American Mideast Conference

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American Mideast Conference
AMC
American Mideast Conference logo
Established1949
Dissolved2012
AssociationNAIA
DivisionDivision II
Sports fielded
  • 15
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 8
RegionEast
Region IX of the NAIA
Former namesMid-Ohio League (1949–1962)
Mid-Ohio Conference (1962–1998)
HeadquartersFindlay, Ohio
Locations
American Mideast Conference locations

The American Mideast Conference (AMC) was an affiliate of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics that included eight member institutions in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. Founded in 1949, it was known as the Mid-Ohio League, and named the Mid-Ohio Conference from 1962 until 1998, when it adopted its final moniker. The name change was the first step in a multi-phase expansion that extended the conference into states beyond Ohio before the league was eventually disbanded in 2012.

History[]

In its final five years the conference experienced a number of changes, with numerous members moving to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Former members Roberts Wesleyan and Walsh University received admission to the NCAA and underwent the process of transferring athletics into Division II; Houghton College transitioned to Division III and joined the Empire 8 conference in 2012–13. Daemen, Roberts Wesleyan, and Point Park applied for NCAA Division II status in June 2011 and in July 2011 Roberts Wesleyan was approved for membership. In June 2011 former AMC members Cedarville, Notre Dame College, Urbana, and Ursuline College announced the creation of a new NCAA DII conference that hoped to develop and expand for an anticipated lifting of the moratorium on new NCAA DII conferences in 2013.[1] In July 2011, Cedarville, and Notre Dame were awarded NCAA provisional status, while Malone University and Ursuline College were granted candidacy year two,[2][3][4] all three left the NAIA and AMC for the 2011–12 academic year. With the addition of Fisher College from the collapsed Sunrise Athletic Conference, there were reports that the AMC would operate as an eight team conference in 2011–12 with the eight teams being Carlow, Daemen, Fisher, Houghton, Point Park, Roberts Wesleyan, Wilberforce, and Walsh. However, on January 12, 2012, the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC; now known as the River States Conference) announced that it had accepted Point Park University and Carlow University as full members beginning with the 2012–13 school year.[5] This left Fisher College and Wilberforce University as the only remaining members, but as they have now become NAIA independent schools in the Association of Independent Institutions, the conference has been shut down.

Chronological timeline[]

  • 1949 - The American Mideast Conference was founded as the Mid-Ohio League (MOL). Charter members included Ashland College (now Ashland University), Bluffton College (now Bluffton University), Cedarville College (now Cedarville University), Defiance College and Findlay College (now the University of Findlay), effective beginning the 1949-50 academic year.
  • 1962 - Findlay and Ohio Northern left the MOL, effective after the 1961-62 academic year.
  • 1962 - The MOL was renamed as the Mid-Ohio Conference (MOC), effective the 1962-63 academic year.
  • 1965 - Malone College (now Malone University) joined the MOC, effective the 1965-66 academic year.
  • 1966 - Ashland left the MOC, effective after the 1965-66 academic year.
  • 1967 - Findlay re-joined back to the MOC for a second time, effective the 1967-68 academic year.
  • 1971 - Bluffton, Defiance and Wilmington (with Findlay for a second time) left the MOC, effective after the 1970-71 academic year.
  • 1976 - Walsh College (now Walsh University) joined the MOC, effective the 1976-77 academic year.
  • 1989 - Malone left the MOC, effective after the 1988-89 academic year.
  • 1993 - Two institutions re-joined back to the MOC (Findlay for a third time, and Malone for a second time), effective the 1993-94 academic year.
  • 1998 - The MOC had rebranded as the American Mideast Conference during its 50th anniversary, effective the 1998-99 academic year.
  • 2002 - Central State left the American Mideast and the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an Division II Independent, effective after the 2001-02 academic year
  • 2007 - Three institutions left the American Mideast and the NAIA to join their respective new home primary conferences: Geneva to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Presidents', Seton Hill to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), and Tiffin to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an Division II Independent (who would later join the GLIAC, effective the 2008-09 academic year), effective after the 2006-07 academic year.
  • 2008 - Northwestern Ohio joined the American Mideast for all sports, effective the 2008-09 academic year.
  • 2009 - Two institutions left the American Mideast to join their respective new home primary conferences: Ohio Dominican to leave the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as an Division II Independent (who would later join the GLIAC, effective the 2010-11 academic year), and Rio Grande to the Mid-South Conference, effective after the 2008-09 academic year.
  • 2011 - Four institutions left the American Mideast to join their respective new home primary conferences: Cedarville, Notre Dame (Oh.) and Ursuline (with Malone for a second time) to leave the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks as Division II Independents (which Cedarville and Ursuline later join the G-MAC; Malone would later join the GLIAC, effective the 2012-13 academic year; and Notre Dame (Oh.) would later join the Mountain East Conference, effective the 2013-14 academic year), all effective the 2008-09 academic year), and Mount Vernon Nazarene to the Crossroads League, effective after the 2010-11 academic year.
  • 2011 - Fisher College joined the American Mideast, effective the 2011-12 academic year.
  • 2012 - The American Mideast ceased operations as an athletic conference, effective after the 2011-12 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, effective beginning the 2012-13 academic year: Roberts Wesleyan to leave the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the East Coast Conference (ECC), Houghton to leave the NAIA to join the NCAA Division III ranks and the Empire 8 Athletic Conference, Walsh to leave the NAIA to join the NCAA Division II ranks and the GLIAC, Carlow and Point Park to the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC; now known as the River States Conference), and Daemen, Fisher and Wilberforce as NAIA Independents (although Daemen would later followed Roberts Wesleyan to join the NCAA D-II ECC, effective since the 2013-14 academic year).

