The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. All member institutions are located in Ohio. Formed in 1902, it is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States. In its history, 31 schools have been members of the OAC. The enrollments of the current nine member institutions range from around 1,000 to 4,500. Its current commissioner is Bethany Dannelly. Former commissioners include Mike Cleary, who was the first General Manager of a professional basketball team to hire an African American head coach, and would later run the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
History
The Ohio Athletic Conference was found in 1902 with six charter members—Case Tech, Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan, and Western Reserve. By 1934, the conference reached an all-time high of twenty-four members, seeing many schools come and go throughout the upcoming decades. By 2000, the conference solidified to its current form with the addition of its final school, Wilmington, to ten members.
On January 18, 2024, John Carroll University announces departure from the OAC to the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), beginning in the 2025–26 academic year.
Conference timeline
1902 – The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) was founded. Charter members included Case Institute of Technology, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and Western Reserve University, beginning the 1902–03 academic year. 1907 – Denison University, Heidelberg College (now Heidelberg University) and the College of Wooster joined the OAC in the 1907–08 academic year. 1909 – Wittenberg College (now Wittenberg University) joined the OAC in the 1909–10 academic year. 1910 – The University of Cincinnati and Ohio University joined the OAC in the 1910–11 academic year. 1911 – Miami University joined the OAC in the 1911–12 academic year. 1912 – Ohio State left the OAC after the 1911–12 academic year. 1914 – Mount Union College (now the University of Mount Union) joined the OAC in the 1914–15 academic year. 1915 – The University of Akron and Baldwin Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University) joined the OAC in the 1915–16 academic year. 1916 – Ohio Northern University joined the OAC in the 1916–17 academic year. 1919 – Baldwin Wallace left the OAC after the 1918–19 academic year. 1920 – Hiram College joined the OAC in the 1920–21 academic year. 1921 – Otterbein College (now Otterbein University) and St. Xavier College (now Xavier University) joined the OAC in the 1921–22 academic year. 1922 – Muskingum College (now Muskingum University) joined the OAC in the 1922–23 academic year. 1923 – Baldwin Wallace rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1923–24 academic year. 1924 – Cincinnati left the OAC after the 1923–24 academic year. 1926 – Marietta College joined the OAC in the 1926–27 academic year. 1927 – Capital University joined the OAC in the 1927–28 academic year. 1928 – Denison, Miami, Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg left the OAC to form the Buckeye Conference, alongside Cincinnati (who left 4 years prior), after the 1927–28 academic year. 1931 – Ashland College (now Ashland University) joined the OAC in the 1931–32 academic year. 1932: Western Reserve left the OAC after the 1931–32 academic year. John Carroll University, Kent State College (now Kent State University) and Toledo University (now the University of Toledo) joined the OAC in the 1932–33 academic year. 1933 – Bowling Green State College (now Bowling Green State University) joined the OAC, with Denison rejoining for a second time as well, in the 1933–34 academic year. 1934 – Wittenberg rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1934–35 academic year. 1935 – Hiram left the OAC after the 1934–35 academic year. 1936: Baldwin Wallace, Case Tech, John Carroll, Toledo and Xavier were suspended from the OAC for a violation of the opening date of football practice, all of them (except Xavier) were re-instated back the following school year. Akron and Xavier left the OAC after the 1935–36 academic year. 1942 – Bowling Green State left the OAC after the 1941–42 academic year. 1944 – Akron rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1944–45 academic year, with football rejoining in the 1948 fall season (1948–49 academic year). 1947: Ohio Northern left the OAC after the 1946–47 academic year. Ohio Wesleyan rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1947–48 academic year. 1948 – Ashland and Case Tech, alongside Baldiwn Wallace for a second time, left the OAC after the 1947–48 academic year. 1949 – John Carroll and Toledo left the OAC after the 1948–49 academic year. 1951: Kent State left the OAC after the 1950–51 academic year. Hiram rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1951–52 academic year. 1961 – Baldwin Wallace rejoined the OAC for a third time in the 1961–62 academic year. 1966 – Akron left the OAC for a second time after the 1965–66 academic year. 1971 – Hiram left the OAC for a second time after the 1970–71 academic year. 1973 – Ohio Northern rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1973–74 academic year. 1984 – Kenyon, Oberlin and Wooster left the OAC, alongside Denison and Ohio Wesleyan for a second time, to form the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) after the 1983–84 academic year. 1989: Wittenberg left the OAC for a second time after the 1988–89 academic year. Hiram rejoined the OAC for a third time, alongside John Caroll who rejoined for a second time, both effective in the 1989–90 academic year. 1999 – Hiram left the OAC for a third time after the 1998–99 academic year. 2000 – Wilmington College of Ohio joined the OAC in the 2000–01 academic year. 2011 – Defiance College joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2011–12 academic year. 2012 – Transylvania University joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2012–13 academic year. 2014 – Defiance left the OAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming and diving after the 2013–14 academic year. 2015 – Manchester University joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2015–16 academic year. 2017 – Manchester and Transylvania left the OAC as affiliate members for men's and women's swimming and diving after the 2016–17 academic year. 2025 – John Carroll left the OAC to join the NCAC after the 2024–25 academic year.
Member schools Current members The OAC currently has nine full members, all are private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Baldwin Wallace University Berea 1845 Nonsectarian 3,220 Yellow Jackets 1915;1923;1961 Capital University Bexley 1830 Lutheran ELCA 2,617 Comets 1927 Heidelberg University Tiffin 1850 United Church of Christ 1,086 Student Princes 1907 Marietta College Marietta 1835 Nonsectarian 1,198 Pioneers 1926 Alliance 1846 Nonsectarian 2,130 Purple Raiders 1914 Muskingum University New Concord 1837 Presbyterian 2,117 Fighting Muskies 1922 Ohio Northern University Ada 1871 United Methodist 3,015 Polar Bears 1916;1973 Otterbein University Westerville 1847 United Methodist 3,080 Cardinals 1921 Wilmington College Wilmington 1870 Quakers 1,046 Quakers 2000
Notes
Former members The OAC had 21 former full members, all but seven were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Currentconference Akron 1870 Public 18,730 Zips 1915;1944 1936;1966 Mid-American (MAC) Ashland University Ashland 1878 Brethren 6,626 Eagles 1931 1948 Great Midwest (G-MAC) Bowling Green State University Bowling Green 1910 Public 17,540 Falcons 1933 1942 Mid-American (MAC) Case Institute of Technology Cleveland 1880 Nonsectarian N/A various 1902 1948 University (UAA) Cincinnati 1819 Public 45,949 Bearcats 1910 1924 Big 12 Dayton 1850 Catholic 11,241 Flyers 1926 1934 Atlantic 10 (A-10) Denison University Granville 1831 Nonsectarian 2,100 Big Red 1907;1933 1928;1984 North Coast (NCAC) Hiram College Hiram 1850 Disciples of Christ 1,395 Terriers 1920;1951;1989 1935;1971;1999 Presidents' (PAC) John Carroll University University Heights 1886 Catholic 2,922 Blue Streaks 1932;1989 1948;2025 North Coast (NCAC) Kent State University Kent 1910 Public 28,122 Golden Flashes 1932 1951 Mid-American (MAC) Kenyon College Gambier 1824 Episcopal/Anglican 1,640 Lords &Ladies 1902 1984 North Coast (NCAC) Miami University Oxford 1809 Public 19,933 RedHawks 1911 1928 Mid-American (MAC) Oberlin College Oberlin 1833 Nonsectarian 2,850 Yeomen &Yeowomen 1902 1984 North Coast (NCAC) Columbus 1870 Public 61,369 Buckeyes 1902 1912 Big Ten Athens 1804 Public 28,750 Bobcats 1910 1925 Mid-American (MAC) Delaware 1842 United Methodist 1,850 Battlin' Bishops 1902;1947 1928;1984 North Coast (NCAC) Toledo 1872 Public 20,304 Rockets 1932 1947 Mid-American (MAC) Western Reserve University Cleveland 1826 Nonsectarian N/A various 1902 1932 University (UAA) Wittenberg University Springfield 1845 Lutheran ELCA 2,050 Tigers 1909;1934 1928;1989 North Coast (NCAC) Wooster 1866 Nonsectarian 1,827 Fighting Scots 1907 1984 North Coast (NCAC) Xavier University Cincinnati 1831 Catholic 7,112 Musketeers 1921 1936 Big East
Notes
Former associate members The OAC had three former associate members, all private schools. This included the only schools outside of Ohio that had any level of OAC membership.
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors OACsport Primaryconference Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 United Church of Christ 1,000 YellowJackets 2011 2014 Men's swimming & diving Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC) 2011 2014 Women's swimming & diving Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana 1860 Church of the Brethren 1,250 Spartans 2015 2017 Men's swimming & diving Heartland (HCAC) 2015 2017 Women's swimming & diving Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky 1780 Disciples of Christ 1,120 Pioneers 2012 2017 Men's swimming & diving Heartland (HCAC) 2012 2017 Women's swimming & diving
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports In 2023–24, the OAC sponsors the following championships:
+ Conference sportsSportMen'sWomen'sBaseballBasketballCross countryFootballGolfLacrosseSoccerSoftball Swimming & Diving Tennis Indoor Track Outdoor Track Volleyball Wrestling
Facilities SchoolFootball stadiumCapacityBasketball arenaCapacityBaseball fieldCapacitySoftball fieldCapacity Baldwin Wallace George Finnie Stadium 10,000 Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium 2,800 Heritage Field Rhoem Athletic Complex Capital Bernlohr Stadium 3,000 Capital Center 2,100 Clowson Field Clowson Field Heidelberg Hoernemann Stadium 1,300 Seiberling Gymnasium Peaceful Valley Frann's Field Marietta Don Drumm Stadium 5,000 Ban Johnson Arena 1,457 Don Schaly Stadium 1,500 Marietta Field Mount Union Mount Union Stadium 5,600 McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex 3,000 23rd Street Field 23rd Street Field Muskingum McConagha Stadium 5,000 Anne C. Steele Center 2,500 Mose Morehead Field Donna J. Newberry Field Ohio Northern Dial-Roberson All-Events Stadium 3,500 ONU Sports Center Wander Field ONU Softball Field Otterbein Memorial Stadium 2,400 Rike Center 3,100 Fishbaugh Field Otterbein Softball Field Wilmington Williams Stadium 3,500 Fred Raizk Arena 3,500 Tewksbury-Delaney Field WC Softball Field
OAC tournament championship history
Men's swimming & diving
2017–2025: John Carroll 2006–2016: Ohio Northern
Women's swimming & diving
2017–2025: John Carroll 2015–2016: Mount Union
Women's basketball
2022–2025: Baldwin-Wallace 2021: John Carroll 2020: Baldwin-Wallace 2019: John Carroll 2018: Marietta 2017: Ohio Northern 2016: Mount Union 2015: Baldwin-Wallace 2014: Capital 2013: Ohio Northern 2010–2012: Mount Union 2009: Capital
Men's basketball
2024–2025: John Carroll 2023: Mount Union 2020–2021: Marietta