ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University Department of Athletics has announced its intentions and first steps in applying for full membership into the Heart of America Athletic Conference, athletics director Jeff Fore announced on Tuesday, Jan. 9. The decision to apply comes after careful analysis and consideration of scheduling, travel, budgets, sport sponsorship, strength of competition, among other factors.
 
"This process furthers our commitment in providing all Spartans with a transformational student-athlete experience," Fore said.  "We are looking forward to having all 28 varsity sports in one single conference and expanding the championship opportunities for several of our teams. There are few conferences in the NAIA that rival the Heart of America and we are eager to contribute to that tradition and reputation as full members."
 
Founded in 1971, the Heart of America currently sits at 13 member institutions with 26 championship sports. Missouri Baptist joined the Heart as an affiliate member in men's volleyball during the 2020-21 academic and just this fall for football.
 
Missouri Baptist has competed as a full member of the American Midwest Conference since 1986. In fact, the Spartans were one of five charter members of the AMC, known as the Show-Me Collegiate Conference from 1986-1994, with Columbia, Hannibal-LaGrange, Harris-Stowe State, and Fontbonne (now DIII). If the formal application is approved later this spring, the Spartans anticipate 2024-25 to be the final season in the AMC and their other respective conferences.
 
Current members of the Heart include: Baker (Kan.), Benedictine (Kan.), Central Methodist (Mo.), Clarke (Iowa), Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Graceland (Iowa), Grand View (Iowa), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Missouri Valley, Mount Mercy (Iowa), Park (Mo.), Peru State (Neb.), and William Penn (Iowa).
 
Read more about the history of the Heart of America Athletic Conference here.