NCU returns to NCCAA

NORTH CENTRAL RENEWS ATHLETIC SPONSORSHIP WITH NCCAA

North Central University Athletics announced its return to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) beginning with the 2021–22 academic year. While still retaining membership within the NCAA Division III, the NCCAA allows NCU athletes to have a unique opportunity to compete with schools of similar foundational elements and increase the impact of the collegiate athletic experience.

As the athletic department continues to push towards increased competitive equity within the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) and NCAA Division III, it is essential to address the need for athletes to have more opportunities for postseason play. In deciding to rejoin the NCCAA, senior leaders and the athletics staff considered the mission and vision of NCU and its athletic department and ultimately determined that partnering again with the NCCAA made sense moving forward. Being part of the NCCAA will allow North Central to compete on a national level with increased frequency while also exposing the country to the NCU brand in a tangible way.

“North Central University has had a storied relationship with the NCCAA for most of its athletic history,” stated Athletic Director Michael Knipe. “Our teams have found great success both on and off the field of play as members of the NCCAA. After reevaluating and determining the next steps in our athletic strategic plan, it became clear that rejoining the NCCAA was in our athletes’ best interest. We are extremely excited to continue building on a legacy that has existed for many years while also remaining focused on our goal to raise the national awareness within the NCAA Division III ranks for our institution.”