Ohio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference 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.
History
The Ohio Athletic Conference was found in 1902 with six charter membersβ[Case Western Reserve University|Western Reserve Spartans|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, beginning in the 2025β26 academic year.
Conference timeline
- 1902 β The Ohio Athletic Conference 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 1902β03 academic year.
- 1907 β Denison University, Heidelberg College and the College of Wooster joined the OAC in the 1907β08 academic year.
- 1909 β Wittenberg College joined the OAC in the 1909β10 academic year.
- 1910 β The University of Cincinnati and Ohio University joined the OAC in the 1910β11 academic year.
- 1911 β Miami University joined the OAC in the 1911β12 academic year.
- 1912 β Ohio State left the OAC after the 1911β12 academic year.
- 1914 β Mount Union College joined the OAC in the 1914β15 academic year.
- 1915 β The University of Akron and Baldwin Wallace College joined the OAC in the 1915β16 academic year.
- 1916 β Ohio Northern University joined the OAC in the 1916β17 academic year.
- 1919 β Baldwin Wallace left the OAC after the 1918β19 academic year.
- 1920 β Hiram College joined the OAC in the 1920β21 academic year.
- 1921 β Otterbein College and St. Xavier College joined the OAC in the 1921β22 academic year.
- 1922 β Muskingum College joined the OAC in the 1922β23 academic year.
- 1923 β Baldwin Wallace rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1923β24 academic year.
- 1924 β Cincinnati left the OAC after the 1923β24 academic year.
- 1926 β Marietta College joined the OAC in the 1926β27 academic year.
- 1927 β Capital University joined the OAC in the 1927β28 academic year.
- 1928 β Denison, Miami, Ohio, Ohio Wesleyan and Wittenberg left the OAC to form the Buckeye Conference, alongside Cincinnati, after the 1927β28 academic year.
- 1931 β Ashland College joined the OAC in the 1931β32 academic year.
- 1932:
- * Western Reserve left the OAC after the 1931β32 academic year.
- * John Carroll University, Kent State College and Toledo University joined the OAC in the 1932β33 academic year.
- 1933 β Bowling Green State College joined the OAC, with Denison rejoining for a second time as well, in the 1933β34 academic year.
- 1934 β Wittenberg rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1934β35 academic year.
- 1935 β Hiram left the OAC after the 1934β35 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 were re-instated back the following school year.
- * Akron and Xavier left the OAC after the 1935β36 academic year.
- 1942 β Bowling Green State left the OAC after the 1941β42 academic year.
- 1944 β Akron rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1944β45 academic year, with football rejoining in the 1948 fall season.
- 1947:
- * Ohio Northern left the OAC after the 1946β47 academic year.
- * Ohio Wesleyan rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1947β48 academic year.
- 1948 β Ashland and Case Tech, alongside Baldiwn Wallace for a second time, left the OAC after the 1947β48 academic year.
- 1949 β John Carroll and Toledo left the OAC after the 1948β49 academic year.
- 1951:
- * Kent State left the OAC after the 1950β51 academic year.
- * Hiram rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1951β52 academic year.
- 1961 β Baldwin Wallace rejoined the OAC for a third time in the 1961β62 academic year.
- 1966 β Akron left the OAC for a second time after the 1965β66 academic year.
- 1971 β Hiram left the OAC for a second time after the 1970β71 academic year.
- 1973 β Ohio Northern rejoined the OAC for a second time in the 1973β74 academic year.
- 1984 β Kenyon, Oberlin and Wooster left the OAC, alongside Denison and Ohio Wesleyan for a second time, to form the North Coast Athletic Conference after the 1983β84 academic year.
- 1989:
- * Wittenberg left the OAC for a second time after the 1988β89 academic year.
- * Hiram rejoined the OAC for a third time, alongside John Caroll who rejoined for a second time, both effective in the 1989β90 academic year.
- 1999 β Hiram left the OAC for a third time after the 1998β99 academic year.
- 2000 β Wilmington College of Ohio joined the OAC in the 2000β01 academic year.
- 2011 β Defiance College joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2011β12 academic year.
- 2012 β Transylvania University joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2012β13 academic year.
- 2014 β Defiance left the OAC as an affiliate member for men's and women's swimming and diving after the 2013β14 academic year.
- 2015 β Manchester University joined the OAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming and diving in the 2015β16 academic year.
- 2017 β Manchester and Transylvania left the OAC as affiliate members for men's and women's swimming and diving after the 2016β17 academic year.
