Archived RMAC Media Guides

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.

Oldest Active Intercollegiate Athletic Conferences
Conference	Founded
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (D3)	1888
Big Ten Conference (D1)	1896
Ohio Athletic Conference (D3)	1902
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (D2)	1909
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (D2)	1912
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (D2)	1912
Middle Athletic Conferences (D3)	1912

 

A major defection occurred as seven schools – Colorado, Colorado State, Brigham Young, Utah State, Wyoming and Denver – dropped out of the RMFAC to form the Mountain States Conference (also known as the Skyline Conference). 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, University of Southern Colorado, Southern Utah State, Regis University, Washburn, 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 Adams State, Colorado School of Mines, Fort Lewis, Regis, Southern Utah State, Western New Mexico, Western State, and Westminster. New Mexico Highlands returned and 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.

RMAC Commissioners
Commissioner	Era	Yrs.Mos
Harry Kniseley	1967-75	8.00
Paul & Wanda Brechler	1976-90	14.00
Kurt Patberg	1991-97	6.00
Tom Wistrcill	1997-00	3.01
Joel "JR" Smith	2001-13	12.04
Chris Graham	2013-25	11.05

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.

1994-1999

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.

2000-2006

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 2000.
 
The council of presidents selected Joel R. Smith as the new commissioner of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in February 2001.
 
Western State College earned NCAA national titles in men's and women's cross country in 2001 and 2002. Metro State posted their second NCAA men's basketball national championship team in three years (2002, 2000).

In July 2002, Smith implemented the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the first induction class was Paul and Wanda Brechler. The Brechler's were the first full-time Commissioner's of the RMAC.
 
The following year in March 2003, the RMAC basketball tournament (RMAC Shootout) was moved to Colorado Springs for three years (2003-2005) at the World Arena. In 2006, the tournament was moved to Pueblo, Colo. at the State Fair Events Center.
 
The RMAC's national dominance in cross country continued as Adams State won six straight women's titles between 2003-2008. The Grizzly men's team took home the national title in 2003 before Western State reclaimed the title in 2004 and 2005.
 
The conference's monthly television show, The RMAC Showcase, debuted on Altitude Sports & Entertainment in September 2004.
 
For three straight years the RMAC won NCAA soccer championships. Metro State returned to the national spotlight, this time in women's soccer. Head coach Danny Sanchez led the Roadrunners to the 2004 and 2006 NCAA championship titles. Coached by Jeremy Gunn, the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team went 22-0-1 in 2005 to win their first ever national championship.

2006-2015

A new era of transition began in 2006, as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference re-aligned and continued to expand its footprint in the Rocky Mountain region. Meanwhile, the conference said farewell to a pair of members that had assisted in its move to NCAA Division II nearly two decades earlier.

Fort Hays State moved from the RMAC to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in the fall of 2006, having spent 17 years with the league, including its first 15 years as members of NCAA Division II, before it made the transition to the MIAA. In addition, FHSU was historically an RMAC member from 1969 through 1972 before joining the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Following Fort Hays State's departure, Western New Mexico University, located in Silver City, N.M., joined the RMAC, coming from the Heartland Conference.
 
Adams State won three of the RMAC's four national championships in 2008 as they swept the cross country titles and won the NCAA Women's Indoor Track & Field championship in Mankato, Minn. Nebraska-Kearney scored their first ever national championship in wrestling, winning the title by .5 points over Minnesota State, Mankato.

In the summer of 2010, Nebraska-Kearney announced its intentions to join the MIAA. The change in conference affiliation aligned UNK with long-time rival Fort Hays State as well as its university system partner, Nebraska-Omaha, and provided the university with geographic advantages. During its 18 years with the league, the Lopers won the RMAC All-Sports Trophy 13 times and won 54 regular season conference titles. Following the announcement from UNK, the RMAC selected Black Hills State, of Spearfish, S.D., a newcomer to NCAA Division II, to join the conference. Both transitions occurred in the summer of 2012, keeping the membership number steady at 14.

