DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University gymnastics will become a member of the Mountain West Conference beginning with the 2026-27 school year. Huskie gymnastics will be NIU's second sport to join the Mountain West next season, along with the NIU football program which was announced as joining the Mountain West earlier this year. 

"We are pleased to have our NIU gymnastics program competing in the Mountain West Conference," said NIU President Dr. Lisa Freeman. "To align another one of our programs with the Mountain West is great for our student-athletes and will provide positive opportunities for the future of Huskie gymnastics."

"We are very happy to have our gymnastics program joining the Mountain West," said NIU Vice-President/Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean T. Fraizer. "With football having already begun the transition to the Mountain West, we know that we have a great relationship with the conference and are excited to add gymnastics to that partnership."

NIU becomes the fourth member of the Mountain West in gymnastics for the 2026-27 school year, joining Air Force, UC Davis and San José State. 

"The Mountain West is excited to welcome Northern Illinois as an affiliate member in women's gymnastics beginning in 2026," said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. "With the addition of NIU, the full membership of UC Davis, and the continued dedication of Air Force and San José State, we are reinforcing our commitment to expanding opportunities and elevating the student-athlete experience across our conference."

"This is a great opportunity for NIU gymnastics," said NIU head coach Dawnita 'Nita' Teague. "We appreciate Sean Frazier and Courtney Vinson for all the work that went into this move. We are grateful to the Mountain West for the invitation to join their conference. This is a very exciting time for our athletes, and we are looking forward to competing with our new conference opponents."

Teague, a member of the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame who was named NIU's Female Athlete of the Year in 1981, begins her second season as head coach of the Huskies this year. NIU gymnasts have qualified for NCAA regional competition in each of the last 11 years, with multiple qualifiers in nine of those seasons. 

Since beginning intercollegiate competition in 1978, Huskie gymnastics has won 19 individual conference championships along with the Mid-American Conference team title in 2019.