The league formerly known as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, unveiled the "Horizon League" name and accompanying logo in June 2001 in an effort to better brand the League and to promote its mission of teaching young people, through athletic competition, the value of learning, service to others and personal responsibility.
The word "Horizon" was purposely chosen because the horizon is the point where the earth and sky meet, while the Horizon League is a symbolic point where student and athlete meet. The horizon is also something aspired to in nature.
A "League" is a strong bond of members committed to the same values and principals and who put the student first in "student-athlete." The Horizon League is one of only four NCAA Division I athletics conference to feature the word "league," rather than "conference" in its name. (The others are the Ivy League, Patriot League and Summit League.)
The "Horizon League" name also differentiates the League from many of the conferences whose names and logos are based on geographic location or number of member institutions. The Horizon League is a conference whose name truly reflects its mission, goals and values.
A central component of the Horizon League logo is the non-gender specific "star-person," symbolizing our men's and women's student-athletes who are the "stars" of the League's efforts in competition, citizenship, learning and community service. The athletic motion can be interpreted as part of any of the 18 intercollegiate sports in which our student-athletes compete.
