The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) has been approved to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) as a full-time member in the 2024-2025 academic year. The MIAA CEO Council granted approval to UAFS, marking the association’s first full-time membership from the state of Arkansas.
MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy expressed excitement about welcoming UAFS, highlighting the university’s excellent leadership, athletic facilities, and its location in a growing community in Northwest Arkansas. The MIAA aims for steady and strategic membership growth, and UAFS presents an opportunity to add an outstanding public university to the association.
Currently, Harding University, Ouachita Baptist University, and Southern Arkansas University, all located in Arkansas and members of the Great American Conference (GAC), are associate members of the MIAA for men’s tennis. Ouachita will also become an associate member of the MIAA for wrestling starting in the 2023-24 season.
UAFS Athletic Director Curtis Janz emphasized that the MIAA brings together like-minded institutions in a geographical area, allowing student-athletes to excel academically and develop life skills. UAFS sees the MIAA’s geographical footprint as an opportunity for their student-athletes to participate academically and enhance their collegiate experience. Additionally, fans can travel to support UAFS teams on the road, while the university can welcome more fans from MIAA opponents.
Established in 1928, UAFS is a four-year public university in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Currently, the university sponsors ten sports including volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis. UAFS has been a Division II institution since 2009 and a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) since 2019. The Lions have achieved success in athletics, winning 13 conference championships and making 19 NCAA postseason appearances.
Dr. Terisa Riley, UAFS chancellor, expressed excitement about the partnership with the MIAA, emphasizing their shared commitment to empowering student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence, social growth, and personal development. Chancellor Riley believes that the geographic makeup of the conference will provide more opportunities for student-athletes to engage with their peers and for fans to support the university both at home and on the road.
The MIAA’s last expansion took place in 2019 with the addition of Newman University and Rogers State University as associate members, and both institutions became full-time members at the start of the 2022-23 academic year.
Photo credit – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Athletics / UAFortSmithLions.com / Fort Smith, AR