This Is the Missouri Valley Conference From its early beginning to its current standing on the map of college Missouri Valley Conference athletics, the Missouri Valley Conference continues to be proactive in its approach as it enters its 104th year in 2010-11. The nation’s secondAdministrators oldest NCAA Division I conference is a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation’s most progressive conferences. The Missouri Valley Conference enters a new decade facing a rapidly changing environment in NCAA Division I athletics as conference expansion and realignment swept the nation in the summer of 2010. Although The Valley was untouched, the league will remain vigilant in monitoring changes or potential changes in other conferences that might impact membership, or present opportunities for expansion. Men’s basketball continues to be the engine that drives Valley athletic programs. With UNI’s NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2010, the league Doug Elgin Joe Mitch Mike Kern Eddie Jackson has had four different Sweet 16 teams since 2006, and The Valley is the MVC Associate Associate Coordinator of only non-BCS league with more than two different Sweet 16 teams in that Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner MBB Officials span. Notably, the run of nine straight seasons with two or more teams in the NCAAs ended in 2007, as the past three seasons have seen only the tournament champion included in the NCAA field. as establishing a neutral site remains a huge part of the overall efforts to Last year, UNI team swept both the regular season and State Farm improve women’s basketball in The Valley. MVC Tournament titles, earning the Valley’s lone NCAA Tournament berth In volleyball, for the sixth time in league history, two MVC teams were in the process. The Panthers escaped with a 69-66 victory over UNLV invited to dance in the 2009 NCAA Volleyball Championship – UNI and in the NCAA’s opening round. UNI then became the first MVC team to Wichita State. With first-round wins over Washington State and Saint beat a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament since Cincinnati beat #1-ranked Louis, respectively, it marked just the second time in MVC history that Ohio State in the NCAA championship game in 1962, toppled #1-seeded two teams advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Kansas 69-67. Ali Farokmanesh’s key field goals in the final moments of the same season (2006 – Missouri State and UNI). both tournament games sealed those victories and the Panthers finished In baseball, Illinois State clinched a share of the regular-season MVC with school-record 30 wins (30-5) with a loss to Michigan State in the title for the first time in league history, and the Redbirds went on to take Sweet 16 in St. Louis. home the State Farm MVC Baseball Tournament trophy as well, topping Notably, The Valley made history in March 2007 with record host and top-seeded Wichita State. Illinois State earned just its secondattendance for four days at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center as 85,074 fans ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. turned out to watch the five sessions of the tournament. The two In softball, the MVC returned to its multi-bid status after a one-year sellout crowds of 22,612 for the semifinals and final of the 2007 State hiatus, sending two teams – Creighton and Illinois State – to the NCAA Farm Tournament set an all-time attendance record for basketball at Tournament. The 2010 campaign marked the seventh time in eight the arena and also gave The Valley the distinction of having the largest seasons that the Valley has placed multiple teams into the NCAA field. championship crowd for any of the 30 NCAA In men’s soccer, for the 13th time in conference tournaments in 2007. The State Farm league history, at least two MVC teams were Missouri Valley MVC Tournament continues to be a spectacular invited to dance in the 2009 NCAA Men’s Soccer showcase for the league, and the MVC has Conference Championship –Drake and Missouri State. The 1818 Chouteau Ave. extended the tournament agreement with the Bulldogs won their first-ever league tournament St. Louis, MO 63103 Scottrade Center that will keep Arch Madness in championship and saw their magical run end (314) 421-0339 n Fax (314) 421-3505 St. Louis through 2013. At the 2011 State Farm at the NCAA Elite Eight, falling to No. 4 North www.mvc.org MVC Championship, the league will surpass Carolina, 2-1. The 2009 campaign marked the 1,000,000 in total attendance for the event, now Doug Elgin....................................... Commissioner third-straight season, and the ninth time in the in its 21st year. Patty Viverito........Senior Associate Commissioner past 10 years, that a Valley men’s soccer team While the success of men’s basketball has Joe Mitch.........................Associate Commissioner advanced to at least the Quarterfinal Round of Jack Watkins..............Associate Commissioner for received the greatest attention, the overall the NCAA Championship. ........................................Marketing/Television performance of league teams in virtually every In men’s golf, Wichita State’s Dustin Garza Mike Kern...................Associate Commissioner for sport continues to raise the national profile of the built a resume worthy of earning him the No. 1 ............................................. Communications conference. Golfstat Cup ranking for most of the season as Jeremiah Ingram..............Assistant Commissioner In women’s basketball, the MVC matched a Mary Mulvenna............Assistant Commissioner for he won individual medalist honors seven times league-high tying six teams earning post-season ..................................................... Compliance last year to lead the country in tournament wins. berths, while 2010 marked the 11th-straight Lauren Eads........Director of Sports Administration Meanwhile, the success of The Valley Bobby Thomas.................... Director of Operations season that the Valley earned at least three television package is one of the great stories Jamie Jarrett................Director of Corporate Sales post-season bids. Illinois State advanced to the in the league. The MVC Television Network Kellie Briscoe.......................... Assistant Director of semifinals of the WNIT, marking the fourth time in has blossomed into a revenue-generating ..............................................Communications league history a Valley school has played in the vehicle and The Valley’s most visible marketing Rich Steed........................... Chief Financial Officer WNIT semifinals, while Bradley and Wichita State tool. Meanwhile, The Valley is making videoMike Nelson.................................. Corporate Sales earned their first-ever postseason wins in program Maxine Day............................. Executive Assistant streaming a major focus as it enters the second history. UNI won its first-ever State Farm MVC Carla Fight..............Assistant to the Commissioner year of a three-year plan to upgrade the Lori Brutton.....................................Assistant to the Championship title, earning its first berth to the production and marketing of both institutionally ..................................... Chief Financial Officer NCAA Tournament field of 64. The conference produced and conference-produced webcasts. Kristin Gregory................... Media Relations Intern remains committed to keeping the tournament at The 2003-04 campaign was a landmark a neutral site at the Family Arena in St. Charles for the conference as State Farm Insurance and
32-Missouri State Cross Country