  The modern-era Midwest Conference was created in the spring of 1994 with the merger of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference, which had been sponsoring men’s championships since 1921, and the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women, 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’s and women’s sports.
Organization of the MCAC was conceived at a meeting at Coe College on May 12, 1921. Charter members were Beloit , Carleton, Coe, Cornell, Knox and Lawrence . The MWC has since grown to provide championship intercollegiate competition for 10 liberal arts schools located in Illinois , Iowa and Wisconsin . Member schools are Beloit , Carroll, Grinnell , Illinois College, Knox, Lake Forest , Lawrence , Monmouth, Ripon and St. Norbert. Others institutions who have spent time as a part of the MWC include: Hamline, Millikin, St. Olaf and University of Chicago .
Track and field was the only sport contested in the MCAC’s inaugural year, but the conference now sponsors a total of 20 men’s and women’s sports, culminating in a MWC Championship tournament event at the end of every season with the exception of football. MWC tourney champions receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in selected sports.
Chris Graham took on the role of Conference Commissioner in 2004, where he remains today. Matt Troha was hired on as the first full-time Sports Information Director in 2005. For more on the MWC, please consult the conference’s official website at www.midwestconference.org.
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