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Great Northwest Athletic Conference

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level. It has historically operated in the northwestern United States, but also includes schools in Alaska, Montana, and British Columbia.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)
AssociationNCAA
Founded2001
CommissionerDavid Haglund (since 2011)
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 8
DivisionDivision II
No. of teams10
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon
RegionIdaho, British Columbia, Alaska, Montana Washington, Oregon
Official websitewww.gnacsports.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The GNAC is the only NCAA conference in any division with a Canadian university as a member.

History

The conference formed in 2001 when its original ten members split from the Pacific West Conference.

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Pacific Northwest)
200km
125miles
Central Washington
Simon Fraser
Montana State–Billings
Western Washington
Western Oregon
Seattle Pacific
Saint Martin's
Northwest Nazarene
Location of GNAC members: current
Great Northwest Athletic Conference (Alaska)
900km
600miles
Alaska–Anchorage
Alaska
Location of GNAC members: current

Chronological timeline

  • 2001 - The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) was founded. Charter members included the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, the University of Alaska at Anchorage, Central Washington University, Humboldt State University (now California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt), Northwest Nazarene University, Saint Martin's, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Western Oregon University and Western Washington University, effective beginning the 2001-02 academic year.
  • 2006 - Humboldt State left the GNAC to join the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), effective after the 2005-06 academic year. This would result in the GNAC dropping football, with Western Washington and Central Washington becoming football affiliates of the now defunct North Central Conference and Western Oregon competing as a D-II independent.
  • 2007 - Montana State University at Billings joined the GNAC, effective in the 2007-08 academic year.
  • 2008 - Seattle left the GNAC to join the Division I ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an NCAA D-I Independent (who would later join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), effective beginning the 2012-13 academic year), effective after the 2007-08 academic year.
  • 2008 - Dixie State University joined the GNAC as an affiliate member for football (with Humboldt State returning for that sport), effective with the 2008 fall season (2008-09 academic year), leading to the GNAC to begin sponsoring football once again.
  • 2010 - Simon Fraser University joined the GNAC, effective in the 2010-11 academic year.
  • 2012 - Three institutions joined the GNAC as affiliate members: Azusa Pacific University for football, and the University of Mary and the University of Sioux Falls for men's soccer, all effective with the 2012-13 academic year.
  • 2013 - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (South Dakota Mines) joined the GNAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective in the 2013 fall season (2013-14 academic year).
  • 2014 - South Dakota Mines added football to its GNAC affiliate membership, effective in the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
  • 2015 - South Dakota Mines left the GNAC as an affiliate member for men's soccer, effective after the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
  • 2015 - Concordia University–Portland joined the GNAC, effective in the 2015-16 academic year.
  • 2016 - Dixie State and South Dakota Mines left the GNAC as affiliate members for football, effective after the 2015 fall season (2015-16 academic year).
  • 2019 - Humboldt State left the GNAC as an affiliate member for football as the school announced it was dropping the sport after the 2018 fall season (2018-19 academic year).
  • 2019 - The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) and the University of Central Oklahoma (along with Humboldt State returning for that sport), joined the GNAC as affiliate members for women's rowing, effective in the 2020 spring season (2019-20 academic year).
  • 2020 - Concordia–Portland left the GNAC as the school announced that it would close, effective after the 2019-20 academic year.
  • 2020 - Azusa Pacific left the GNAC as an affiliate member for football as the school announced it was dropping the sport after the 2020 fall season (2020-21 academic year).
  • 2020 - UC San Diego left the GNAC as an affiliate member for women's rowing, effective after the 2020 spring season (2019-20 academic year), coinciding with the start of its transition to NCAA Division I.
  • 2022 - Central Washington, Western Oregon and Simon Fraser, the only 3 football-sponsoring schools remaining in the GNAC, announce that they will be joining the Lone Star Conference as football affiliates, bringing an end to the GNAC as a football conference for a second time, effective after the 2021 fall season (2021-22 academic year).

Member schools

Current members

The GNAC currently has ten full members, all but three are public schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
University of Alaska AnchorageAnchorage, Alaska1954Public10,530Seawolves2001   
University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, Alaska1917Public6,826Nanooks2001   
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, Washington1891Public9,355Wildcats2001   
Montana State University BillingsBillings, Montana1927Public4,057Yellowjackets2007   
Northwest Nazarene UniversityNampa, Idaho1913Nazarene1,778Nighthawks2001       
Saint Martin's UniversityLacey, Washington1895Catholic1,614Saints2001   
Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, Washington1891Free Methodist3,114Falcons2001   
Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, British Columbia, Canada1965Public26,981Red Leafs2010     
Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, Oregon1856Public3,752Wolves2001       
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, Washington1893Public14,747Vikings2001       
Notes

Affiliate members

The GNAC currently has two affiliate members, both are public schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColorsGNAC
sport		Primary
conference
University of Central OklahomaEdmond, Oklahoma1890Public13,250Bronchos2019–20   women's rowingMid-America (MIAA)
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt[a][b][c]Arcata, California1913Public5,858Lumberjacks2019–20   women's rowingCalifornia (CCAA)
Notes

