Wisconsin Lutheran College Football: A History
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) is a private liberal arts college with religious affiliation to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The college is located on the border of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. While primarily known for its academic programs, Wisconsin Lutheran College also has a history in athletics, including football.
The Early Years of Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College opened in the fall of 1973 with a part-time faculty and two dozen students. Two years later, the school welcomed its first full-time president. In 1977, the school purchased five buildings on an 8.5-acre (3.4 ha) campus, and had a set of plans that allowed for growth and development. The college purchased the academic library from Milton College in 1982. Volunteers moved and installed this 60,000-volume library. In 1983, the college purchased and installed the science laboratory furnishings of the University of Wisconsin Center at Medford. The Board of Regents approved the four-year program in 1984 to start in the fall of 1985. The evaluation team from North Central Association of Colleges and Schools agreed that the necessary planning and resources existed to enable Wisconsin Lutheran College to move toward accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution. In May 1987, the first 12 students graduated with baccalaureate degrees. Gary Greenfield, who served as the college's first full-time president for 28 years, retired in June 2003. Timothy Kriewall was inaugurated as the second president on Sept. 7, 2003, and retired in June 2008.
The Rise of Athletics
Wisconsin Lutheran College's athletic program, including football, began to take shape alongside the college's academic development. Wisconsin Lutheran teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III. The Warriors are a member of the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC). Wisconsin Lutheran was also a member of the Lake Michigan Conference until the spring of 2006.
Campus and Facilities
The Wisconsin Lutheran College campus consists of the Gary J. Greenfield Administration Building, the Campus Center, the Center for Arts and Performance, the Marvin M. The Gary J. Greenfield Administration Building was built in the 1880s under the supervision of Milwaukee architect, Alexander Eschweiler. In September 1987, construction began on the first building erected on campus. One year later, on Sept. 10, 1988, the Marvin M. Schwan Library was completed and dedicated. In July 1991, after two years of negotiation with the city of Wauwatosa, construction began on the college's second building, the Recreation Complex, which was dedicated on September 12, 1992. A third building, the Center for Arts and Performance, was completed in 1996, and the Campus Center was finished and dedicated in 1998. Two residence halls were constructed and dedicated on September 9, 2000. After two years of additional negotiation with the city of Wauwatosa and neighbors, construction began on Science Hall, which was dedicated on September 11, 2004. In February 2004, the college purchased 26 acres (10.5 ha) of land in the northwest quadrant of the Milwaukee County Grounds as a site for its new outdoor athletic complex.
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