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| Concordia (Wis.) athletics photo |
Concordia University Wisconsin will become the 10th member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin after the league’s Council of Presidents officially voted to accept CUW’s application for membership on Friday, Sept. 12. The Falcons will officially join the conference as a core member beginning in 2027-28.
“The CCIW is delighted to welcome Concordia University Wisconsin to our storied conference,” chair of the CCIW Council of Presidents and Carthage College president John Swallow said. “We look forward to all that their student-athletes will bring to athletic competition and our intercollegiate community."
Last year at this time, CCIW Executive Director Maureen Harty talked about the need to be able to react quickly if the opportunity presented itself to add a new full member which sponsored football. In CUW, the CCIW has added a school which is 51 miles north of Carthage, and about 30 miles northeast of Carroll.
Located in Mequon, Wisconsin, just 16 miles north of downtown Milwaukee, Concordia University Wisconsin is a private university founded in 1881. CUW became a four-year, accredited institution in 1978 and joined NCAA Division III in 1989. The institution’s enrollment is 1,926 full-time undergraduates as of its most recent filing with the U.S. Department of Education. CUW offers nearly 130 academic programs.
"We are excited to officially welcome Concordia University Wisconsin to the CCIW beginning in 2027,” Harty said. "When we began the search for a new member, we were focused on finding an institution that aligned with our values – competitive success, academic achievement and strong commitment to Division III. From our very first interactions with the CUW administration and athletic staff, it was clear that the Falcons exemplify those qualities."
The Falcons sponsor 30 sports overall – 25 NCAA sports, two emerging NCAA sports and three non-NCAA sports. CUW sponsors 22 of the CCIW’s 26 sports.
“This is an exciting new chapter in the life of our university,” said CUW president Erik Ankerberg. “Membership in the CCIW reflects Concordia’s deep commitment to excellence and to providing our student athletes with opportunities to compete and grow at the highest levels. The CCIW is an excellent fit for our mission, our size, and our aspirations.”
CUW has been a charter member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference since 2006. The university has also competed as an associate member of the CCIW in men’s wrestling since 2015. CUW will be the first institution to join the CCIW as a core member since Carroll returned to the CCIW after a 24-year absence in 2016, and the first new member to join since 1962.
“Our coaches, student-athletes, and campus community are excited for this transition,” said Rob Barnhill, CUW athletic directory. “At the same time, we are profoundly appreciative of the NACC. The relationships and rivalries we’ve built there will always be an important part of our story.”
The CCIW was founded in 1946 in Jacksonville, Ill. When CUW begins full participation in 2027-28, it will be the conference’s 82nd season of competition and 42nd season of women’s sports. The league currently includes nine core member institutions including Augustana (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin (Decatur, Ill.), North Central (Naperville, Ill.), North Park (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton (Wheaton, Ill.).