Member schools[]

A list of past members of the American Mideast Conference:[6]

Final members[]

The American Mideast ended with eight full members, all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Subsequent
conference(s) 		Current
conference
Carlow University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1929 Catholic 2,400 2001–02 2011–12 Celtics River States
(2012–13 to present)
Daemen College Amherst, New York 1947 Nonsectarian 2,100 2001–02 2011–12 Wildcats USCAA/D-II Independent
(2012–13) 		East Coast (NCAA D-II)
(2013–14 to present)
Fisher College Boston, Massachusetts 1903 Nonsectarian 1,121 2011–12 2011–12 Falcons Continental
(2012–13 to present)
Houghton College Houghton, New York 1883 Wesleyan 1,300 2001–02 2011–12 Highlanders Empire 8 (NCAA D-III)
(2012–13 to present)
Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1960 Nonsectarian 3,376 1999–00 2011–12 Pioneers River States
(2012–13 to present)
Roberts Wesleyan College Chili, New York 1866 Free Methodist 2,000 2001–02 2011–12 Redhawks East Coast (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to present)
Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1958 Catholic 2,500 1976–77 2011–12 Cavaliers Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to 2016–17) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2017–18 to present)
Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio 1856 HBCU 900 1999–00 2011–12 Bulldogs Continental
(2012–13 to present)

Members leaving before 2012[]

The American Mideast had 21 former full members, all but two were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Subsequent
conference(s) 		Current
conference
Ashland College[a] Ashland, Ohio 1878 Brethren 6,500 1949–50 1965–66 Eagles D-II Independent
(1966–67 to 1994–95)
Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(1995–96 to 2020–21) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
Bluffton College[b] Bluffton, Ohio 1899 Mennonite 1,149 1949–50 1970–71 Beavers NAIA/D-III Independent
(1971–72 to 1997–98) 		Heartland (HCAC) (NCAA D-III)
(1998–99 to present)
Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio 1887 Baptist,
Evangelical 		3,077 1949–50 2010–11 Yellow
Jackets 		NAIA/D-II Independent
(2011–12) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to present)
Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio 1887 Public
(HBCU) 		2,799 2000–01 2001–02 Marauders D-II Independent
(2002–03 to 2011–12)
Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to 2013–14) 		Southern (SIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2014–15 to present)
Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 United
Church
of Christ 		1,000 1949–50 1970–71 Yellow Jackets NAIA/D-III Independent
(1971–72 to 1999–2000) 		Heartland (HCAC) (NCAA D-III)
(2000–01 to present)
University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Churches of God 4,600 1949–50,
1967–68,
1993–94 		1961–62,
1970–71,
1996–97 		Oilers Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(1997–98 to 2016–17) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2017–18 to present)
Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 1848 Reformed
Presbyterian 		1,791 1998–99 2006–07 Golden
Tornadoes 		Presidents' (PAC) (NCAA D-III)
(2007–08 to present)
Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Evangelical 2,385 1965–66,
1993–94 		1988–89,
2010–11 		Pioneers D-II Independent
(2011–12)
Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to 2015–16) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2016–17 to present)
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio 1968 Nazarene 2,675 1975–76 2010–11 Cougars Crossroads
(2011–12 to present)
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, Ohio 1920 Nonsectarian 4,200 2008–09 2009–10 Racers Wolverine–Hoosier (WHAC)
(2010–11 to present)
Notre Dame College South Euclid, Ohio 1927 Catholic 2,000 1998–99 2010–11 Falcons D-II Independent
(2011–12 to 2012–13) 		Mountain East (MEC) (NCAA D-II)
(2013–14 to present)
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Catholic 3,052 1971–72 2008–09 Panthers D-II Independent
(2009–10)
Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2010–11 to 2016–17) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2017–18 to present)
Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio 1871 United
Methodist 		3,721 1950–51 1961–62 Polar Bears NAIA Independent
(1962–63 to 1972–73) 		Ohio (OAC) (NCAA D-III)
(1973–74 to present)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Private 2,300 1971–72 2008–09 RedStorm Mid-South
(2009–10 to 2013–14) 		River States (RSC)
(2014–15 to present)
Seton Hill University Greensburg, Pennsylvania 1883 Catholic 2,014 1999–00 2006–07 Griffins West Virginia (WVIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2007–08 to 2012–13) 		Pennsylvania (PSAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2013–14 to present)
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio 1986 Public 4,600 1991–92 2009–10 Bears Mid-South
(2010–11 to present)
Saint Vincent College Latrobe, Pennsylvania 1846 Catholic 1,840 1998–99 2005–06 Bearcats Presidents' (PAC) (NCAA D-III)
(2006–07 to present)
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888 Nonsectarian 4,942 1973–74 2006–07 Dragons D-II Independent
(2007–08)
Great Lakes (GLIAC) (NCAA D-II)
(2008–09 to 2017–18) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2018–19 to present)
Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850 Nonsectarian 1,505 1971–72 2007–08 Blue Knights D-II Independent
(2008–09 to 2011–12)
Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13)
Mountain East (MEC) (NCAA D-II)
(2013–14 to 2019–20) 		closed in 2020
Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio 1871 Catholic 1,103 2001–02 2010–11 Arrows D-II Independent
(2011–12) 		Great Midwest (NCAA D-II)
(2012–13 to present)
Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio 1870 Quakers 1,200 1955–56 1970–71 Quakers Heartland (HCAC) (NCAA D-III)
(1998–99 to 1999–2000) 		Ohio (OAC) (NCAA D-III)
(2000–01 to present)
Notes
  1. ^ Currently known as Ashland University since 1989.
  2. ^ Currently known as Bluffton University since 2004.

Membership timeline[]

 Full member (non-football)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports[]

The AMC formerly sponsored 15 sports:

Administration[]

Presidents of member institutions maintained active rolls of governance over the organization by way of the Council of Presidents.[7]

Additionally, the AMC included a staff of conference officials:

  • James D. Houdeshell, Commissioner
  • Mark Womack, AMC Administrative Assistant
  • Deron Brown, Supervisor of Umpires, Baseball
  • Linda Cairney, Supervisor of Umpires, Softball
  • Bill Ek, Supervisor of Officials, Basketball
  • Karen Fulks, Treasurer
  • James Phipps, Eligibility Chair
  • Diane Plas, Supervisor of Officials, Women's Basketball, Volleyball
  • Kim Vieira, Supervisor of Officials, Men's and Women's soccer

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ursuline Forms New Athletic Conference". Ursuline College. June 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  2. ^ Cooper, Michael (July 8, 2011). "Cedarville University receives NCAA D-II provisional year". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "NCAA Approves Notre Dame College for Provisional Year". Notre Dame College. July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  4. ^ "Malone, Walsh Universities One Step Closer To Full NCAA Div. II Membership". Malone University. July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Point Park University, Carlow University approved for membership into KIAC" (Press release). Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. January 12, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "About the American Mideast Conference". www.amcsports.org. 2010. Archived from the original on May 29, 2011.
  7. ^ "American Mideast Conference Council of Presidents". www.amcsports.com. 2007. Archived from the original on October 29, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
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