NAIA Lacrosse

[buffalowill]

Dominican was not NCAA last year...so I guess it was club vs NAIA. Anyways, it must have been tough to recruit kids to come to an NAIA team that did not have a traditional club program and was not a member of the WCLL. Look for them to make big strides in a short period of time.

[Troy Hood]

Gentlemen:

Another reason for not going forward with approaching the NAIA for sanctioning has to do with the number of teams required by the NAIA for a national championship.

The NAIA has 280+ member institutions. 50 participating schools are required for a sanctioned national championship. Not a bad number in comparison, however, we only have around twenty at this point. Plus, we're spread out all over the country. Travel and scheduling would be a nightmare at this point.

[Bob Clarkson]

As someone stated earlier, the NAIA does not sanction lacrosse because there are not enough NAIA teams that play lacrosse. When I looked about 6 months ago there were 15 or 16 teams. I do know that the NAIA has discussed lacrosse at their meetings, but there needs to be more teams for them to seriously consider making it a varsity sport. For now, it makes sense for the NAIA teams to play in the MCLA. Who knows how many years it will take to get the required number of teams.

[Troy Hood]

Coach Clarkson:

You are exactly right. I know that the NAIA has discussed men's and women's lacrosse as "emerging sports" at the last two conventions. (this information came from our AD)

I did share my feelings about taking a step toward NAIA sanctioned lacrosse when, and only when, the NAIA was fully behind the idea of supporting it. As you said coach, it's going to be quite a while before enough schools in the NAIA get behind lacrosse.

My next post will be a complete list of NAIA institutions. When you see the location of most of these schools, I believe everyone will understand that lacrosse has to become a greater part of the athletic fabric of our country before most of these schools will consider it. I consider the NAIA schools that have stepped up and started lacrosse programs to participate in the MCLA as the true visionaries in this process.

[Troy Hood]

Gentlemen:

As promised, here is a list (by state) of all NAIA institutions. Most of these schools are very, very small and have limited athletic opportunities. Schools like Westminster, Davenport, Lindenwood, et al, are more the exception than the rule with their commitment to athletics:

Alabama
Auburn University Montgomery, Montgomery, Ala.
Faulkner University , Montgomery, Ala.
University of Mobile, Mobile, Ala.
Spring Hill University, Mobile, Ala.

Arkansas
John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Ark.
Lyon College, Batesville, Ark.
Williams Baptist College, College City, Ark.

Arizona
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.

California
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, Calif.
Bethany University, Scotts Valley, Calif.
Biola University, La Mirada, Calif.
California Baptist University, Riverside, Calif.
California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, Calif.
California State University-East Bay, Hayward, Calif.
California State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Calif.
Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.
Dominican University, San Rafael, Calif.
Fresno Pacific University, Fresno, Calif.
Holy Names University, Oakland, Calif.
Hope International University, Fullerton, Calif.
The Master's College, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Menlo College, Atherton, Calif.
Mills College, Oakland, Calif.
Pacific Union College, Angwin, Calif.
Patten College, Oakland, Calif.
Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, Calif.
San Diego Christian College, El Cajon, Calif.
Simpson University, Redding, Calif.
Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Calif.
William Jessup University, Rocklin, Calif.

Colorado
Johnson & Wales University, Denver, Colo.

Florida
Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Fla.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Florida Memorial University, Miami, Fla.
Johnson & Wales University, Miami, Fla.
Northwood University, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Saint Thomas University, Miami, Fla.
Warner Southern College, Lake Wales, Fla.
Webber International University, Babson Park, Fla.

Georgia
Berry College, Mount Berry, Ga.
Brenau University, Gainesville, Ga.
Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, Ga.
Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Ga.
Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Ga.
Life University, Marietta, Ga
Reinhardt College, Waleska, Ga.
Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Ga.
Shorter College, Rome, Ga.
Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Ga.
Thomas University, Thomasville, Ga.

Idaho
The College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho
Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, Idaho

Illinois
University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, Ill.
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ill.
Judson College, Elgin, Ill.
McKendree University, Lebanon, Ill.
Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, Ill.
Quincy University, Quincy, Ill.
Robert Morris College, Chicago, Ill.
University of Saint Francis, Joliet, Ill.
Saint Xavier University, Chicago, Ill.
Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, Ill.
Trinity International University, Deerfield, Ill.

