Conferences: The Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association accepted Adrian College and Concordia University (Wisconsin) as members beginning with the 2007-08 season. Both school are establishing new men’s ice hockey programs, and will increase the MCHA’s membership to eight — including seven Division III members plus Division II member University of Minnesota, Crookston. The league was formed in 1998 by charter members Lawrence University, Marian College (Wisconsin), Milwaukee School of Engineering and Northland College. Finlandia University joined in 2004. "It’s always a great day for hockey when new teams are created," MCHA Commissioner Terry Brand said of the two new programs’ acceptance into the league. "My hope is that even more schools will now consider hockey in both the Illinois and Michigan area."

Milestones: Joe Bean became the first college men’s soccer coach to collect 600 victories when Wheaton College (Illinois) defeated Carthage College October 25. The victory gave Bean, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, a 600-183-59 record in his 45th season at the school. Two days later, the college renamed its soccer facility Bean Stadium before the Thunder’s final regular-season match. "I have been blessed with talented players, wonderful facilities and resources through the years," he said after the milestone win. Referring to the 600th victory, he added, "Someone will break it, but it is nice to be the first to do it." ... Two veteran William Smith College coaches recently recorded milestone wins within a day. Sally Scatton collected her 300th career win in field hockey when the Herons defeated Hamilton College September 22. A day later, Aliceann Wilber won her 350th game in women’ soccer when William Smith defeated Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Scatton is in her 19th season and Wilber in her 27th season at the school, where both coaches’ teams have won more than 75 percent of their games during their tenures ... The men’s soccer program at State University College at Oneonta, which is reclassifying from Division I to Division III, recorded its 400th victory with an October 18 win over State University College at Old Westbury. Oneonta State, which has sponsored the sport for 51 years, is playing a full Division III schedule this year and will begin competition in the State University of New York Athletic Conference in 2008.

Facilities: The University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, has named the basketball playing surface in its Kachel Gymnasium the Dave "Augie" Vander Meulen Court in honor of its retired 23-year men’s coach. The school announced the honor October 14, when Vander Meulen, who retired in 2001, also was inducted into the university’s athletics hall of fame. From 1978 to 2001, Vander Meulen compiled a 440-182 record to post the best win total and percentage (.707) in school history. He also ranks second among Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coaches in total victories. Two Warhawk teams won Division III titles under his tutelage, in 1984 and 1989, and he coached four WIAC titlists.

Miscellaneous: The University of Texas at Tyler welcomed a new mascot in October. "Swoop" was named in a vote of university students after more than 350 suggestions were submitted by students, faculty, staff and alumni. The Patriots, who compete in the American Southwest Conference, are in their final year of provisional membership in Division III.

Celebrating 10 straight — Wartburg College recently celebrated a "Decade of Diamond Dominance" when players from the Knights’ 10 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship teams from 1997 through 2006 gathered for a banquet and a "banner walk" ceremony during halftime of the school’s football game against Luther College. The weekend also featured an alumni baseball game. Wartburg also has claimed two Division III regional titles during the streak.