Luther College to Compete in the Midwest Conference Starting in 2026-27

Stay informed, stay empowered: invest in the journalism that invests in you. DECORAH — President Brad Chamberlain announced the Luther College Norse are changing athletic conferences, moving to the Midwest Conference for the 2026-27 academic year. "Luther College is a proud Iowa college with a regional presence and a national reputation," Chamberlain said. "At Luther, athletics is about community, character, and competition. Athletics at Luther is part of our holistic approach to learning that develops mind, body, and spirit. Luther was honored to receive an invitation from the Midwest Conference, and we look forward to joining the league in 2026." By unanimous vote of its Presidents' Council this past week, the members of the Midwest Conference (MWC) extended an invitation to join the NCAA Division III league to Luther College. Chamberlain accepted the offer on behalf of the college and its Board of Regents to begin competition in fall 2026 as the 10th core member of the MWC. "The decision to change Luther's athletic conference affiliation was not made lightly," Chamberlain continued. "The decision followed an intentional period of discernment that involved Luther's leadership team, its Board of Regents, its athletic administrators, and its coaching staff." President Anne Harris of Grinnell College, who is the current chair of the Midwest Conference Board Officers, extended the offer. "Luther's interest in the Midwest Conference was met with broad-based enthusiasm by the members of the Presidents' Council, " Harris said. "Its mission and vision for its athletic programs perfectly complement that which we believe to be distinguishing characteristics of the Midwest Conference experience." Headquartered in Grinnell, Iowa, the Midwest Conference traces its roots back to 1921 and the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference. The MWC's executive director is Heather Benning, and conference leadership was excited about the addition of Luther. "While other leagues in our region are primarily state-identified, we truly are the DIII athletic conference of the Midwest," said Benning. "When the league was formed 104 years ago, the intent was to establish an interstate athletic union of like-minded institutions; what binds our schools isn't necessarily geographic proximity but rather a shared vision of the role of athletics in the undergraduate experience." The core members of the MWC are Beloit College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College and Ripon College. St. Norbert (men's and women's swimming and diving), the University of Chicago (football) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (men's and women's swimming and diving) are affiliate members. An important factor in the decision to join the MWC was Luther College's membership in the academic consortium of like-minded liberal arts colleges, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). "In the Midwest Conference, Luther finds partner institutions that share our philosophy towards athletics and that match the geographical diversity of our student body," Chamberlain said. "When we considered all of our affiliations, including athletics, we took into consideration that the Midwest Conference more closely aligns with our academic partners in the ACM, and that Luther's strengths, challenges, strategic priorities, and the geographical origins of its student body fit well with the MWC." The ACM is a consortium of 14 colleges across five midwestern states. Eight of the nine current members of the MWC are also members of the ACM. The MWC currently sponsors 18 conference championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's indoor track, men's and women's outdoor track, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball. "We have deeply enjoyed and have greatly benefited from the community, collaboration, and competition afforded by Luther's membership in the American Rivers Conference and its predecessor," Chamberlain said. "We desire to remain connected to member institutions of the American Rivers Conference, and we would welcome opportunities for non-conference contests between our institutions." Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week.