Indiana
Bethel College, Mishawaka, Ind.
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, Ind.
Goshen College, Goshen, Ind.
Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind.
Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Ind.
Huntington University, Huntington, Ind.
Indiana Institute of Technology, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Indiana University-East, Richmond, Ind.
Indiana University Northwest, Gary, Ind.
Indiana University-South Bend, South Bend, Ind.
Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, Ind.
Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Ind.
Marian College, Indianapolis, Ind.
Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Ind.
Purdue University-North Central, Westville, Ind.
Taylor University, Upland, Ind.
University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Iowa
Ashford University , Clinton, Iowa
Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa
Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa
Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa
Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa
Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa
Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa
William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa

Kansas
Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan.
Benedictine College, Atchison, Kan.
Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kan.
Bethel College, North Newton, Kan.
Central Christian College, McPherson, Kan.
Friends University, Wichita, Kan.
Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence Kan.
Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, Kan.
McPherson College, McPherson, Kan.
MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, Kan.
Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kan.
University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, Kan.
Southwestern College, Winfield, Kan.
Sterling College, Sterling, Kan.
Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan.

Kentucky
Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, Ky.
Asbury College, Wilmore, Ky.
Berea College, Berea, Ky.
Brescia University, Owensboro, Ky.
Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, Ky.
University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Ky.
Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.
Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, Ky.
Mid-Continent University, Mayfield, Ky.
Midway College, Midway, Ky.
Pikeville College, Pikeville, Ky.
Union College, Barbourville, Ky.

Louisiana
Dillard University, New Orleans, La.
Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Alexandria, La.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport, Shreveport, La.
Loyola University, New Orleans, La.
Southern University at New Orleans, New Orleans, La.
Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, La.

Maine
University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent, Maine
University of Maine at Machias, Machias, Maine

Massachusettes
Fisher College, Boston, Mass.

Michigan
Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Madonna University, Livonia, Mich.
Marygrove College, Detroit, Mich.
University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Mich.
Siena Heights University, Adrian, Mich.
Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Mich.

Mississippi
Belhaven College, Jackson, Miss.
Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain, Miss.
Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss.
William Carey College, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Missouri
Avila University, Kansas City, Mo.
Central Methodist University, Fayette, Mo.
Columbia College, Columbia, Mo.
Culver-Stockton College, Canton, Mo.
Evangel University, Springfield, Mo.
Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal, Mo.
Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, Mo.
Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Mo.
Missouri Baptist University, St. Louis, Mo.
Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Mo.
College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Mo.
Park University, Parkville, Mo.
Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, Saint Louis, Mo.
Stephens College, Columbia, Mo.
William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo.
William Woods University, Fulton, Mo.

Montana
Carroll College, Helena, Mont.
University of Great Falls, Great Falls, Mont.
Montana State University-Northern, Havre, Mont.
Montana Tech of the University of Montana, Butte, Mont.
University of Montana Western, Dillon, Mont.
Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Mont.

Nebraska
Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
Concordia University, Seward, Neb.
Dana College, Blair, Neb.
Doane College, Crete, Neb.
Hastings College, Hastings, Neb.
Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Neb.
Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Neb.
Peru State College, Peru, Neb.
College of Saint Mary, Omaha, Neb.
York College, York, Neb.

New Mexico
College of the Southwest, Hobbs, N.M.

New York
Daemen College, Amherst, N.Y.
State University College of Technology at Delhi, Delhi, N.Y.
Houghton College, Houghton, N.Y.
Paul Smith's College , Paul Smith's, N.Y.
Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, N.Y.
SUNY Canton, Canton, N.Y.

North Carolina
Montreat College, Montreat, N.C.

North Dakota
Dickinson State University, Dickinson, N.D.
Jamestown College, Jamestown, N.D.
Mayville State University, Mayville, N.D.
Minot State University, Minot, N.D.
Valley City State University, Valley City, N.D.

Ohio
Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio
Malone College, Canton, Ohio
Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio
Myers University, Cleveland, Ohio
University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio
Notre Dame College, Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, Ohio
University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Ohio
Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio
Tiffin University, Tiffin, Ohio
Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio
Ursuline College, Pepper Pike, Ohio
Walsh University, North Canton, Ohio
Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio

Oklahoma
Bacone College, Muskogee, Okla.
Langston University, Langston, Okla.
Mid-America Christian University, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva, Okla.
Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Okla.
Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, Okla.
Rogers State University, Claremore, Okla.
Saint Gregory's University, Shawnee, Okla.
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha, Okla.
Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, Okla.

Oregon
Cascade College, Portland, Ore.
Concordia University, Portland, Ore.
Corban College, Salem, Ore.
Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Ore.
Northwest Christian College, Eugene, Ore.
Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Ore.
Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Ore.
Warner Pacific College, Portland, Ore.

