The Great Midwest Conference was an NCAA Division I athletics conference that existed from 1991 to 1995.
History The conference was formed in 1990 with six members: Cincinnati and Memphis State (now Memphis) from the Metro Conference, UAB from the Sun Belt Conference, Marquette and Saint Louis from the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now the Horizon League), and independent DePaul. Dayton joined in 1993. Cleveland State and Detroit-Mercy had some interest from coaches, while Louisville and Tulane were heavily favored by athletic directors.
In 1995, six of the schools in the Great Midwest (except for Dayton, who joined the Atlantic 10 Conference) joined with UNC Charlotte, Louisville, Southern Mississippi, Tulane, and South Florida of the Metro and Houston of the dissolving Southwest Conference and formed Conference USA.
Chronological timeline 1990 – The Great Midwest Conference was founded. Charter members included the University of Cincinnati and Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis) from the Metro Conference, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) from the Sun Belt Conference, Marquette University and Saint Louis University from the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now the Horizon League), and D-I Independent DePaul University, beginning the 1991–92 academic year. 1993 – University of Dayton joined the Great Midwest in the 1993–94 academic year. 1995 – The Great Midwest ceased operations as an athletic conference after the 1994–95 academic year; as many schools left to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 1995–96 academic year: Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis and UAB joined with the Metro Conference schools to form Conference USA (CUSA), while Dayton joined the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).
Member schools Final members Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Subsequentconference(s) Currentconference Cincinnati, Ohio 1819 Public 41,357 Bearcats 1991 1995 various Big 12(2023–present) Dayton, Ohio 1850 Catholic 11,186 Flyers 1993 1995 Atlantic 10 (A10)(1995–present) DePaul University Chicago, Illinois 1898 Catholic 24,966 Blue Demons 1991 1995 Conf. USA (CUSA)(1995–2005)original Big East(2005–13) Big East(2013–present) Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1881 Catholic 12,002 Golden Eagles 1991 1995 Conf. USA (CUSA)(1995–2005)original Big East(2005–13) Big East(2013–present) Memphis, Tennessee 1912 Public 22,365 Tigers 1991 1995 Conf. USA (CUSA)(1995–2013) The American(2013–present) Saint Louis University St. Louis, Missouri 1818 Catholic 13,785 Billikens 1991 1995 Conf. USA (CUSA)(1995–2005) Atlantic 10 (A10)(2005–present) Birmingham, Alabama 1969 Public 17,999 Blazers 1991 1995 Conf. USA (CUSA)(1995–2023) The American(2023–present)
Notes
Membership timeline
Championships
The following were the locations of the GMC men's basketball tournament.
1992: Chicago Stadium; Chicago, Illinois 1993: The Pyramid; Memphis, Tennessee 1994: Shoemaker Center; Cincinnati, Ohio 1995: Bradley Center; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Men's basketball Cincinnati won all four years from 1992 to 1995.
Women's basketball 1992: DePaul 1993: DePaul 1994: UAB 1995: Marquette
Baseball The Great Midwest also held a baseball tournament for each of its four years to varying coverage. 1992: UAB 1993: Memphis State 1994: UAB 1995: Memphis State
See also Great Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
References