What it is: The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) is a league whose teams currently compete at the NCAA Division III level. It was founded in late 1922. The IIAC currently has nine member schools, all within the state of Iowa. All of them are private institutions with church affiliations.
Central College has the strongest program among all of the current members, winning an IIAC-best 30 conference titles, advancing to the NCAA D-III playoffs 20 times, finishing the regular season unbeaten on 17 occasions, and taking home a national championship in 1974. In all, the Dutch have had 49 straight non-losing seasons dating back to 1961. The program has won 25 conference titles during that span.
Finally, if that wasn't enough, Central is in select company among being the winningest programs in the NCAA over the last 35 years. Since 1975, the Dutch have compiled an overall record of 290-62-1 (.825 winning percentage). Only fellow D-III power Mount Union (.855), with an overall record of 333-56-1 since over the last three and a half decades, has had a better winning percentage over that span.
Website: http://www.iowaconference.com/
Predicted order of finish (2009 overall record in parentheses, projected champion in BOLD type)
1. Central (10-1): With 15 starters, including 11 all-conference honorees, coming back, the Dutch hope to win their fifth IIAC title in seven years under head coach Jeff McMartin. Still, Central hopes to get past the first round of the D-III playoffs, as its season ended with a 42-40 upset loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor last year.
2. Coe (10-2): The Kohawks welcome back 17 starters from the squad that reached round two of the D-III playoffs.
3. Wartburg (6-4): Despite finishing a distant third in the IIAC last season at 5-3, the Knights enter this season ranked 22nd in the nation by Lindy's Sports magazine.
4. Luther (5-5): The Norse have had three consecutive 5-5 seasons since 2007. The program's last eight-win season was in 1987 (8-2).
5. Dubuque (5-5): The Spartans finished in a tie for fourth place in the IIAC at 4-4 in 2009.
6. Buena Vista (4-6): The Beavers have four IIAC titles in their football history, the last coming in 1978.
7. Loras (2-8): The Duhawks face a three-game road trip after their season opener at home against Elmhurst on September 4.
8. Simpson (3-7): The Storm are looking forward to 2010 after struggling to a 2-6 finish in IIAC play a year ago.
9. Cornell (Iowa)--(2-8): The Rams have had only one winning season in last 10 years, finishing 7-3 in 2001.
5 years ago
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