In 2013, the RMAC Shootout was moved from being held annually at the Pueblo State Fair Events Center onto the campus of the highest remaining seed for the semifinals and finals.

RMAC Commissioner Joel Smith departed the conference office in 2013, accepting the position of Director of Athletics at RMAC member Chadron State College. Following an extensive nationwide search, Chris Graham, former commissioner of the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference, was selected by the RMAC Presidents Council to become the RMAC's sixth full-time conference Commissioner, taking office in December 2013.
 
During the winter of 2013-14, two more new members were announced bringing the conference to an all-time high of 16 members. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, located in Rapid City, S.D., was invited to begin competition in its individual sports during the 2014-15 academic year, with team sports to begin phasing in during 2015-16. Westminster College, located in Salt Lake City and currently competing in the NAIA Frontier Conference, was also added to the fold, and is set to begin play as soon as 2015-16 pending NCAA acceptance.

Also in the spring of 2014, women's lacrosse started play as the RMAC's 22nd sport. Adams State, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis, and Regis were inaugural participants, along with associate members Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo., and Rockhurst University of Kansas City.

2016-Present

In 2016, Western New Mexico left the RMAC to join the Lone Star Conference. The RMAC added men's lacrosse for the 2016 season. Adams State, Colorado Mesa, CSU-Pueblo and Westminster were inaugural participants. Those four schools were joined by associate member Rockhurst in the first year. Maryville competed in men's lacrosse as an associate member in 2016.
 
The RMAC announced Dixie State will join the RMAC as a full member in 2018-19. The Trailblazers joined as an associate member in football in 2016.
 
Oklahoma Baptist joined the RMAC in 2016-17 as an associate member in men's and women's swimming and diving.
 
Oklahoma Christian joined the RMAC as an associate member for the 2017-18 season. This is the Eagles first season in program history. Rockhurst men’s lacrosse and California Baptist competed their final season as an associate member in the RMAC in 2018. California Baptist transitioned to NCAA DI at the end of the 2017-18 season.

The RMAC discontinued the sponsorship of men’s tennis starting the 2018-19 academic year. Western officially changed their name from Western State Colorado University to Western Colorado University.
 
The RMAC currently sponsors 22 varsity sports, with 16 full members.

Since joining the NCAA, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is home to 62 NCAA Division II national champions and 52 NCAA runners-up.
 

RMAC MEMBERSHIP HISTORY
Current Full Members
Adams State	1956-Present
Black Hills State	2012-Present
Chadron State	1989- Present
Colorado Christian	1996- Present
Colorado Mesa (formerly Mesa State)	1975- Present
Colorado School of Mines	1909-Present
Colorado State Univeristy Pueblo	1967-1972, 1976-1990, 1996-Present
Fort Lewis	1967-90, 1994-Present
MSU Denver (Metro State)	1996-Present
New Mexico Highlands	1968-69, 1974-1988, 1990-Present
Regis	1967-1983, 1996-Present
South Dakota Mines	2014-Present
University of Colorado Colorado Springs	1997- Present
Western Colorado (formerly Western State)	1924-Present
Westminster (Utah)	1977-1978, 2015-Present
Previous Full Members
Brigham Young	1918-1937
Colorado (Boulder)	1909-1937
Colorado College	1909-1910, 1914-1967
Colorado State (Fort Collins)	1909-1937
Denver University	1910-1937, 1996-1997
Dixie State (now Utah Tech)	2018-2020
Emporia State	1967-1972
Fort Hays State	1967-1972, 1989-2006
Idaho State	1948-1958
Montana State	1917-1959
Nebraska-Kearney	1989-90, 1994-2012
Nebraska-Omaha	1967-1972
Northern Colorado	1924-1972
Pittsburg State	1967-1972
Southern Utah	1967-1986
Utah	1910-1937
Utah State	1914-1937
Washburn	1967-1972
Wayne State	1989-1990
Western New Mexico	1967-1990, 2006-2016
Wyoming	1921-1937