RMAC History 

1909-1969

The Colorado Faculty Athletic Conference was formed March 6, 1909 by the following four charter members: University of Colorado, Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University), Colorado College and Colorado School of Mines. In 1910, the league changed its name to the Rocky Mountain Faculty Athletic Conference (RMFAC). The University of Denver and University of Utah joined the conference but Colorado College had a fallout with Colorado School of Mines and dropped from the conference. In 1914, Colorado College rejoined and with the addition of Utah State University, the membership was at seven. Montana State University joined in 1917 and Brigham Young University joined in 1918 as the conference grew to nine members. Membership reached 12 when the University of Wyoming joined in 1921, and Western State College and the University of Northern Colorado joined in 1924.

A major defection occurred as seven schools dropped out of the RMFAC to form the Mountain States Conference (also known as the Skyline Conference). Leaving the RMFAC were Colorado, Colorado State, Brigham Young, Utah State, Wyoming and Denver. The RMFAC continued to operate under faculty administration with five schools - Colorado College, Colorado Mines, Montana State, Northern Colorado and Western State.

Much athletic activity was curtailed during the World War II years, but in 1948 Idaho State University joined the league to bring the membership to six.

Adams State College became the seventh member in 1956, but Idaho State left in 1958 and Montana State departed in 1959, reducing the membership back to five schools.

In 1967, the name changed to what it is currently known as, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). In a meeting of the presidents of 15 schools, the presidents assumed control of the league from the faculty, changed the name and the RMAC underwent the most radical change in its 58-year history. Ten institutions were added to the conference and two divisions were formed (Mountains and Plains). Joining the conference were Emporia State, Fort Hays State University, Fort Lewis College, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Pittsburg State, Kan., University of Southern Colorado, Southern Utah State, Regis University, Washburn, Kan., Western New Mexico and Westminster, Utah. Colorado College was not included in the new plan and New Mexico Highlands University joined in 1968 but left in 1969 due to financial aid restrictions of the RMAC.

1970-79

The two divisions of the RMAC were split into separate conferences for economic reasons in 1972. The Mountain Division kept the RMAC name, the Plains Division became known as the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The two allied conferences worked under the name of the Mountain and Plains Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MPIAA). RMAC membership stood at eight with ASC, CSM, FLC, Regis, Southern Utah State, Western New Mexico, WSC and Westminster. New Mexico Highlands became the ninth member in 1974 and Mesa State College became the 10th in 1975. In 1976, the MPIAA was dissolved for economic reasons and the two conferences went their separate ways. In the shuffle, Northern Colorado became independent and Southern Colorado transferred to the RMAC. Paul Brechler became the commissioner of the RMAC and was assisted by his wife Wanda. The 1978-79 season marked the first year in which the conference would sponsor women's sports. In 1979, Westminster dropped its intercollegiate athletic program, leaving the RMAC with 10 institutions.

1980-1989

In 1983, Regis became an independent and in 1985 Southern Colorado drops several sports, including football. In 1986, Southern Utah State departed the RMAC and membership dropped to eight. In 1988, New Mexico Highlands withdrew. The RMAC took another new look in 1989 when Chadron State College, Fort Hays State University, Kearney State (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney and current member) and Wayne State announced intentions to join. Southern Colorado and Western New Mexico stated they were leaving the RMAC in 1990.

1990-1993

During the 1990 RMAC Spring Meetings, Kearney State and Wayne State withdrew their membership. Southern Colorado and Western New Mexico left on July 1, 1990 and Fort Lewis said it would leave in 1991. Brechler retired as RMAC commissioner and his wife, Wanda, was named commissioner for the 1990-91 RMAC year. During the 1990-91 season, Fort Lewis was retained as an associate member for the sports of football, wrestling and softball while New Mexico Highlands rejoined the conference. In August 1991, Kurt Patberg was named the RMAC commissioner. During the 1992-93 season, all RMAC institutions gave a three-year commitment to the league and the league moved into the NCAA Division II ranks. Anheuser-Busch, Rawlings and the Ramada Hotel-Denver West joined forces with the RMAC as corporate sponsors. A new logo was adopted and the RMAC Seal would be used for official league items only. The RMAC Week-In-Review television show on Prime Sports Network (now Fox Sports Rocky Mountain) was developed, post season basketball tournaments were held and conference baseball teams participated in the Mile High Intercollegiate Baseball League. Adams State won the RMAC's initial two NCAA Division II titles with victories in men's and women's cross country in 1992 and 1993. Phillips 66 then became a major corporate sponsor.

1994-Present

Conference growth continued in 1994 with the addition of two new members and the hiring of a second full-time staff person. Fort Lewis resumed full membership and Nebraska-Kearney was voted in as a member, both effective in July. Also in July, a full-time Assistant to the Commissioner/Media Relations Director was hired.

In November 1995, Adams State won its fourth straight national title in women's cross country, while Western State won it first NCAA Division II national title in men's cross country. The crowning moment for the conference came in March of 1996, when Fort Hays State became only the third Division II team in the 40-year history of NCAA Division II men's basketball to finish the season undefeated. The Tigers finished the year 34-0 en-route to FHSU's first Division II national championship and the conference's first national champion in men's basketball.

Colorado Christian University, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Regis University and the University of Southern Colorado joined the league as full members on July 1, 1996. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs joined as an associate member also on July 1, 1996. University of Denver was accepted as an affiliate member. The RMAC now consists of a two-division, 14 member conference for the sports of volleyball and men's and women's basketball. The league office also had a new look as the conference offices moved from Golden, Colo. to Colorado Springs, Colo.

Also in 1996, the RMAC's intern position of Operations Coordinator was expanded to a full-time position and the Assistant to the Commissioner/Media Relations Director position changed titles to Assistant Commissioner/Media Relations Director.

The RMAC came under new direction in 1997 as Tom Wistrcill was named commissioner, replacing Kurt Patberg who resigned to pursue his doctorate degree. Wistrcill began his appointment August 15, 1997 after serving a three-year term as Commissioner of the Northern Sun Conference. The University of Denver completed its one-year term as an outgoing affiliate member of the RMAC, and began competition as an NCAA Division I institution for the 1998-99 year. CU-Colorado Springs completed its first year as a full member of the RMAC after becoming the 14th such institution on July 1, 1997. San Francisco State competed as an associate member of the RMAC in the sport of wrestling for the first time in 1997-98. In 1998, the RMAC men's and women's post-season basketball tournament became the first conference event to be broadcast on live television as Fox Sports Rocky Mountain carried the two championship games to a regional cable television audience.

In 2000, Metro State joined Adams State and Western State as national champions--with Adams State claiming the women's cross country title, Western State claiming the men's cross country title and Metro State winning the men's basketball championship. Also, Fort Hays State advanced to the finals of the Division II Baseball World Series and the Mesa State softball team earned its first ever trip to the Softball World Series.

After a three year tenure with the RMAC, Tom Wistrcill stepped down as commissioner in November, and the council of presidents selected Joel R. Smith as the new commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in February of 2001.

In the fall of 2006, Fort Hays State University left the RMAC to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Due to Fort Hays State's departure, Western New Mexico University, located in Silver City, N.M., joined the RMAC.

Since joining the NCAA, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is home to more than 30 NCAA national champions and more than 20 NCAA runners-up.