Great Northwest Athletic Conference

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) is a collegiate athletic conference that historically operates in the northwestern United States, but also currently includes four schools in areas not usually considered part of that region—two in Alaska (neither of which resides in Southeast Alaska, an area often considered part of the Northwest), one in eastern Montana (almost never considered part of the region), and one in the Canadian province of British Columbia (an area included with the Northwest U.S. in the larger Pacific Northwest region).

Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)
Established2001
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision II
Members10
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 8
RegionNorthwestern United States, British Columbia, Alaska
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon
CommissionerDavid Haglund (since 2011)
Websitewww.gnacsports.com
Locations

It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II level, and is the only NCAA conference in any division with a Canadian university as a member.

The conference formed in 2001 when its original ten members split from the Pacific West Conference.

Member schools

Current members
Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors
University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska 1954 2001 Public 16,242 Seawolves    
University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 1917 2001 Public 9,380 Nanooks    
Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington 1891 2001 Public 10,145 Wildcats    
Montana State University Billings Billings, Montana 1927 2007 Public 4,600 Yellowjackets    
Northwest Nazarene University Nampa, Idaho 1913 2001 Private (Nazarene) 2,000 Nighthawks        
Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington 1895 2001 Private (Catholic) 1,628 Saints    
Seattle Pacific University Seattle, Washington 1891 2001 Private (Free Methodist) 3,773 Falcons    
Simon Fraser University Burnaby, British Columbia 1965 2010 Public 35,604 N/A    
Western Oregon University Monmouth, Oregon 1856 2001 Public 6,233 Wolves        
Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington 1893 2001 Public 13,070 Vikings        

    Affiliate members
    Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors Sport Primary
    Conference
    University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma 1890 2019 Public 16,910 Bronchos     rowing (W) MIAA
    Humboldt State University Arcata, California 1913 2019 Public 6.983 Lumberjacks     rowing (W) CCAA
    University of Mary Bismarck, North Dakota 1959 2012 Private (Catholic) 2,910 Marauders       soccer (M) Northern Sun

    Former members
    Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Current
    Conference
    Concordia University–Portland Portland, Oregon 1905 2015 2020 Private (Lutheran LCMS) Cavaliers Closed in 2020
    Seattle University Seattle, Washington 1891 2001 2008 Private (Catholic) Redhawks Western Athletic
    (NCAA D-I)
    Humboldt State University Arcata, California 1913 2001 2006 Public Lumberjacks California

    Former affiliate members
    Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Sport Primary
    Conference
    Azusa Pacific University Azusa, California 1899 2012 2020 Private (Evangelical Christian) Cougars football Pacific West
    Dixie State University St. George, Utah 1911 2008 2016 Public Red Storm football Western Athletic (NCAA D-I)
    Humboldt State University Arcata, California 1913 2006 2018 Public Lumberjacks football CCAA
    University of Mary Bismarck, North Dakota 1959 2012 2016 Private (Catholic) Marauders soccer (M) Northern Sun
    University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota 1883 2012 2013 Private (Baptist) Cougars soccer (M) Northern Sun
    South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rapid City, South Dakota 1885 2013
    (soccer);
    2014
    (football)    		 2015
    (soccer);
    2016
    (football)    		 Public Hardrockers football;
    soccer (M)    		 Rocky Mountain
    • Humboldt State — was a full member in 2001–2006.

    Membership timeline

     Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

    • The GNAC did not sponsor football in the 2006–07 and 2007-08 seasons. Therefore, Central Washington and Western Washington competed in the North Central Conference (NCC); while Dixie State, Humboldt State and Western Oregon were Independents.

    Sports sponsored
    Conference sports
    SportMen'sWomen's
    BaseballY
    BasketballYY
    Cross CountryYY
    FootballY
    GolfYY
    RowingY
    SoccerYY
    SoftballY
    Track & Field IndoorYY
    Track & Field OutdoorYY
    VolleyballY

    Men's sponsored sports by school
    School Baseball Basketball Cross
    Country    		 Football Golf Soccer Track
    & Field
    Indoor    		 Track
    & Field
    Outdoor    		 Total
    GNAC
    Sports
    Alaska Y Y 2
    Alaska-Anchorage Y Y Y Y 4
    Central Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
    Montana State-Billings Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Northwest Nazarene Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Saint Martin's Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Seattle Pacific Y Y Y Y Y 5
    Simon Fraser Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Western Oregon Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
    Western Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y 6
    Totals 5 10 10 3 5 6 9 9 57

    Women's sponsored sports by school
    School Basketball Cross
    Country    		 Golf Rowing Soccer Softball Track
    & Field
    Indoor    		 Track
    & Field
    Outdoor    		 Volleyball Total
    GNAC
    Sports
    Alaska Y Y Y 3
    Alaska-Anchorage Y Y Y Y Y 5
    Central Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Montana State-Billings Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
    Northwest Nazarene Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
    Saint Martin's Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
    Seattle Pacific Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Simon Fraser Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 8
    Western Oregon Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 7
    Western Washington Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
    Affiliate Members
    Central Oklahoma Y 1
    Humboldt State Y 1
    UC San Diego Y 1
    Totals 11 11 6 5 9 8 10 10 11 81

    Other sponsored sports by school
    School Men Women Co-ed
    Ice
    Hockey[lower-alpha 1]    		 Swimming
    & Diving    		 Wrestling Gymnastics[lower-alpha 1] Swimming
    & Diving    		 Wrestling Rifle[lower-alpha 1] Skiing[lower-alpha 1]
    Alaska WCHA[lower-alpha 2] PCSC PRC RMISA
    Alaska-Anchorage WCHA[lower-alpha 3] MPSF[lower-alpha 3] RMISA[lower-alpha 3]
    Seattle Pacific MPSF
    Simon Fraser IND IND IND IND
    1. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA holds a combined national championship event in men's ice hockey open to both Division I and Division II members, and single championship events open to members of all three divisions in women's gymnastics and the coeducational sports of rifle and skiing.
    2. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is now all but certain to fold its men's division after the 2020–21 season, with seven of its members leaving to form a revived Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Alaska Anchorage dropping the sport. Alaska (Fairbanks) has yet to announce future plans for men's hockey.
    3. Alaska Anchorage will drop all three of its de facto Division I sports after the 2020–21 school year.

    Football champions

    Basketball champions
    Main article: Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

    Conference Facilities
    School Football Stadium Capacity Basketball Arena Capacity
    Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Airlines Court 1,648
    Alaska Anchorage Alaska Airlines Center 5,000
    Central Washington Tomlinson Stadium 4,000 Nicholson Pavilion 2,519
    Montana State - Billings Alterowitz Gymnasium 2,330
    Northwest Nazarene Johnson Sports Center
    Saint Martin's Marcus Pavilion
    Seattle Pacific Royal Brougham Pavillion 2,650
    Simon Fraser Terry Fox Field 2,500 West Gym 1,500
    Western Oregon McArthur Field 3,500 PE Gym 2,473
    Western Washington Sam Carver Gym 2,534

    References
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