About the GPAC

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is an affiliated conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), consisting of 12 private, faith-based colleges and universities in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Originally founded in 1969 as the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC), the league retains four of its six charter members: Concordia, Doane, Hastings, and Midland.

In 1992, the NIAC added Northwestern and became the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference. Eight years later, Dakota Wesleyan, Dordt, Mount Marty, and Sioux Falls joined the conference, which became the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) for the 2000-01 academic year. Briar Cliff entered the league in 2002-03, and Morningside joined beginning with the 2003-04 school year.

In the summer of 2010, Dana College ceased operations after being a conference member from 1969-2010. In 2011, the University of Sioux Falls discontinued its GPAC membership after competing in the league from 2000-11. Nebraska Wesleyan concluded its membership in 2016 after 47 years in the conference. The GPAC added the College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, as a member in 2015-16. The University of Jamestown joined the league as its 12th member in 2018-19 before departing following the 2023-24 academic year. Waldorf University joined the conference beginning in 2024-25.

The GPAC sponsors 22 intercollegiate sports — nine for women, 10 for men, and cheer and dance as coed offerings. The conference also awards an All-Sports Trophy based on final league standings and conference championship meet results at the conclusion of each academic year.

Since 2000, GPAC member institutions have captured 38 NAIA team national championships.

First and foremost, the GPAC remains committed to academic and athletic excellence.

Corey Westra of Sioux City, Iowa, serves as GPAC commissioner. Lucas Mohrman of Columbus, Nebraska, serves as assistant commissioner for communications, while Katie Robson serves as assistant commissioner for operations.

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Member Schools