- 2025 β John Carroll left the OAC to join the NCAC after the 2024β25 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:;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 | OAC sport | Primary conference |
| Defiance College | Defiance, Ohio | 1850 | United Church of Christ | 1,000 | Yellow Jackets | 2011 | 2014 | Men's swimming & diving | Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC) | |
| Defiance College | Defiance, Ohio | 1850 | United Church of Christ | 1,000 | Yellow Jackets | 2011 | 2014 | Women's swimming & diving | Wolverine-Hoosier (WHAC) | |
| Manchester University | North Manchester, Indiana | 1860 | Church of the Brethren | 1,250 | Spartans | 2015 | 2017 | Men's swimming & diving | Heartland (HCAC) | |
| Manchester University | North Manchester, Indiana | 1860 | Church of the Brethren | 1,250 | Spartans | 2015 | 2017 | Women's swimming & diving | Heartland (HCAC) | |
| Transylvania University | Lexington, Kentucky | 1780 | Disciples of Christ | 1,120 | Pioneers | 2012 | 2017 | Men's swimming & diving | Heartland (HCAC) | |
| Transylvania University | Lexington, Kentucky | 1780 | Disciples of Christ | 1,120 | Pioneers | 2012 | 2017 | Women's swimming & diving | Heartland (HCAC) |
;Notes:
Membership timeline
DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1902 till:2027
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:5 left:5 bottom:40 top:5
Colors =
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports
id:FullxF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football
id:AssocF value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only
id:AssocOS value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for another sport only
id:OtherC1 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference
id:OtherC2 value:rgb # Use this color to denote a team that has moved in another conference when the other color has already been used
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift: anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:Full from:1902 till:1948 text:Case Tech
bar:2 color:Full from:1902 till:1984 text:Kenyon
bar:3 color:Full from:1902 till:1984 text:Oberlin
bar:4 color:Full from:1902 till:1912 text:Ohio State
bar:5 color:Full from:1902 till:1928 text:Ohio Wesleyan
bar:5 color:Full from:1947 till:1984 text:
bar:6 color:Full from:1902 till:1932 text:Western Reserve
bar:7 color:Full from:1907 till:1928 text:Denison
bar:7 color:Full from:1933 till:1984 text:
bar:8 color:Full from:1907 till:end text:Heidelberg
bar:9 color:Full from:1907 till:1984 text:Wooster
bar:10 color:Full from:1909 till:1928 text:Wittenberg
bar:10 color:Full from:1934 till:1989 text:
bar:11 color:Full from:1910 till:1924 text:Cincinnati
bar:12 color:Full from:1910 till:1928 text:Ohio
bar:13 color:Full from:1911 till:1928 text:Miami (OH)
bar:14 color:Full from:1914 till:end text:Mount Union
bar:15 color:Full from:1915 till:1936 text:Akron
bar:15 color:Full from:1944 till:1966 text:
bar:16 color:Full from:1915 till:1919 text:Baldwin Wallace
bar:16 color:Full from:1923 till:1948 text:
bar:16 color:Full from:1961 till:end text:
bar:17 color:Full from:1916 till:1947 text:Ohio Northern
bar:17 color:Full from:1973 till:end text:
bar:18 color:Full from:1920 till:1935 text:Hiram
bar:18 color:Full from:1951 till:1971 text:
bar:18 color:Full from:1989 till:1999 text:
bar:19 color:Full from:1921 till:end text:Otterbein
bar:20 color:Full from:1921 till:1936 text:Xavier (OH)
bar:21 color:Full from:1922 till:end text:Muskingum
bar:22 color:Full from:1926 till:1934 text:Dayton
bar:23 color:Full from:1926 till:end text:Marietta
bar:24 color:Full from:1927 till:end text:Capital
bar:25 color:Full from:1931 till:1948 text:Ashland
bar:26 color:Full from:1932 till:1949 text:John Carroll
bar:26 color:Full from:1989 till:2025 text:
bar:27 color:Full from:1932 till:1951 text:Kent State
bar:28 color:Full from:1932 till:1949 text:Toledo
bar:29 color:Full from:1933 till:1942 text:Bowling Green State
bar:30 color:Full from:2000 till:end text:Wilmington (OH)
bar:31 color:AssocOS from:2011 till:2014 text:Defiance
bar:32 shift: color:AssocOS from:2012 till:2017 text:Transylvania
bar:33 shift: color:AssocOS from:2015 till:2017 text:Manchester
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1902
TextData =
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textcolor:black
pos: tabs:
text:^"Ohio Athletic Conference membership history"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space.