Former members

The GNAC had three former full members, all but one were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference
Concordia University–PortlandPortland, Oregon1905Lutheran LCMSN/ACavaliers20152020Closed in 2020
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt[a][b]Arcata, California1913Public5,858Lumberjacks20012006California (CCAA)
Seattle UniversitySeattle, Washington1891Catholic7,107Redhawks20012008Western (WAC)[c][d]
Notes

Former affiliate members

The GNAC had seven former affiliate members, all but three were public schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftGNAC
sport		Primary
conference
Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, California1899Evangelical
Christian		7,133Cougars2012–132019–20footballPacific West (PacWest)
Dixie State University[a]St. George, Utah1911Public12,556Red Storm[b]2008–092015–16footballWestern (WAC)[c]
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt[d][e]Arcata, California1913Public5,858Lumberjacks2006–072017–18footballCalifornia (CCAA)
University of MaryBismarck, North Dakota1959Catholic3,794Marauders2012–132015–16men's soccerNorthern Sun (NSIC)
University of Sioux FallsSioux Falls, South Dakota1883Baptist1,594Cougars2012–132012–13men's soccerNorthern Sun (NSIC)
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyRapid City, South Dakota1885Public2,493Hardrockers2014–15fb.;
2013–14m.soc.		2015–16fb.;
2014–15m.soc.		football;
men's soccer		Rocky Mountain (RMAC)
University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, California1960Public41,482Tritons2019–202019–20women's rowingBig West[c]
Notes

Membership timeline

University of California, San DiegoUniversity of Central OklahomaConcordia University (Oregon)South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyUniversity of Sioux FallsUniversity of MaryAzusa Pacific UniversitySimon Fraser UniversityUtah Tech UniversityMontana State University BillingsWestern Washington UniversityWestern Oregon UniversitySeattle Pacific UniversitySeattle UniversitySaint Martin's UniversityNorthwest Nazarene UniversityCalifornia State Polytechnic University, HumboldtCalifornia State Polytechnic University, HumboldtCentral Washington UniversityUniversity of Alaska AnchorageUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks

 Full member (all sports)  Full member (non-football)  Associate member (football-only)  Associate member (other sports) 

  • The GNAC did not sponsor football in the 2006–07 and 2007-08 seasons. Therefore, Central Washington and Western Washington competed in the North Central Conference (NCC); while Dixie State, Humboldt State and Western Oregon were Independents.

Sports sponsored

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball Y
Basketball Y Y
Cross Country Y Y
Golf Y Y
Rowing Y
Soccer Y Y
Softball Y
Track & Field Indoor Y Y
Track & Field Outdoor Y Y
Volleyball Y

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
Country		GolfSoccerTrack
& Field
Indoor		Track
& Field
Outdoor		Total
GNAC
Sports
Alaska Y Y2
Alaska-Anchorage Y Y Y Y4
Central Washington Y Y Y Y Y5
Montana State-Billings Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Northwest Nazarene Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Saint Martin's Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Seattle Pacific Y Y Y Y Y5
Simon Fraser Y Y Y Y Y Y6
Western Oregon Y Y Y Y Y Y6
Western Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y6
Totals51010579957

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross
Country		GolfRowingSoccerSoftballTrack
& Field
Indoor		Track
& Field
Outdoor		VolleyballTotal
GNAC
Sports
Alaska Y Y Y3
Alaska-Anchorage Y Y Y Y Y5
Central Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Montana State-Billings Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y8
Northwest Nazarene Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y8
Saint Martin's Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y8
Seattle Pacific Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Simon Fraser Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y8
Western Oregon Y Y Y Y Y Y Y7
Western Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y9
Affiliate Members
Cal Poly Humboldt Y1
Central Oklahoma Y1
Totals10105487991081
  • Seattle Pacific is set to launch women's golf starting in 2024

Other sponsored sports by school

SchoolMenWomenCo-ed
FootballIce
Hockey[a]		Swimming
& Diving		WrestlingSwimming
& Diving		WrestlingRifle[a]Skiing[a]
AlaskaINDPCSCPRCRMISA
Alaska-AnchorageIND
Central WashingtonLSC
Simon FraserRMACRMACRMACRMAC
Western OregonLSC

Football champions

YearChampionConf.
Record
2010Central Washington
7-1
2011Humboldt State
7-1
2012Central Washington
7-3
2013Azusa Pacific
9-1
2014Azusa Pacific
6-0
2015Humboldt State
6-0
2016Azusa Pacific
8-0
2017Central Washington
8-0
2018Azusa Pacific & Central Washington
7-1
2019Central Washington & Western Oregon
5-1
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
N/A
2021Central Washington
4-0

Basketball champions

Conference facilities

SchoolBasketball arenaCapacity
Alaska FairbanksAlaska Airlines Court1,648
Alaska AnchorageAlaska Airlines Center5,000
Central WashingtonNicholson Pavilion2,519
Montana State - BillingsAlterowitz Gymnasium2,330
Northwest NazareneJohnson Sports Center
Saint Martin'sMarcus Pavilion
Seattle PacificRoyal Brougham Pavilion2,650
Simon FraserWest Gym1,500
Western OregonPE Gym2,473
Western WashingtonSam Carver Gym2,534

References

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