With the end of its 2010-11 sports season last week, Lindenwood University officially concludes its membership in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). Lindenwood was a member of the HAAC for 15 seasons, and leaves as the most dominant program in the 40-year history of the conference.

Lindenwood is in its first candidacy year for membership in NCAA Division II, and has been accepted as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in the fall of 2012.

“We have enjoyed being a part of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and the NAIA,” said Athletics Director John Creer. “We have longstanding relationships with the schools in the HAAC, and they have been honorable and fierce competitors. But it is a new day at Lindenwood, and we are extremely excited about joining the MIAA. It is a nationally known NCAA Division II conference that is a perfect fit for Lindenwood University.”

Since joining the HAAC in 1996, Lindenwood has won 128 conference championships, nearly 46 percent of the titles awarded in that span. The Lions have also won 10 NAIA National Championships while representing the HAAC, compared to just three for other schools in the HAAC. Lindenwood is the only HAAC school to ever reach the NAIA Division I Football National Championship Game, and has also represented the conference in prestigious national events such as the NAIA Baseball World Series, both the NAIA Division I and Division II Men's Basketball Tournaments, the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament, and the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship.

The 128 HAAC titles won by Lindenwood is the most in league history, despite the program being in the conference for just 15 of the 40 years that the league has existed. William Jewell, which is also leaving the HAAC after this season, is second on the list with 108 conference titles. Baker is third with 87 HAAC crowns. Both William Jewell and Baker were founding members of the HAAC in 1971. Lindenwood averaged 8.5 conference titles a year, while no other school has ever averaged over three championships a year. Over the last 15 years, Graceland is second to Lindenwood with 35 conference titles, 93 less than the Lions and Lady Lions.

Every Lindenwood sports program in the HAAC won at least one conference title. The most dominant team was the women's indoor track and field team which won 14 of the 15 HAAC Championships that it competed in. Between the six men's and women's cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field teams, Lindenwood won 60 of a possible 90 conference titles.

The men's and women's golf teams also ruled the conference as the two won 25 of a possible 30 titles. Men's golf won 13 of 15 titles, including each one since 2001. Women's golf has won the last 12 championships, tying a HAAC record for all sports for consecutive titles. The conference spirit squad competition has only been around for 10 years, but Lindenwood has won eight of those titles.

The most successful program among team sports was the women's volleyball program which won eight conference titles, including five straight at one point from 2005-09. The two soccer programs combined for nine titles, and the diamond sports (baseball and softball) had eight titles between them.