River States Conference

The River States Conference (RSC), formerly known as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Although it was historically a Kentucky-only conference, it has now expanded to include members in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and at various times in the past has also had members in Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia.

River States Conference
AssociationNAIA
Founded1916
CommissionerMichael Schell (since March 15, 2018)
Sports fielded
  • 17
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 9
No. of teams14 (13 in 2024)
HeadquartersMiddletown, Ohio
RegionEastern
Official websitewww.riverstatesconference.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

History
River States Conference
🌍
Location of RSC members: current (East Division), current (West Division), departing, and future

In March 2016, the KIAC announced it would change its name to the River States Conference, effective July 1, 2016, to better reflect its membership, which has expanded beyond Kentucky and now includes members in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.[1]

Chronological timeline
  • 1916 – The River States Conference was founded as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC). Charter members included Berea College, Centre College, Georgetown College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, the University of Louisville, Ogden College, Transylvania University, and Western Kentucky State Teachers College (now Western Kentucky University) beginning with the 1916–17 academic year.
  • 1927
    • Ogden left the KIAC as the school announced that it would merge with Western Kentucky after the 1926-27 academic year.
    • Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College (now Eastern Kentucky University) joined the KIAC in the 1927–28 academic year.
  • 1931 – Morehead State Teachers College (now Morehead State University) joined the KIAC in the 1931–32 academic year.
  • 1933 – Murray State Teachers College (now Murray State University) and Union College joined the KIAC in the 1933–34 academic year.
  • 1948 – Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Morehead State, Murray State, and Western Kentucky left the KIAC to join the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) major-college ranks and to form most of the charter members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) after the 1947–48 academic year.
  • 1951 – Bellarmine College (now Bellarmine University) joined the KIAC in the 1951-52 academic year.
  • 1955
    • Kentucky Wesleyan left the KIAC after the 1954–55 academic year.
    • Thomas More College (now Thomas More University) joined the KIAC in the 1955–56 academic year.
  • 1958 – Pikeville College (now the University of Pikeville) joined the KIAC in the 1958–59 academic year.
  • 1962 – Centre (KY) left the KIAC to join the College Athletic Conference after the 1961–62 academic year.
  • 1964
    • Bellarmine left the KIAC after the 1963–64 academic year.
    • Campbellsville College (now Campbellsville University) and Rio Grande College (now the University of Rio Grande) joined the KIAC in the 1964–65 academic year.
  • 1968 – Oakland City College (now Oakland City University) joined the KIAC in the 1968-69 academic year.
  • 1971
  • 1975 – Oakland City left the KIAC after the 1974–75 academic year.
  • 1983 – Alice Lloyd College joined the KIAC in the 1983–84 academic year.
  • 1984 – Brescia College (now Brescia University) and Lindsey Wilson College joined the KIAC in the 1984–85 academic year.
  • 1991
    • Thomas More left the KIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an independent after the 1990–91 academic year.
    • Midway College (now Midway University) joined the KIAC in the 1991–92 academic year.
  • 1992
    • Alice Lloyd left the KIAC to join the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference (TVAC) after the 1991–92 academic year.
    • Spalding University joined the KIAC in the 1992–93 academic year.
  • 1994
    • UVA Wise left the KIAC to become an independent within the NAIA (which would later join the Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference (TVAC) beginning the 1995-96 academic year) after the 1993–94 academic year.
    • Indiana University Southeast (athletically IU Southeast or IUS) joined the KIAC in the 1994-95 academic year.
  • 1995 – Campbellsville, Georgetown (KY), and Union (KY) left the KIAC to form part as charter members of the Mid-South Conference after the 1994–95 academic year.
  • 1999 – Bethel College of Tennessee (now Bethel University of Tennessee) joined the KIAC in the 1999-2000 academic year.
  • 2000
    • Lindsay Wilson and Pikeville left the KIAC to join the Mid-South after the 1999–2000 academic year.
    • Mid-Continent University joined the KIAC in the 2000–01 academic year.
  • 2001 – Transylvania left the KIAC to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) after the 2000–01 academic year.
  • 2003 – The St. Louis College of Pharmacy (SLCP) joined the KIAC in the 2003–04 academic year.
  • 2005 – Alice Lloyd re-joined the KIAC in the 2005–06 academic year.
  • 2006 – Bethel (TN) and Mid-Continent left the KIAC after the 2005–06 academic year.
  • 2007
  • 2008 – Cincinnati Christian University joined the KIAC in the 2008-09 academic year.
  • 2012
    • Mountain State left the KIAC as the school announced that it would close after the 2011–12 academic year.
    • Carlow University and Point Park University joined the KIAC in the 2012–13 academic year.
  • 2013 – Indiana University Kokomo (athletically IU Kokomo) joined the KIAC in the 2013–14 academic year.
  • 2014
    • Two institutions left the KIAC to join their respective new home primary conferences: Berea left the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks as an independent (which would later join the USA South Athletic Conference (USA South) beginning the 2017-18 academic year), and UHSP St. Louis to join the American Midwest Conference, both effective after the 2013-14 academic year.
    • Rio Grande rejoined the KIAC in the 2014–15 academic year.
  • 2015 – Ohio Christian University and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech or West Virginia Tech) joined the KIAC in the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2016 – The KIAC was rebranded as the River States Conference (RSC) in the 2016–17 academic year.
  • 2019 – Cincinnati Christian left the RSC as the school announced that it would close at the end of the fall 2019 semester during the 2019–20 academic year.
  • 2020 – Oakland City rejoined the RSC in the 2020–21 academic year.
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023 – Ohio Christian announced it would leave the RSC and the NAIA to fully align with the Division I ranks of the NCCAA after the 2023-24 academic year.[3]

