CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today that its Presidents Council has approved Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Minnesota Morris as affiliate members in men's and women's swimming & diving, beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
"Welcoming Illinois Tech and the University of Minnesota Morris as the American Rivers Conference's first affiliate members is a historic and meaningful moment for our conference," said Marie Stroman, A-R-C Commissioner. "This affiliation expands high-quality competitive opportunities in men's and women's swimming & diving while advancing our commitment to a student-centered NCAA Division III experience, where student-athletes can excel in the classroom, in competition, and as leaders."
The addition of Illinois Tech and UMN Morris expands the conference's men's and women's swimming & diving membership to five programs, providing additional opportunities for conference championship participation. These two will join Coe College, Loras College, and Nebraska Wesleyan University from the A-R-C at the 2027 championship. Central College will be the sixth program beginning in the 2027-28 academic year.
The A-R-C's fifth men's and women's swimming & diving championships are scheduled for February 17-20, 2027 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Illinois Tech was founded in 1940 and has five campuses in the Chicago area with the main campus based on the Chicago's south side in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. The Scarlet Hawks swimming & diving programs are led by Kate Chronic. She has been at the helm since August 2023.
"Illinois Tech has demonstrated a thoughtful commitment to the continued growth of its men's and women's swimming & diving programs," said Stroman. "We are pleased to welcome the Scarlet Hawks into an A-R-C community that values spirited competition, integrity, collaboration, and opportunities for student-athletes to thrive at the highest level."
"We are incredibly excited for our men's and women's swimming and diving programs to join the American Rivers Conference as affiliate members," wrote Usha Gillmore, Director of Athletics at Illinois Tech. "This opportunity provides our student-athletes with a strong and competitive conference home and the chance to compete alongside outstanding Division III programs. We are grateful to the A-R-C leadership and its member institutions for welcoming Illinois Tech, and we look forward to building new relationships and contributing to the continued success of swimming and diving within the conference."
"We're excited to be joining the American Rivers Conference as an affiliate member," added Chronic. "This move provides some much-needed stability and consistency for our athletes throughout the season. We're thrilled our athletes will have the opportunity to be recognized conference-wide for their accomplishments both in and out of the water. We believe the level of competition at the conference championships will be outstanding and challenge us in new and different ways. We look forward to this new adventure!"
UMN Morris was founded in 1960 and is located in Morris, Minnesota. The Cougars swimming & diving programs are led by Dave Molesworth. Molesworth has led the program since inception at UMN Morris. He is entering his 24th season in 2026-27.
"The University of Minnesota Morris joins this milestone with a strong appreciation for the Division III model and the full development of student-athletes," said Stroman. "We look forward to working with Cougar student-athletes, coaches, and campus leaders to create meaningful championship and competitive opportunities rooted in sportsmanship, character, and shared purpose."
"UMN Morris is incredibly excited for our new affiliate membership with the A-R-C beginning this year," wrote Matt Johnson, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Minnesota Morris. "Men's and Women's Swim and Dive are vital programs to Cougar athletics and our campus as a whole. The A-R-C's commitment to the student-athlete experience in swim and dive, matches UMN Morris' and we believe in a strong future - together!"
"We are excited for the new opportunity to be a part of an established conference and help make the A-R-C meet as competitive as it can be," said Molesworth. "We are looking forward to swimming and diving with several teams that we have competed with in the past. I want to thank the A-R-C for accepting our team as members of the conference."
Illinois Tech and UMN Morris have existing ties to several A-R-C swimming & diving programs, having previously competed against conference members at the Liberal Arts Championships before the A-R-C established swimming & diving as a championship sport.
"Affiliate membership gives the A-R-C a thoughtful way to build competitive opportunities while remaining grounded in what defines our conference: achievement rallied by community," added Stroman. "As our first affiliate members, Illinois Tech and Minnesota Morris help put an important strategic priority into action by strengthening the competitive environment for men's and women's swimming & diving and enhancing the experience for every student-athlete involved."
Don't forget to become a fan of the American Rivers Conference on Facebook @AmericanRiversConference, X (Twitter) @AmerRiversConf, and Instagram @AmericanRiversConference, and LinkedIn @AmericanRiversConference
About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men's and women's swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
