The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) was a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) that began play in the 2013âÂÂ14 school year. The conference disbanded with six full member institutions in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. On December 28, 2023, the conference announced it would disband following the 2024âÂÂ25 school year.
History
Chronological timeline
- 2013 â The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) was founded. Charter members included Dakota State University, the University of Jamestown, Mayville State University, Presentation College and Valley City State University, beginning the 2013âÂÂ14 academic year.
- 2014 â Dickinson State University joined the NSAA in the 2014âÂÂ15 academic year.
- 2014 â Waldorf University joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for football in the 2014 fall season (2014âÂÂ15 academic year).
- 2015 â Bellevue University and Viterbo University joined the NSAA (along with Waldorf upgrading to join for all sports) in the 2015âÂÂ16 academic year.
- 2015 â The University of Winnipeg joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for baseball in the 2016 spring season (2015âÂÂ16 academic year).
- 2017 â Winnipeg left the NSAA as an affiliate member for baseball as the school dropped the sport after the 2017 spring season (2016âÂÂ17 academic year).
- 2018 â Jamestown left the NSAA to join the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) after the 2017âÂÂ18 academic year.
- 2021 â Iowa Wesleyan University joined the NSAA as an affiliate member for football and men's and women's track & field in the 2021âÂÂ22 academic year.
- 2023 â Presentation (S.D.) left the NSAA as the school closed after the 2022âÂÂ23 academic year.
- 2023 â Iowa Wesleyan left the NSAA as an affiliate member as the school closed after the 2022âÂÂ23 academic year.
- 2024 â Waldorf left the NSAA to join the GPAC after the 2023âÂÂ24 academic year.
- 2024 â Viterbo left the NSAA to join the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) after the 2023âÂÂ24 academic year.
- 2024 â Jamestown rejoined the NSAA for the 2024âÂÂ25 academic year.
- 2025 â The NSAA ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 2024âÂÂ25 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences beginning the 2025âÂÂ26 academic year:
- Jamestown transitioned to the NCAA Division II ranks and joined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)
- The remaining five schools (Bellevue, Dakota State, Mayville State and Valley City State; with Dickinson State rejoining) joined the Frontier Conference.
Member schools
Final members
The NSAA had six full members at the time it was disbanded, with two of which being private schools:
Notes:
Former members
The NSAA had three former full members, all of which were private schools:
Notes:
Former affiliate members
The NSAA had three former affiliate members, one was a public school and the other two were private:
Notes:
Membership timeline
Sports
The North Star Athletic Association fielded 18 sports (9 men's and 9 women's):
Men's sports
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the North Star Athletic Association which were played by NSAA schools
Notes:
Women's sports
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the North Star Athletic Association which were played by NSAA schools
Notes:
Conference Championships
Football
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA all-time standings (2013âÂÂ2024)
NSAA champions by year
Volleyball
NSAA championships per school
NSAA all-time standings (2013âÂÂ2024)
NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Men's basketball
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA all-time standings (2013âÂÂ14 to 2024âÂÂ25)
NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Women's basketball
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA all-time standings (2013âÂÂ14 to 2024âÂÂ25)
NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Baseball
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA all-time standings (2014 to 2024)
NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Softball
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA all-time standings (2014 to 2023)
NSAA regular season and tournament champions by year
Men's Indoor Track and Field
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Women's Indoor Track and Field
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Men's Outdoor Track and Field
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Women's Outdoor Track and Field
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Men's Cross Country
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Women's Cross Country
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Men's Golf
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
Women's Golf
NSAA championships won or shared per school
NSAA champions by year
References
External links