-1997), putting the total number of championship sports for the league at 20. 
 
Member institutions of the now incorporated league (Nov. 2012) are Beloit, Cornell, Grinnell, Illinois College, Knox, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Monmouth, and Ripon. Milwaukee School of Engineering and St. Norbert are affiliate members in the sports of men's and women's swimming and diving. The University of Chicago participates in the sport of football.

Commissioners of the Midwest Conference
Dr. George W. Bryant	Coe College, Prof. of Latin	Secretary/Treasurer	1924-1944
Mr. C. Ward Macy	Coe College, Dean & Prof. of Econ.	Commissioner/Secretary/Treasurer	1944-1950
Mr. Ralph L. Henry	Carleton College, Professor	Commissioner/Secretary/Treasurer	1950-1957
Mr. Arthur C. Walton	Knox College, Professor	Commissioner	1957-1960
Mr. Robert P. Ashley	Ripon College, Dean	Commissioner	1960-1966
Rev. Jerry Thompson	Ripon College, Prof. of Religion	Commissioner	1966-1982
Ms. Geneva Meers	Cornell College, Prof. of English	Commissioner (MACW)	1978-1985
Dr. Ralph Shivley	Lake Forest College, Prof. of Math	Commissioner	1982-2004
Ms. Ruth Peterson	Beloit College, Women's Athletic Director	Commissioner (MACW)	1985-1994
Mr. Chris Graham		Commissioner/Executive Director	2004-2014
Heather Benning		Executive Director	2014-pres.