The Cougars had previously competed as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) during the 2012–13 school year (when the school began its athletics program and joined the NAIA).
During the 2012–13 school year, which marked the beginning of the school's athletics program and its membership in the NAIA, the Cougars were categorized as an NAIA Independent within the Association of Independent Institutions (AII).