OSHKOSH – The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has canceled its 2020 conference seasons and championships for most fall sports — including football — the conference announced Monday evening.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the WIAC also canceled seasons for women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s cross country.

The women’s tennis and women’s golf fall seasons and championships are suspended and will be moved to the spring. All fall sports teams are allowed to practice.

WIAC member schools are UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, UW-Platteville and UW- River Falls.

“Today’s announcement from the WIAC and Council of Chancellors has been a very difficult one in our athletic department,” UW-Oshkosh director of athletics Darryl Sims said. “In an effort to explore possible opportunities, we, as a conference, agreed that this is the best path forward given the guidelines set forth by the NCAA and the resocialization process. We certainly understand this decision is an unpleasant one, but we hope our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and support staff all appreciate and understand that their health, safety and well-being were the driving force behind this decision.”

The decision comes as the novel coronavirus continues to spread across Wisconsin.

Schools will determine when and how many practice opportunities within NCAA limitations will be conducted in the fall. Practices must be in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local and institutional safety guidelines.

“While today’s decision is rooted in safety, it doesn’t make it any easier for anyone involved,” UW-Stevens Point director of athletics Brad Duckworth said. “As always, I expect our student-athletes and staff to rise through adversity and, assuming that we all stay healthy, be even stronger when we return. Thank you to all of our fans, alumni, and supporters we look forward to getting back to competitions as soon as we can do so safely.”

Student-athletes will not lose a year a eligibility if their sport’s season has been canceled. Coaches are expected to be allowed to engage with their teams. Teams are likely to begin practice in small groups.

Contact Jerell Rushin at 920-279-4974 or jrushin@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jerellrushin_.