Indiana Wesleyan Football Joins Conference

IWU Athletic Director Mark DeMichael (file photo)

The recently-established football program at Indiana Wesleyan University has been selected by a unanimous vote to join the Mid-States Football Association. The team, which will play its first game in the fall of 2018, will join 13 institutions, including Taylor University, Marian University and the University of Saint Francis in the conference.

The university announced the addition of the football program last month. Indiana Wesleyan will be an associate member of the conference in 2018 and will become a full-fledged member in 2019.

"The MSFA is proud to accept Indiana Wesleyan University into our membership," said MSFA Commissioner Gary Newsome. "IWU’s strong academic and athletic programs will be a good fit in the MSFA. All of their programs achieve excellence and we are looking forward to watching their football program grow into a contender."

A nationwide search for a head coach is underway and its first recruiting class will consist of all red-shirts in 2017. Director of Athletics Mark DeMichael said the university is "very excited" to join the conference.

"The MSFA is the premiere football conference in the NAIA so to have an opportunity to not only compete but be associated with quality institutions and football programs like these is something we are excited about," said DeMichael. "We would like to thank the leadership of the MSFA for allowing us to make a presentation and for approving us to be a part of their conference."

In addition to Taylor, Marian and USF, the MSFA includes schools in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri.