CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) today announced a partnership with Koomba, the athlete experience platform for sport. The partnership gives A-R-C student-athletes access to Koomba’s network of more than 200 credentialed, peer-vetted mental performance and nutrition specialists with NCAA, professional, and Olympic backgrounds, available through individual sessions and education for athletes. Many of these coaches are former athletes themselves and still work with Power 5, professional, and Olympic athletes today.
The partnership advances the A-R-C’s 2025–28 Strategic Plan, which commits the conference to expanding education and resources for student-athletes, including training and pilot programs. Under Commissioner Marie Stroman, the conference built that plan around the holistic development of student-athletes, empowering them to thrive in the classroom, in competition, and as leaders.
"The American Rivers Conference commits to the holistic development of student-athletes, and that commitment extends well beyond competition. This partnership with Koomba gives student-athletes at our member institutions direct access to credentialed mental performance and nutrition coaches, beginning with 100 one-on-one sessions this year, so the support is there the moment they need it, wherever they are. This is the standard of support our student-athletes deserve, and Koomba connects them to it directly,” said A-R-C Commissioner Marie Stroman.
"I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Koomba since the company’s start in 2024. In a short amount of time, they’ve built comprehensive services and a holistic approach to athlete wellbeing that truly sets them apart. Given their deep understanding of the Division III student-athlete experience, commitment to access, and ability to scale their services, Koomba stood out as the clear choice to support our student-athletes,” said Jack Langan, Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives at the A-R-C.
"At Koomba, we believe every athlete, at every level, should have access to these kinds of resources. Our job is to make access as frictionless as possible, make them part of the overall athlete experience, and help our partners measure that experience so they can keep improving it,” said Russell Chase, Head of GTM and Growth at Koomba. “It’s great to partner with Marie and her team, who share this approach and are committed to providing the best resources possible for their student-athletes.”
The A-R-C partnership comes as Koomba continues its expansion across both college athletics and youth sports, launching with a growing number of Division I, II, and III programs across the country. Koomba reaches more than 60,000 athletes across its partner networks, spanning youth sports organizations, high school and academy programs, and college athletic departments.
About Koomba
Koomba is the athlete experience platform for sport. It helps sports organizations support and understand their athletes, pairing credentialed mental performance and nutrition coaching with de-identified insights on the athlete experience by team and season. Its network includes more than 200 credentialed, peer-vetted providers with NCAA, professional, and Olympic backgrounds. Health, safety, and governance are overseen by Brian Hainline, MD, former Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA. Koomba partners with youth sports organizations, high schools and academies, college athletic departments, and conferences. Learn more at koomba.co or hello@koomba.co.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