Pennsylvania
Carlow University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa.
Point Park University, Pittsburgh, Pa.

South Carolina
Allen University, Columbia, S.C.
Columbia College, Columbia, S.C.
Morris College, Sumter, S.C.
University of South Carolina Beaufort, Bluffton, S.C.
Southern Wesleyan University, Central, S.C.
Voorhees College, Denmark, S.C.

South Dakota
Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D
Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.
Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, S.D.
Mount Marty College, Yankton, S.D.
National American University, Rapid City, S.D.
University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, S.D.
South Dakota School of Mines & Tech., Rapid City, S.D.

Tennessee
Bethel College, McKenzie, Tenn.
Bryan College, Dayton, Tenn.
Crichton College, Memphis, Tenn.
Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn.
Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, Tenn.
King College, Bristol, Tenn.
Lambuth University, Jackson, Tenn.
Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.
Martin Methodist College, Pulaski, Tenn.
Milligan College, Milligan College, Tenn.
Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, Tenn.
Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, Tenn.
Union University, Jackson, Tenn.

Texas
Houston Baptist University, Houston, Texas
Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas
University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria, Texas
Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas
Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, Texas
Northwood University, Cedar Hill, Texas
Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas
Paul Quinn College, Dallas, Texas
University of Saint Thomas, Houston, Texas
Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Waxahachie, Texas
University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas
Texas College, Tyler, Texas
Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, Texas
Wiley College, Marshall, Texas

Utah
Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah

Vermont
College of Saint Joseph, Rutland, Vt.
Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vt.

Virginia
Bluefield College, Bluefield, Va.
Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista, Va.
Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, Va.
University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise, Va.

Washington
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wash.
Northwest University, Kirkland, Wash.

West Virginia
Mountain State University, Beckley, W.Va.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, W.Va.

Wisconsin
Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wis.
Northland College, Ashland, Wis.
Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wis.

Canada
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.
University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.

[buffalowill]

Nice post Troy! Perhaps you could edit your post with schools having currrent MCLA teams in bold?
Also, it should be noted that many of the teams that compete in the MCLA are still under club sports and not a varsity team a la Westminster or Lindenwood...is this correct?

[biola_defense]

I know as far as the california schools goes, it's just Biola, Dominican, and Concordia with teams. We all know Dominican's affiliation, Biola is obviously MCLA, and Concordia just started last year, so look for them to be MCLA in the future.

[Troy Hood]

Will:

The support for the teams varies between schools. Of the programs that receive significant school support, Lindenwood, Westminster, and SCAD lead the way. Tennessee Wesleyan is another program that is run through its athletic department. If Missouri Baptist receives admission to the GRLC, they will join that list. Plus, I look to Davenport to be very strong in the future. I'm running into them quite a bit in Ontario competing for Canadian talent.

By taking a closer look at each of the schools, you'll be able to see who is able to offer support for their team based on their enrollment and their emphasis on athletics. I'll offer LU as an example. The St. Charles Campus has an undergrad enrollment of around 4,000. From that small population LU supports 41 sports. Whereas, other schools, like the College of Idaho (formerly Albertson), have enrollments under 1,000 students and do not field near the number of teams. It all comes down to what each institution chooses to do in terms of supporting extracurricular activities.

If current MCLA member teams with schools that have NAIA affiliation are curious to know how to increase the support behind their program, I'll be happy to take e-mails, pm, or calls to assist in any way I can.

[Ed Maloney]

Siena Heights University in Adrian, MI will be fielding a men's lacrosse team.

[BoilermakerLax]

Holy Cross in Indiana has a club team that isnt in the mcla

[Troy Hood]

Boilermakerlax:

Any information on Holy Cross looking to move to the MCLA?

[BoilermakerLax]

no i dont really have any information on that. we have a player on our team that transfered from there and he was shocked at how much bigger the program was when we played them this year. they seem to be building a program but i dont have any idea as to if or when they would join the mcla.

[BigheadTodd]

I remember an earlier thread when they showed interest in joining the MCLA, but they wanted to do it with non-varsity players from Notre Dame.

[MountaineerLax]

What exactly is NAIA?

How does it differ from NCAA? or NJCAA?

Why would a school be NAIA in any sport, rather than NCAA?

[biola_defense]

NAIA is pretty much an NCAA, but for much smaller schools. A lot of the schools in NAIA are private religious schools. I know in the conference that Biola is in we play all private schools with some sort of Christian affiliation.