FULTON, Mo. -- In advance of the team's first season of competition in 2024, William Woods University has accepted an invitation to join the Heart of America Athletic Conference as an Associate Member, Director of Athletics Steve Wilson announced today. The Owls will join AMC rival Missouri Baptist University in the Heart South Division.
"The invitation to join the storied Heart of America Athletic Conference is the latest milestone in our groundbreaking decision to add intercollegiate football for the first time in the 153-year history of William Woods University," said Dr. Jeremy Moreland, President of William Woods University. "For more than a half-century, the institutions and football programs of the Heart of America have demonstrated excellence both on and off the field while committed to the mission of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), just as we are at The Woods. We couldn't be prouder to join the Heart beginning with our inaugural Owls football season of 2024."
With the addition of William Woods and St. Ambrose University, the Heart becomes the largest football conference in the NAIA, with 14 teams divided across two divisions. The conference placed two teams in the final 2022 NAIA Top 25 Poll - Grand View (no. 2) and Benedictine (no. 6) - with the Vikings advancing to the 2022 NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals.
"We are thrilled with the invitation to play football in the Heart of America Athletic Conference," said William Woods Director of Athletics, Steve Wilson. "We owe a huge 'thank you' to Commissioner Lori Thomas, along with the athletics directors and presidents of the Heart. In our search for a football home, we looked for multiple benefits to our institution, and the Heart fits the mold in that search. Geographically, the natural rivalries are perfect for William Woods, and the caliber of football played in the Heart is exactly the way we want to start our football program. The member institutions and football programs in the Heart believe in the NAIA and its values, and this sets the tone for what we want this program to be. William Woods is thrilled to align ourselves with like-minded institutions that have proven themselves to be transformational in the landscape of small college athletics."
"I can't express enough our excitement to join the Heart of America Athletic Conference," said William Woods Head Coach Julian Mendez. "The historical significance of the conference is immense and to be able to start this journey with William Woods Football in the Heart is awesome! There will be natural rivalries and extremely competitive football being played on Saturday afternoons!"
Founded in 1971, the Heart of America Athletic Conference marked its 50th year during the 2020-21 season and is one of the premier conferences in the NAIA. The Heart has advanced three teams to the NAIA National Championship in recent history, with Grand View (2021), Benedictine (2018) and Baker (2016) each representing the conference. Grand View (2013) and Peru State College (1990) also captured NAIA National Championships prior to joining the Heart.
2024 Heart North Division:
Grand View University
William Penn University
Peru State College
St. Ambrose University
Graceland University
Culver-Stockton College
Clarke University
2024 Heart South Division
Baker University
Benedictine College
William Woods University
Central Methodist University
Missouri Valley College
Missouri Baptist University
MidAmerica Nazarene University
