Four years ago, the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC-10) had strong 10 members and talked of moving as a group from the NAIA Division II to NCAA Division II.
Gone are talks of the DAC moving up to the NCAA. In 2005, the DAC was reduced to eight teams when the University of Huron closed and the University of Mary moved to NCAA D-II.
With last month's news that Minot State was accepted by the NCAA, the once-DAC-10 could be the DAC with just seven members in two short years. Minot State will be a member of the DAC until the 2011-12 academic year, when they might join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in NCAA D-II.
That means Black Hills State, Dickinson State, Jamestown College, South Dakota School of Mines, Mayville State and Dakota State must deal with an odd number of teams for travel partners.
The recent news is troubling to Gene Wockenfuss, Dakota State University's athletic director, along with the coaching staff.
"They (coaches) came in, especially before Minot got into Division II, and discussed with me their concerns, and probably the biggest concern is that in a few sports we lose our automatic qualifier. That's a big concern," said Wockenfuss.
For virtually all sports, the NAIA requires six teams for an NAIA automatic qualifier to the national championships for conference winners. If no team replaces Minot State in the DAC, baseball and track will have only five teams in the conference. South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State do not have baseball teams. Mayville State and Valley City State do not have track teams.
The DAC may appeal to the NAIA for an exception for an automatic qualifier, should any sport drop below six teams.
The loss of a conference member has caused Wockenfuss to ponder the coming years for DSU.
"So, then what's the next step? We basically turn into an independent status. If that's the case, then why don't we all become independent? We might save a little, maybe, but maybe not with scheduling. There's pros and cons to everything," he said.
Wockenfuss said that he and DSU President Doug Knowlton see the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) as a conference which is attractive for the Madison university. The University of Sioux Falls, a current member of the GPAC, has been accepted into NCAA D-II or may join the NSIC.
Not being a faith-based school (all current colleges/universities in the GPAC are) hurts DSU's chances of joining the GPAC. The GPAC includes Dakota Wesleyan University, Briar Cliff, Mount Marty College and Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa).
DSU football coach Josh Anderson likes the idea of playing in the GPAC.
"I like to see my travel budget reduced greatly," he said. "There are teams that we could have a rivalry with in the GPAC. I just don't see that in the DAC."
The closest school to DSU in the DAC is Valley City State (261 miles); the farthest is Minot State (460 miles). Eleven of the 13 GPAC schools are less than 260 miles from Madison.
Other than joining the GPAC, the opportunities are few for the Trojans.
"Our options are limited," said Wockenfuss, who said that DSU will not apply to be an NCAA school.
While the athletic choices may not be in DSU's favor, their talent pool is increasing, according to Wockenfuss. In the past six years, USF announced its NCAA D-II move and South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota have moved to D-I, giving DSU more chances to land local talent.
"Personally, I think with USD and SDSU going to Division I, it has helped us," said Wockenfuss. "The level of student athletes that they need to actually compete at that level has increased. There are only so many of those in the state of South Dakota and even the region. Some of those Division II kids that they would bring in and develop, they're not even bringing in.
``To be honest, everyone else has them (top athletes). If schools can't find them regionally, they'll look nationally."
Although there are question marks regarding the future of DSU's conference affiliation, Trojan athletes are making progress, according to Wockenfuss.
With the recent additions of Amy Veenhof, volleyball coach, Gary Gardner, men's basketball coach, Anderson and the current coaching staff, Wockenfuss feels good.
"Of the six years that I have been athletic director, this might be the best team chemistry coaches that I have been around," said Wockenfuss. "That makes my job that much easier. The energy surrounding this place is something to be excited for."
Fans of DSU football, which Wockenfuss coached in 2002-03, will enjoy this upcoming season, he said.
"I feel really good about football. From hiring Josh how many months ago to where we are right now, with his staff in place, right around 80 football players are going to report to campus when the time is right. I think the direction is going the right way," said Wockenfuss.
Wockenfuss said that he has heard an increased interest from the Madison community, mostly because Anderson is a graduate of Madison High School.
DSU football is reaching out to the community with an inter-squad scrimmage on Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. at Trojan Field. A fifth-quarter social at Stadium Sports Grill will follow.
With changes both positive and negative, Wockenfuss looks forward to the future.
"We are just trying to bond with each other and support each other and hopefully bring in other people to support us with resources and be there at our games," he said. "But we've got a close-knit group here that's going to win together."
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