Member schools

Current members

The River States currently has fourteen full members, all but six are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1]
Alice Lloyd College Pippa Passes, Kentucky 1923 Nondenominational 600 Eagles 1983;
2005[lower-alpha 2]
Brescia University Owensboro, Kentucky 1925 Catholic
(Ursulines)		 1,100 Bearcats 1984[lower-alpha 3]
Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) Columbus, Indiana 1970 Public[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] 1,411 Crimson Pride 2023
Indiana University–East Richmond, Indiana 1971 Public[lower-alpha 4] 2,700 Red Wolves 2007[lower-alpha 6]
Indiana University–Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana 1945 Public[lower-alpha 4] 3,719 Cougars 2013[lower-alpha 7]
Indiana University–Southeast New Albany, Indiana 1941 Public[lower-alpha 4] 6,840 Grenadiers 1994
Midway University[lower-alpha 8] Midway, Kentucky 1847 Disciples of Christ 1,800 Eagles 1991[lower-alpha 8]
Oakland City University Oakland City, Indiana 1885 Baptist 2,350 Mighty Oaks 1968;
2020[lower-alpha 9]
Ohio Christian University Circleville, Ohio 1948 C.C.C.U. 300 Trailblazers 2015
Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1960 Nonsectarian 3,376 Pioneers 2012
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Nonsectarian 1,893 RedStorm 1964;
2014[lower-alpha 10]
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana 1840 Catholic
(Sisters of Providence)		 1,700 Pomeroys 2021
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio 1986 Public 4,300 Bears 2023
West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley, West Virginia 1895 Public[lower-alpha 11] 2,252 Golden Bears 2015
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Alice Lloyd left the KIAC after the 1991–92 school year before re-joining effective the 2005–06 school year.
  3. The Brescia men's and women's basketball teams joined the RSC 25 years after becoming a full member for other sports (2009–10).
  4. Part of the Indiana University System.
  5. Part of the Purdue University system.
  6. The Indiana–East women's basketball team joined the KIAC/RSC seven years after becoming a full member for other sports (2014–15).
  7. The Indiana–Kokomo women's basketball team joined the KIAC/RSC a year after becoming a full member for other sports (2014–15).
  8. This institution was a women's college, but has since then been a co-educational institution, therefore it does compete in some men's sports (Midway since 2016–17[4]).
  9. Oakland City[5] had been a member until after the 1974–75 school year, during the conference's KIAC era.
  10. Rio Grande left the KIAC after the 1970–71 school year before re-joining effective the 2014–15 school year.
  11. Part of the West Virginia University System.

