Founded in 1924, the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) rates as one of the oldest leagues at the small-college level.
The league's 15 member schools include: Alderson- Broaddus College, Bluefield State College, University of Charleston, Concord University, Davis & Elkins College, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Ohio Valley University, Shepherd University, West Liberty University, West Virginia State University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and Wheeling Jesuit University. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Seton Hill University joined the WVIAC for the 2006-07 season. Pitt Johnstown and Seton Hill are the WVIAC’s first out-of-state members since 1932.
The WVIAC moved into the NCAA Division II ranks in 1994 after a long affiliation with the NAIA. The conference was the only one in Division II to place a team in the national quarterfinals in men’s basketball, football and baseball during the 1998-99 academic year. In 2002 the WVIAC, along with two other conferences, became the first league to earn four bids to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship.
Commissioner Barry Blizzard, who has held the post since 1987, led the move into the NCAA. Blizzard, a native of Bramwell, West Virginia, previously served as the athletics director at Bluefield State. The long-time conference chief has served in a variety of national leadership positions, including a stint as president of the Division II Conference Commissioners’ Association. He is currently the chairman of the NCAA Division II Nominating Committee.
Alumni of conference members include West Virginia State’s Earl Lloyd (the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association), Pitt Johnstown's John Murtha (former US representative), and Wheeling Jesuit’s John Beilein (current Michigan men’s basketball coach).
The conference’s basketball tournament is one of the longest-running events in collegiate hoops; the 73rd annual event was held earlier this year at the Charleston Civic Center. Attendance at the WVIAC tournament ranks among the highest in Division II. The conference also boasts a 10-station radio network for the tournament.
Women’s sports were incorporated into the WVIAC during the 1981-82 academic year as the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association was absorbed. Currently, women’s championships are offered in softball, golf, tennis, track, basketball, volleyball, cross country and soccer.
Men’s championships are conducted in football, cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis and track.
The league was recognized by the State Journal as one of “55 Great Things About West Virginia” in the magazine’s April 2007 edition. The WVIAC is headquartered in Princeton, W.Va.
WVIAC Chronology:
1924-West Virginia Department of Education helps organize the WVIAC in a meeting at the Waldo Hotel in Clarksburg. Charter members include Alderson, Bethany, Broaddus, Concord, Davis & Elkins, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Marshall, Morris Harvey (Charleston), New River State (WVU Tech), Potomac State, Salem, Shepherd, West Liberty State, West Virginia University, and West Virginia Wesleyan.
1927-West Virginia University exits the league.
1929-Morehead State (KY) joins the WVIAC.
1932-Alderson and Broaddus Colleges combine to form Alderson-Broaddus.
1933-Morehead State (KY) leaves the conference.
1946-Beckley College joins the league.
1949-Marshall exits the WVIAC.
1955-Bluefield State and West Virginia State join the WVIAC after being members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
1957-Wheeling College becomes member of the WVIAC.
1962-Bethany leaves the conference.
1963-Potomac State leaves the WVIAC.
1977-Beckley College leaves the conference.
1986-West Virginia Wesleyan leaves the WVIAC for two years.
1988-West Virginia Wesleyan rejoins the conference.
1994-The league became a member of the NCAA's Division II.
1999-Ohio Valley becomes a WVIAC member.
2006-WVU Tech leaves the conference.
2006-The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Seton Hill University become the first WVIAC members from Pennsylvania as membership grows to 16 schools.
2010-Salem International University leaves the conference.
Directions to league schools