The Fighting Bees are on the move after nearly a decade in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. St. Ambrose Athletics is now the 16th program to join the Heart of American Athletic Conference.
According to SAU Athletic Director Mike Holmes, the move was a strategic one. Five of our athletic teams were already members, as well as Mount Mercy. It also means more competition.
“We thought it was a competitive step up,” said Holmes. “But it also was just as far as a security blanket just provided us with strong sports and conference affiliations and sponsorships for all of our sports where we can get everything under one umbrella instead of existing for conferences like we currently do.”
Head Women’s Soccer coach Jon Mannall says the change will also benefit students academically. “The conference seems to align us schedule-wise with longer trips on weekends, shorter trips on the weekdays,” said Mannall. “So I think that’s going to allow the student athletes to still be productive with what they’re doing academically and then what they’re doing athletically.”
SAU Athletics also hopes the move will benefit their recruitment efforts. While they still enroll numerous student athletes in and around Chicago, they’re hoping to expand south. “I think we’ll also open up some new markets in Kansas City, the St. Louis area, and across Iowa,” says Mannall.
While the transition will take place in the Fall 2026 semester, only SAU’s Swimming and Diving teams will stay in the Liberal Arts Conference.
