Contains information from an official KIAC media release
NEW ALBANY, Ind. — The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced a new conference name and logo at a news conference held Friday, March 4 at Indiana University Southeast. The announcement came in the Hoosier Room and was streamed live to a world-wide audience on the KIAC’s Stretch Internet video streaming portal.
The oldest conference in the NAIA, the KIAC was established in 1916 and has a proud history over the last 100 years. On Friday, KIAC leadership ushered in a “Current of Change” by announcing the new name for the conference and unveiling the new conference logo.
Effective July 1, 2016, the KIAC will change its name to the River States Conference. For the remainder of 2015-16 academic and athletic calendar, the conference will continue to operate as the KIAC.
The introduction of the River States Conference and the associated logo is the culmination of a four-year process that began in 2012. Over the last four years, the conference has undergone several changes in membership. The current membership boasts 13 schools from five different states — Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
And after a process that included input from presidents, athletic directors, coaches, sports information directors and student-athletes, the conference has put forward a new name that unifies member schools under the river that runs through them and reflects the geographical layout that spans five different states. With that goal in mind, the River States Conference is born.
The Ohio River is a central figure and a key player in the development of the River States Conference name. The Ohio River flows through the center of the conference and is near many of the 13 member schools. It also passes through each of the five states featured in the membership and forms the southern border of Ohio and Indiana, the northern board of Kentucky and the western border of the West Virginia.
The Ohio River has its origin in Pittsburgh, Pa., just blocks from the campuses of Point Park (Pa.) University and Carlow (Pa.) University. It continues on all the way to the western border of the conference near Brescia (Ky.) University in Owensboro, Ky., and beyond.
The word depicted most prominently in the River States Conference logo is the word ‘States.” Spanning five states from Kentucky to Pennsylvania gives the conference a broad reach. The “states” aspect is a central pillar to the conference and a source of pride. The River States Conference spans a large section of the country from the mid-atlantic to the mid-south to the mid-west.
The number five also plays a role in the River States Conference and is represented in the logo. The five core values of the NAIA’s Champions of Character Initiative are represented by the five stars at the top of the logo, each one depicting a different ideal of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
At the bottom of the logo are five topographical areas that represent the five states and the Ohio River. The river represents the state of Ohio and also the river, and it passes through the other states.
The River States Conference will be represented by a color scheme of Kelly Green, Navy Blue, Royal Blue and White. White lettering against a Royal Blue background makes up the main part of the logo. The river is also Royal Blue. Kelly Green provides the background, and Navy Blue provides the border.
When asked about the upcoming change, KIAC Commissioner Scott McClure replied, “This is a wonderful day for the KIAC and the River States Conference as we prepare for our name change this summer and unveil our new logo. While we look forward to a bright future as the River States Conference, we are extremely mindful of our historic past, and the roots of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will forever be the foundation of our growth as a conference.”
The River States Conference logo was created by Rebel Pilgrim Creative Agency located in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are located near KIAC member Cincinnati Christian and also did the Eagles’ new logo last year. Mark Haas, VP of Marketing & Design, headed up the River States Conference logo process.