River States Conference
The River States Conference, formerly known as Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference with membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Although it was historically a Kentucky-only conference, it has now expanded to include members in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and at various times in the past has also had members in Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia.
In March 2016, the KIAC announced it would change its name to the River States Conference, effective July 1, 2016, to better reflect its membership, which has expanded beyond Kentucky and now includes members in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.
Member schools
Current members
Former members
School names and nicknames reflect those used in the final school year each institution was a conference member.Institution | Location | Founded | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current Conference |
Bellarmine College | Louisville, Kentucky | 1950 | Knights | 1951 | 1964 | ASUN |
Berea College | Berea, Kentucky | 1855 | Mountaineers | 1926 | 2014 | USA South |
Bethel College | McKenzie, Tennessee | 1842 | Wildcats | 1999 | 2006 | Southern States |
Campbellsville College | Campbellsville, Kentucky | 1906 | Tigers | 1964 | 1995 | Mid-South |
Centre College | Danville, Kentucky | 1819 | Colonels | 1926 | 1962 | Southern Athletic |
Clinch Valley College | Wise, Virginia | 1954 | Highland Cavaliers | 1971 | 1994 | South Atlantic |
Cincinnati Christian University | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1924 | Eagles | 2008 | 2019 | Closed in 2019 |
Cumberland College | Williamsburg, Kentucky | 1887 | Indians | 1966 | 1995 | Mid-South |
Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College | Richmond, Kentucky | 1906 | Colonels | 1927 | 1948 | Ohio Valley |
Georgetown College | Georgetown, Kentucky | 1829 | Tigers | 1926 | 1995 | Mid-South |
Kentucky Wesleyan College | Winchester, Kentucky | 1858 | Panthers | 1926 | 1955 | Great Midwest |
Lindsey Wilson College | Columbia, Kentucky | 1903 | Blue Raiders | 1984 | 2000 | Mid-South |
Louisville, Kentucky | 1798 | Cardinals | 1926 | 1948 | Atlantic Coast | |
Mid-Continent University | Mayfield, Kentucky | 1949 | Cougars | 2000 | 2006 | Closed in 2014 |
Morehead State Teachers College | Morehead, Kentucky | 1922 | Eagles | 1931 | 1948 | Ohio Valley |
Mountain State University | Beckley, West Virginia | 1933 | Cougars | 2007 | 2012 | Closed in 2012 |
Murray State Teachers College | Murray, Kentucky | 1922 | Racers | 1933 | 1948 | Ohio Valley |
Ogden College | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1906 | Eagles | 1926 | 1927 | Merged in 1927 with Western Kentucky University |
Pikeville, Kentucky | 1889 | Bears | 1958 | 2000 | Mid-South | |
1864 | Eutectics | 2003 | 2014 | American Midwest | ||
Spalding University | Louisville, Kentucky | 1814 | Golden Eagles | 1992 | 2007 | |
Thomas More College | Crestview Hills, Kentucky | 1921 | Saints | 1955 | 1991 | Mid-South |
Transylvania University | Lexington, Kentucky | 1780 | Pioneers | 1926 | 2001 | Heartland Collegiate |
Union College | Barbourville, Kentucky | 1879 | Bulldogs | 1933 | 1995 | Appalachian |
Western Kentucky State Teachers College | Bowling Green, Kentucky | 1906 | Hilltoppers | 1926 | 1948 | Conference USA |
Conference sports
The River States Conference currently fields 17 sports :Sport | Men's | Women's |
Baseball | ||
Basketball | ||
Cross Country | ||
Golf | ||
Soccer | ||
Softball | ||
Tennis | ||
Track & Field Indoor | ||
Track & Field Outdoor | ||
Volleyball |