In a landscape shifting and most positive move, Mount Mary University and the Mount Mary University Athletic Department have announced that they have been accepted for membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  This transition will offer numerous benefits to the Mount Mary Athletic Department and the University's student athletes, including but not limited to, sport-based scholarship money for athletics, potential local conference affiliation, more regional opponents and travel opportunities, and a character-driven approach to athletics which encourages students to succeed off the playing field as much as on.  Furthermore, being approved for NAIA membership in October gives Mount Mary a full recruiting cycle prior to the transition, which will occur on July 1, 2025.  The Blue Angel athletes and teams will be eligible for post season competition in their first seasons of competition during the 2025-2026 school year. 

Currently members of the NCAA Division III and the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference, Mount Mary will maintain these affiliations through the 2024-2025 athletic seasons.   

Mount Mary's current five sports (Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball and Softball) will join the NAIA, which boasts an impressive history and countless benefits for small college institutions and athletes.  The NAIA was formed in 1940 as the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball with the initial mission to organize the national basketball tournament, which was first played in 1937. The organization became the NAIA in 1952 when it introduced national championships in golf, tennis and outdoor track and field and introduced championships in female sports beginning in 1981. Currently, there are over 250 NAIA-affiliated schools from 21 conferences vying for 28 national championships with more than 83,000 student-athletes that receive approximately $1.3 billion in scholarships. 

Mount Mary University President, Isabelle Cherney, had this to say about the positive transition, "I am pleased to announce that Mount Mary University is now a member of the NAIA. This athletic association serves the interests of small institutions like ours and is a perfect fit for us. We can now recruit student-athletes with scholarships, attracting new talent and improving the student-athlete and visitor experience. I anticipate an exciting new season with a fresh group of competitors, and above all, I am thrilled about the shared values of character-driven athletics with the NAIA." 

The NAIA's "Champions of Character" program offers a systematic and well-organized approach to athletes' involvement in community service, personal growth and the process of athletic involvement bettering the whole person and campus community.   

Mount Mary Director of Athletics and former NAIA head coach, Natalie Balleto, offered these comments about the enthusiasm for the move, "This is an amazing opportunity for Mount Mary University to join the NAIA. We believe the overall experience for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and spectators will be enhanced. Having the ability to offer athletic scholarships will allow us to recruit more competitively and attract a larger pool of talent. We are also inspired by the NAIA's commitment to supporting small colleges and their dedication to character-driven athletics. We've felt a true partnership throughout the process and a strong connection to their values, which align with our university mission." 

While conference membership has not been finalized just yet, Mount Mary has applied for membership to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), which will be voted on later this month.  A transition to the CCAC would offer a regional conference schedule and affiliation for Mount Mary athletics, one they have not had during their tenure in the NCAA.  Members of the CCAC include, Calumet College of St. Joseph (Whiting, Indiana), Governors State University (University Park, Illinois), Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, Indiana), Indiana University Northwest (Gary, Indiana), Indiana University South Bend, Judson University (Elgin, Illinois), Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Illinois), St. Xavier University (Chicago, Illinois), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, Iowa), Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, Illinois), University of St. Francis (Joliet, Illinois), and Viterbo University (Lacrosse, Wisconsin.) 

Mount Mary joins Viterbo as just the second NAIA institution in the state of Wisconsin and has the distinction of being the only NAIA program in the Southeastern Wisconsin area.  In addition, the other CCAC members share similar profiles to that of Mount Mary.  The conference features nine private institutions, six of which are Catholic like MMU.  The comparable enrollment size of the potential fellow CCAC members is a very positive fit for Mount Mary as well. 

As the University and Department of Athletics continue to seamlessly make this transition, information will be shared as available through both the Mount Mary University and Athletic Department websites and social media platforms. 

The full release from the NAIA can be viewed here. 

Today's announcement of 2 new members now makes 9 approved for membership this past year; making this the largest yearly class in any year in the last decade.  The NAIA has also added 25 new members since 2020, including six institutions from the NCAA. 

This day marks a tremendous step forward for the University and Blue Angel athletics, creating more opportunities, stability and a brighter future for Mount Mary University and Mount Mary University Athletics.