Re: Augie d1 thread
For Iowa NAIA schools I would think Grand View would seem like the most obvious candidate. I would be a bit nervous with Grand View though. The Des Moines market is desirable, and Grand View has had a great run recently in athletics. Football, wrestling, golf have all been at the top of the NAIA national scene. But last I knew, Grand View had a sub 20 million dollar endowment and annual giving in the 2-3 million dollar range. I question if they could afford the D2 move.
As far as Iowa D3 schools. The Iowa Conference...now named the American Rivers Conference after adding Nebraska Wesleyan has been remarkably stable over the years. Buena Vista, Central, Luther, and Simpson are original members dating back to 1922. Loras joined in 1926, left in 1954, came back in 1986. Dubuque joined in 1929. Wartburg joined in 1936. Coe joined in 1998. Nebraska Wesleyan 3 years ago.
I mentioned Buena Vista earlier as being a bit similar to Upper Iowa. They are somewhat on an island in western Iowa with no other conference schools all that close to them. BV is down to about 700 students on campus, but they have about a 125 million dollar endowment and they do have a revenue stream with off campus centers located around the state (similar story as Upper Iowa).
I really don't think Luther would be interested in moving D2, but they would have the means to do it. Located near the Minnesota border, 165 million dollar endowment, strong annual giving, in the process of athletics facilities improvements including an indoor practice facility.
Dubuque I think would be a long shot as well, but they would also have the finances to pull it off. A 150 million dollar endowment, enrollment of 2k, nice athletics facilities, including an indoor practice facility, Dubuque is a decent sized community and would move the conference footprint closer to Chicago. But...that would make no sense for schools in the Dakotas and I think in the end neither Dubuque or the NSIC would be interested.
For Iowa NAIA schools I would think Grand View would seem like the most obvious candidate. I would be a bit nervous with Grand View though. The Des Moines market is desirable, and Grand View has had a great run recently in athletics. Football, wrestling, golf have all been at the top of the NAIA national scene. But last I knew, Grand View had a sub 20 million dollar endowment and annual giving in the 2-3 million dollar range. I question if they could afford the D2 move.
As far as Iowa D3 schools. The Iowa Conference...now named the American Rivers Conference after adding Nebraska Wesleyan has been remarkably stable over the years. Buena Vista, Central, Luther, and Simpson are original members dating back to 1922. Loras joined in 1926, left in 1954, came back in 1986. Dubuque joined in 1929. Wartburg joined in 1936. Coe joined in 1998. Nebraska Wesleyan 3 years ago.
I mentioned Buena Vista earlier as being a bit similar to Upper Iowa. They are somewhat on an island in western Iowa with no other conference schools all that close to them. BV is down to about 700 students on campus, but they have about a 125 million dollar endowment and they do have a revenue stream with off campus centers located around the state (similar story as Upper Iowa).
I really don't think Luther would be interested in moving D2, but they would have the means to do it. Located near the Minnesota border, 165 million dollar endowment, strong annual giving, in the process of athletics facilities improvements including an indoor practice facility.
Dubuque I think would be a long shot as well, but they would also have the finances to pull it off. A 150 million dollar endowment, enrollment of 2k, nice athletics facilities, including an indoor practice facility, Dubuque is a decent sized community and would move the conference footprint closer to Chicago. But...that would make no sense for schools in the Dakotas and I think in the end neither Dubuque or the NSIC would be interested.
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