Former members

The River States has twenty-eight former full members, all but six were private schools. School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year each institution was a conference member:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined[lower-alpha 1] Left[lower-alpha 2] Current
conference
Asbury University Wilmore, Kentucky 1890 Christian 1,854 Eagles 1971 2021 D-III Independent
Bellarmine College[lower-alpha 3] Louisville, Kentucky 1950 Catholic
(Archdiocese of Louisville)		 3,369 Knights 1951 1964 Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[lower-alpha 4]
Berea College Berea, Kentucky 1855 Christian
(unaffiliated)		 1,613 Mountaineers 1916 2014 CCS[lower-alpha 5]
(HCAC in 2024)[lower-alpha 5]
Bethel College[lower-alpha 6] McKenzie, Tennessee 1842 Cumberland
Presbyterian		 2,975 Wildcats 1999 2006 Mid-South (MSC)
Campbellsville College[lower-alpha 7] Campbellsville, Kentucky 1906 Baptist 3,318 Tigers 1964 1995 Mid-South (MSC)
Carlow University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1929 Catholic
(R.S.M.)		 2,400 Celtics 2012 2023 Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)[lower-alpha 5]
Centre College Danville, Kentucky 1819 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)		 1,415 Colonels 1916 1962 Southern (SAA)[lower-alpha 5]
Clinch Valley College[lower-alpha 8] Wise, Virginia 1954 Public 2,000 Highland
Cavaliers[lower-alpha 9]		 1971 1994 South Atlantic (SAC)[lower-alpha 10]
Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati, Ohio 1924 Christian N/A Eagles 2008 2019[lower-alpha 11] Closed in 2019
Cumberland College[lower-alpha 12] Williamsburg, Kentucky 1887 Nondenominational 1,743 Indians[lower-alpha 13] 1966 1995 Mid-South (MSC)
Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College[lower-alpha 14] Richmond, Kentucky 1906 Public 16,959 Colonels 1927 1948 Atlantic Sun (ASUN)[lower-alpha 4]
Georgetown College Georgetown, Kentucky 1829 Baptist 1,400 Tigers 1916 1995 Mid-South (MSC)
Kentucky Wesleyan College Winchester, Kentucky[lower-alpha 15] 1858 United Methodist 830 Panthers 1916 1955 Great Midwest (G-MAC)[lower-alpha 10]
Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, Kentucky 1903 United Methodist 2,677 Blue Raiders 1984 2000 Mid-South (MSC)
University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky 1798 Public 22,640 Cardinals 1916 1948 Atlantic Coast (ACC)[lower-alpha 4]
Mid-Continent University Mayfield, Kentucky 1949 Baptist N/A Cougars 2000 2006 Closed in 2014
Morehead State Teachers College[lower-alpha 16] Morehead, Kentucky 1922 Public 10,748 Eagles 1931 1948 Ohio Valley (OVC)[lower-alpha 4]
Mountain State University[lower-alpha 17] Beckley, West Virginia 1933 Nonsectarian N/A Cougars 2007[lower-alpha 18] 2012 Closed in 2012
Murray State Teachers College[lower-alpha 19] Murray, Kentucky 1922 Public 10,495 Racers 1933 1948 Missouri Valley (MVC)[lower-alpha 4]
Ogden College Bowling Green, Kentucky 1906 Nonsectarian N/A Eagles 1916 1927 N/A[lower-alpha 20]
Ohio Valley University Vienna, West Virginia 1960 Churches of Christ N/A Fighting Scots 2021 2021[lower-alpha 21] Closed in 2021
Pikeville College[lower-alpha 22] Pikeville, Kentucky 1889 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)		 1,156 Bears 1958 2000 Appalachian (AAC)
St. Louis College of Pharmacy[lower-alpha 23] St. Louis, Missouri 1864 Nonsectarian 1,260 Eutectics 2003 2014 American Midwest
Spalding University Louisville, Kentucky 1814 Catholic
(S.C.N.)		 1,692 Golden Eagles 1992 2007 St. Louis (SLIAC)[lower-alpha 5]
Thomas More College[lower-alpha 24] Crestview Hills, Kentucky 1921 Catholic
(Diocese of Covington/
Benedictines)		 1,963 Saints 1955 1991 Great Midwest (G-MAC)[lower-alpha 10]
Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky 1780 Disciples of Christ 1,120 Pioneers 1916 2001 Heartland (HCAC)[lower-alpha 5]
Union College Barbourville, Kentucky 1879 United Methodist 1,368 Bulldogs 1933 1995 Appalachian (AAC)
Western Kentucky State Teachers College[lower-alpha 25] Bowling Green, Kentucky 1906 Public 19,456 Hilltoppers &
Lady Toppers		 1916 1948 C-USA[lower-alpha 4]
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Currently known as Bellarmine University since 2000.
  4. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  5. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  6. Currently known as Bethel University since 2009.
  7. Currently known as Campbellsville University since 1996.
  8. Currently known as the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA–Wise) since 1999.
  9. UVA–Wise dropped "Highland" from its nickname in 2017.
  10. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  11. Cincinnati Christian closed at the end of the 2019 fall semester, without completing the rest of the 2019–20 school year.
  12. Currently known as the University of the Cumberlands since 2005.
  13. Cumberlands (Ky.) changed its nickname to Patriots in 2002.
  14. Later renamed as Eastern Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and currently known as Eastern Kentucky University since 1966.
  15. Kentucky Wesleyan moved to its current campus in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1956.
  16. Later renamed as Morehead State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and currently known as Morehead State University since 1966.
  17. Mountain State was a non-basketball member school on the women's side in their tenure in the KIAC/RSC.
  18. The Mountain State men's basketball team joined the KIAC/RSC two years after becoming a full member for other sports (2009–10).
  19. Later renamed as Murray State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and currently known as Murray State University since 1966.
  20. Ogden was merged into Western Kentucky University in 1927.
  21. Ohio Valley closed at the end of the 2021 fall semester, without completing the rest of the 2021–22 school year.
  22. Currently known as the University of Pikeville since 2011.
  23. Currently known as the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis since 2020.
  24. Currently known as Thomas More University since 2018.
  25. Later renamed as Western Kentucky State College immediately after leaving the KIAC, and currently known as Western Kentucky University since 1966.

