Heartland Conference

History

Chronological timeline

• 1999 – The Heartland Conference was founded. Charter members included Drury College, the University of the Incarnate Word, Lincoln University of Missouri, Rockhurst College, St. Edward's University, St. Mary's University and Texas Wesleyan University, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
• 2002 – Dallas Baptist University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University joined the Heartland in the 2002–03 academic year.
• 2005:
• * Drury and Rockhurst to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference after the 2004–05 academic year.
• * Montana State University at Billings and Western New Mexico University joined the Heartland in the 2005–06 academic year.
• 2006:
• * Western New Mexico left the Heartland to join the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after the 2005–06 academic year.
• * Newman University, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and Texas A&M International University joined the Heartland in the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2007 – Montana State–Billings left the Heartland to join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference after the 2006–07 academic year.
• 2009 – The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith joined the Heartland in the 2009–10 academic year.
• 2010 – Two institutions left the Heartland to join their respective new home primary conferences, both effective after the 2009–10 academic year:
• * Incarnate Word to the Lone Star Conference
• * and Lincoln to return to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
• 2012 – McMurry University and Oklahoma Christian University joined the Heartland in the 2012–13 academic year.
• 2013 – Lubbock Christian University and Rogers State University joined the Heartland in the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2016:
• * Texas–Permian Basin left the Heartland to join the Lone Star after the 2015–16 academic year. However, it would remain in the Heartland as an affiliate member for men's soccer beginning the 2016 fall season.
• * Eastern New Mexico University, Midwestern State University and West Texas A&M University joined the Heartland as affiliate members for men's soccer in the 2016 fall season.
• 2019 – The Heartland ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 2018–19 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 2019–20 school year:
• * Arkansas–Fort Smith, Dallas Baptist, Lubbock Christian, Oklahoma Christian, St. Edward's, St. Mary's and Texas A&M International joined the Lone Star to renew their rivalries with Texas–Permian Basin and Western New Mexico
• * Newman and Rogers State joined the MIAA to renew their rivalries with Lincoln
• * and men's soccer affiliates Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Texas–Permian Basin and West Texas A&M returned to their primary home conference once the Lone Star began to re-sponsor the sport

  Member schools

Final members

Final affiliate members

Prior full members

Membership timeline