Golden Season - League History
10/2/2026 12:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Men's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Women's Golf, Women's Soccer, Women's Track and Field, Women's Volleyball, Men's Track and Field
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In honor of the Horizon League Basketball Celebration to formally kick off the 2026-27 hoops season, the #GoldenSeason piece for Purdue Fort Wayne this week highlights the six conferences that have been homes to the Mastodons over the years.
The Mastodons joined the Horizon League as full members in 2020, marking a strategic shift that was highlighted by Fort Wayne being at the epicenter of the Horizon League footprint. The longest trip in Horizon League play is just 367 miles, compared to the shortest trip in the Summit League being 386 miles at the time. The Mastodons have played over 1,000 contests against Horizon League foes across all sports over the years, with reignited league rivalries with IU Indy, Oakland and Northern Kentucky. The 'Dons won their first team title in the HL when the men's golf team won the league championship in 2023. The Mastodons have 13 of their 14 teams compete in the Horizon League, with the only exception being men's volleyball.
The men's volleyball program has called the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association home for 45 years, joining the MIVA in its first varsity season in 1981. In that time, they have claimed 11 MIVA titles, six in the regular season and five MIVA Tournament championships, including a trip to the National Championship match in 2007.
Prior to Purdue Fort Wayne joining the Horizon League, the Summit League was the first Division I conference that had the Mastodons as full members. The Mastodons' time in the Summit League was highlighted by a pair of women's volleyball tournament trophies (2009, 2012), a softball title (2013), a women's cross country championship (2007) and two women's tennis titles (2010, 2011).
While spending six seasons as NCAA Division I Independent for most sports, the Mastodon men's and women's soccer teams played two season in the Mid-American Conference and United Soccer Conference, respectively.
Prior to moving Division I in 2001, the Mastodons called the Great Lakes Valley Conference home for nearly 20 years. The women's volleyball program thrived in the GLVC, claiming nine titles, while men's basketball and men's soccer each picked up one. The 1999 men's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal, the furthest of any Mastodon team in the Division II era.
The Mastodons joined the Horizon League as full members in 2020, marking a strategic shift that was highlighted by Fort Wayne being at the epicenter of the Horizon League footprint. The longest trip in Horizon League play is just 367 miles, compared to the shortest trip in the Summit League being 386 miles at the time. The Mastodons have played over 1,000 contests against Horizon League foes across all sports over the years, with reignited league rivalries with IU Indy, Oakland and Northern Kentucky. The 'Dons won their first team title in the HL when the men's golf team won the league championship in 2023. The Mastodons have 13 of their 14 teams compete in the Horizon League, with the only exception being men's volleyball.
The men's volleyball program has called the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association home for 45 years, joining the MIVA in its first varsity season in 1981. In that time, they have claimed 11 MIVA titles, six in the regular season and five MIVA Tournament championships, including a trip to the National Championship match in 2007.
Prior to Purdue Fort Wayne joining the Horizon League, the Summit League was the first Division I conference that had the Mastodons as full members. The Mastodons' time in the Summit League was highlighted by a pair of women's volleyball tournament trophies (2009, 2012), a softball title (2013), a women's cross country championship (2007) and two women's tennis titles (2010, 2011).
While spending six seasons as NCAA Division I Independent for most sports, the Mastodon men's and women's soccer teams played two season in the Mid-American Conference and United Soccer Conference, respectively.
Prior to moving Division I in 2001, the Mastodons called the Great Lakes Valley Conference home for nearly 20 years. The women's volleyball program thrived in the GLVC, claiming nine titles, while men's basketball and men's soccer each picked up one. The 1999 men's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal, the furthest of any Mastodon team in the Division II era.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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