It usually goes to the conference that hasn't had it the longest that also doesn't have a team in the final. I'm not sure where the NEC and the Big South (ACC) officials fit since their teams just got automatic bids last year. Based on the past dozen years or so, you can do the math ...

Year Champion Conference Runner-up Conference Officials
2011 N. Dakota St. Missouri Valley Sam Houston St. Southland Colonial
2010 Eastern Washington Big Sky Delaware Colonial Southern
2009 Villanova Colonial Montana Big Sky Ohio Valley
2008 Richmond Colonial Montana Big Sky Southland
2007 Appalachian St. Southern Delaware Colonial MEAC
2006 Appalachian St. Southern Massachusetts Atlantic 10 Gateway
2005 Appalachian St. Southern Northern Iowa Gateway Big Sky
2004 James Madison Atlantic 10 Montana Big Sky Southern
2003 Delaware Atlantic 10 Colgate Patriot Ohio Valley
2002 Western Kentucky Gateway McNeese St. Southland Patriot
2001 Montana Big Sky Furman Southern Southland
2000 Georgia Southern Southern Montana Big Sky MEAC
1999 Georgia Southern Southern Youngstown St. Gateway Atlantic 10