Membership timeline
Indiana University–Purdue University ColumbusShawnee State UniversitySaint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeOhio Valley UniversityWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologyOhio Christian UniversityIndiana University KokomoPoint Park UniversityCarlow UniversityCincinnati Christian UniversityMountain State UniversityIndiana University EastUniversity of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. LouisMid-Continent UniversityBethel University (Tennessee)Indiana University SoutheastSpalding UniversityMidway UniversityLindsey Wilson CollegeBrescia UniversityAlice Lloyd CollegeUniversity of Virginia's College at WiseAsbury UniversityOakland City UniversityUniversity of Rio GrandeCampbellsville UniversityUniversity of PikevilleThomas More UniversityBellarmine UniversityUnion College (Kentucky)Murray State UniversityMorehead State UniversityEastern Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky UniversityTransylvania UniversityOgden CollegeUniversity of LouisvilleKentucky Wesleyan CollegeCentre CollegeCentre CollegeBerea College

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

Conference sports

The River States Conference currently sponsors 17 sports (8 men's and 9 women's).

A divisional format is used for men's & women's basketball, and women's volleyball.
East
  • Alice Lloyd
  • Carlow
  • Ohio Christian
  • Point Park
  • Rio Grande
  • West Virginia Tech
West
  • Brescia
  • IU East
  • IU Kokomo
  • IU Southeast
  • Midway
  • Oakland City
  • Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
BaseballGreen tickY
BasketballGreen tickYGreen tickY
Cross CountryGreen tickYGreen tickY
GolfGreen tickYGreen tickY
SoccerGreen tickYGreen tickY
SoftballGreen tickY
TennisGreen tickYGreen tickY
Track & Field IndoorGreen tickYGreen tickY
Track & Field OutdoorGreen tickYGreen tickY
VolleyballGreen tickY

References
  1. "KIAC announces River States Conference as new name, unveils new logo". March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  2. "Carlow University Athletics to join AMCC, NCAA Division III". Carlow Celtics. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  3. "Ohio Christian University Announces NAIA to NCCAA DI Transition". 28 February 2023.
  4. "Midway University Trustees vote to accept men into its daytime undergraduate programs" (Press release). Midway University. May 16, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  5. "NAIA Approves Five Institutions for Membership". NAIA. March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
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