College of Idaho eying membership in NCAA DIII NW Conference
College of Idaho officials have talked about joining the NCAA Division III's Northwest Conference for years. Recent progress in those conversations may allow the school to apply as soon as this fall.
Athletic Director Marty Holly told KBOI 2 this weekend that officially, the university is still only exploring the move, but it has been working behind the scenes for years building a resume it expects to be suitable to join the Northwest Conference.
"It's about the Northwest Conference, it's not about division three," Holly told KBOI 2 by phone.
The conference includes nine schools in Washington and Oregon, plus a tenth associate member in California.
Joining the conference as a full member can take years; there's a probationary period and provisional period before a school is allowed to join a DIII conference, and the school would only be allowed post-season play in the first year on probation.
Holly stressed that the school still has a lot to figure out regarding the move, but there's a deadline of May 1, 2011 for the school to get its application in to the conference.
Steve Flegel, sports information director at Whitworth College in Spokane and for the Northwest Conference said the College of Idaho is not alone in looking to join the conference. Two Portland-area schools, including one of the top NAIA athletic institutions in the country, have inquired about membership as well.
"One negative issue for the College of Idaho," Flegel told KBOI 2, "is their location; They wouldn't have a travel partner, and that is an issue."
When asked if Northwest Nazarene University had also expressed an interest in joining the NWC, Flegel said, "Not in the same level that College of Idaho has."
Adding football to the Coyotes athletic program will figure to be an important part of the application process, but Flegel said a football program wouldn't be necessarily be a requirement of acceptance in the Northwest conference.
Holly said the school's regents meet again in the fall, and that a vote could be taken then on applying for membership in the Northwest Conference.
Northwest Conference Presidents meet annually in October.
Athletic Director Marty Holly told KBOI 2 this weekend that officially, the university is still only exploring the move, but it has been working behind the scenes for years building a resume it expects to be suitable to join the Northwest Conference.
"It's about the Northwest Conference, it's not about division three," Holly told KBOI 2 by phone.
The conference includes nine schools in Washington and Oregon, plus a tenth associate member in California.
Joining the conference as a full member can take years; there's a probationary period and provisional period before a school is allowed to join a DIII conference, and the school would only be allowed post-season play in the first year on probation.
Holly stressed that the school still has a lot to figure out regarding the move, but there's a deadline of May 1, 2011 for the school to get its application in to the conference.
Steve Flegel, sports information director at Whitworth College in Spokane and for the Northwest Conference said the College of Idaho is not alone in looking to join the conference. Two Portland-area schools, including one of the top NAIA athletic institutions in the country, have inquired about membership as well.
"One negative issue for the College of Idaho," Flegel told KBOI 2, "is their location; They wouldn't have a travel partner, and that is an issue."
When asked if Northwest Nazarene University had also expressed an interest in joining the NWC, Flegel said, "Not in the same level that College of Idaho has."
Adding football to the Coyotes athletic program will figure to be an important part of the application process, but Flegel said a football program wouldn't be necessarily be a requirement of acceptance in the Northwest conference.
Holly said the school's regents meet again in the fall, and that a vote could be taken then on applying for membership in the Northwest Conference.
Northwest Conference Presidents meet annually in October.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting