Interviews with Washington University coach Larry Kindbom and AD Josh Whitman
NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced today the addition of Washington University in St. Louis as an associate member for football beginning in the fall of 2018.
The CCIW presidents voted unanimously to accept Washington University as an associate member for football as Washington recently withdrew as football-playing members of both the University Athletic Association (UAA) and the Southern Athletic Association (SAA). The university’s affiliate membership in the SAA will conclude following the 2016 football season, while its UAA football membership will continue through the end of the 2017 season.
“The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin is thrilled to welcome Washington University in St. Louis as an associate member for football,” North Park University President and CCIW Council of Presidents chair Dr. David L. Parkyn said. “On behalf of the entire conference, we are excited to add an institution of Washington University’s academic and athletic caliber. We also thank Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and athletics director Josh Whitman for their tireless efforts in making this partnership happen. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial football relationship between Washington University and the CCIW.”
Founded in 1853, Washington University serves an enrollment of 6,300 students with an athletics department that sponsors 19 sports (9 men’s, 10 women’s). In 2014, Washington University’s football team finished 4-6 overall and 1-2 in the UAA. The university will remain in the UAA for all sports other than football.
“Our goal at Washington University is to provide a life-changing experience for our student-athletes that, we hope, will include the opportunity to participate in a nationally competitive program,” Whitman said. “The small number of schools playing football in the UAA and the travel distances required in the SAA have made it difficult for us to accomplish those goals in the sport of football. The CCIW is an excellent fit for WashU Football. It is a highly competitive conference featuring some of the country’s best teams. We will enjoy a solid, competitive schedule year in and year out, with the conference champion earning an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. At the same time, the schools’ locations will allow us to keep our student-athletes’ travel time to a minimum. We would like to thank Commissioner Chris Martin and the CCIW member institutions for their warm welcome and partnership. We are excited about the quality experience that our football student-athletes will receive while participating in the CCIW.”
With this addition, the CCIW will have 10 football programs including current members Augustana, Carthage, Elmhurst, Illinois Wesleyan, Millikin, North Central, North Park and Wheaton, as well as future conference member Carroll University, and Washington University. Carroll is currently an associate member for men’s & women’s lacrosse and will join the CCIW as a full member beginning in 2016-17.
The CCIW began sponsoring football during its inception in 1946 as Augustana won four NCAA Division III national titles between 1983 and 1986. More recently, North Central advanced to the NCAA’s semifinal round in 2013. CCIW teams have won a combined 47 national championships in Division III competition.
Washington University in St. Louis becomes the CCIW’s fourth associate member, joining Carroll, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, which joined for men's & women's swimming in 2007, and Dubuque University, which joined for men's & women's lacrosse in 2015.
For information on Washington University in St. Louis, visit its website at
wustl.edu. For information on Washington athletics, visit
bearsports.wustl.edu.
Twitter & Instagram: @CCIW_Athletics
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services eight member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), Carthage College (Kenosha, WI), Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, IL), Millikin University (Decatur, IL), North Central College (Naperville, IL), North Park University (Chicago, IL) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL). During the 2013-14 academic year, the CCIW honored over 1,400 academic all-conference recipients, 14 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 33 CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients and 87 all-Americans.