Intercollegiate athletics began at Luther College in 1891 with a baseball game in Decorah between Luther and St. Olaf College.

Luther competes in 10 men's and nine women's intercollegiate athletic programs. The college is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III (NCAA III) and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC or Iowa Conference). Members of the Iowa Conference include Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Simpson College and Wartburg College.

Since joining the Iowa Conference as a charter member in 1922, Luther has dominated the championship scene, winning an unmatched 223 IIAC titles. The men have won 157 team championships, while the women have won 66.

Even though Luther College became coeducational in 1936, intercollegiate athletics for women did not begin until 1964-65. The women's athletic program was a charter member of the Iowa Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (IAIAW) and remained a member until joining the newly formed women's league of the IIAC and the NCAA III in 1982.

During the 51-year history of the Men's All Sports Championship (currently called the Elmer Hertel Men's Sports Championship), the Norse have won the award 22 times.

The Luther women have also dominated the All Sports Championship (currently called the Majorie Giles Women's Sports Championship), capturing the trophy nine times during the 26-year history of the award.

At the conclusion of the 2002-03 academic year, the IIAC All-Sports Championship was established. It is awarded to the school that demonstrates overall excellence in men's and women's sports for a given year. Luther won this award following the 2010-11 season.

Three hundred and nine All-America honors have been earned by Luther student-athletes. Twenty-eight athletes have been crowned national champions.

Thirty-five student-athletes have received the distinguished NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and 53 student-athletes have been awarded a CoSIDA Academic All-America honor.

Since 1993-94, the Iowa Conference sports information directors sponsored academic all-conference teams for the fall, winter and spring sports. To earn academic all-conference honors, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or greater on a 4.0 scale. have attended the school for a full year, and competed on a varsity sport. Since the first year of this award, 1,439 academic all-conference honors have been earned by Luther student-athletes.

If you are looking for a school that will provide a great education while participating for one of the finest athletic programs in the Iowa Conference, click here to contact one of our coaches.

Additional Information

Write or call the Admissions Office, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1042; toll-free number: 1-800-4LUTHER; e-mail: admissions@luther.edu.