Sports
In 2023β24, the OAC sponsors the following championships:| Sport | Men's | Women's |
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Cross Country | ||
| Football | ||
| Golf | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Swimming & Diving | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Indoor Track | ||
| Outdoor Track | ||
| Volleyball | ||
| Wrestling |
OAC tournament championship history
Men's swimming & diving
2017β2025: John Carroll2006β2016: Ohio NorthernWomen's swimming & diving
2017β2025: John Carroll2015β2016: Mount UnionWomen's basketball
2022β2025: Baldwin-Wallace2021: John Carroll2020: Baldwin-Wallace2019: John Carroll2018: Marietta2017: Ohio Northern2016: Mount Union2015: Baldwin-Wallace2014: Capital2013: Ohio Northern2010β2012: Mount Union2009: CapitalMen's basketball
2024β2025: John Carroll2023: Mount Union2020β2021: Marietta2020: Mount Union2019: Baldwin-Wallace2018: John Carroll 2017: Marietta2016: John Carroll2015: Mount Union2014: Wilmington2013: Marietta2012: Capital2011: Marietta2010: Wilmington2009: John Carroll2008: Heidelberg2007: Capital2005β2006: Baldwin-Wallace2003β2004: John Carroll2002: Otterbein1999β2001: Ohio Northern1998: Baldwin-Wallace1997: Mount Union1996: Baldwin-Wallace1995: Ohio Northern1991β1994: Otterbein1990: Muskingum1989: Otterbein1988: Muskingum1987: Wittenberg1986: Otterbein1985: Wittenberg1984: Capital1981β1983: Wittenberg1980: Ohio Northern1979: Wittenberg1978: Otterbein1977: Muskingum1976: Oberlin1974β1975: Wittenberg 1973: Wooster1972: Wittenberg1971: Capital1970: Oberlin1969: Wittenberg1968: Dennison1967: Baldwin-Wallace1964β1966: Akron1960β1963: WittenbergFootball
2017β2025: Mount Union2016: John Carroll1995β2015: Mount Union1994: Baldwin Wallace/John Carroll/Mount Union1992β1993: Mount Union1991: Baldwin-Wallace1990: Mount Union1989: John Carroll1988: Baldwin-Wallace/Wittenberg1987: Capital1985β1986: Mount Union1982β1984: Baldwin-Wallace1981: Wittenberg1980: Baldwin-Wallace1979: Wittenberg1977β1978: Baldwin-Wallace1976: Wittenberg1973β1974: Wittenberg1972: Heidelberg1971: Ohio Wesleyan1970: Wittenberg 1969: Wittenberg1968: Baldwin Wallace1967: Ohio Wesleyan1961β1966: Wittenberg1960: Muskingum1959: HeidelbergMen's soccer
2024: Otterbein2023: Ohio Northern2018β2022: John Carroll2017: Otterbein2016: John Carroll2015: Ohio Northern2014: Heidelberg2010β2013: Ohio Northern2009: Capital/Ohio Northern2008: Ohio Northern2004: Wilmington2000: WilmingtonWomen's soccer
2021β2024: Otterbein2020: John Carroll2019: Ohio Northern2018: Otterbein2017: Ohio Northern2016: Mount Union2013β2015: Capital2012: Ohio Northern2011: Capital2010: OtterbeinBaseball
2024β2025: Baldwin-Wallace2023: John Carroll2020β2022: Marietta2019: Otterbein2018: Baldwin-Wallace2017: Otterbein2015β2016: Marietta2014: John Carroll2013: Mount Union2011β2012: Marietta2008β2010: Heidelberg 2005β2007: Otterbein2004: Heidelberg2003: Otterbein1990β2002: Marietta1989: Otterbein1986β1988: Marietta 1985: Baldwin-Wallace1984: Marietta1982β1983: Ohio Northern1977β1981: Marietta1976: Ohio Northern1975: Marietta1974: Ohio Northern1971β1973: Marietta1970: Marietta/Mount Union1969: Ohio Wesleyan1968: Wittenberg1967: Hiram1966: Wittenberg1965: Ohio Wesleyan1964: Mount Union1963: Wittenberg1962: Hiram1961: Ohio Wesleyan1960: WittenbergWomen's volleyball
2020β2024: Otterbein2018β2019: Ohio Northern2017: Otterbein2016: Ohio Northern2015: Heidelberg2011β2014: Mount Union2010: Heidelberg2009: Ohio Northern2008: HeidelbergMen's golf
2025: John Carroll2023β2024: Otterbein2022: John Carroll2021: Otterbein2015β2019: Otterbein2014: Baldwin Wallace2013: Otterbein2012: Mount Union2010β2011: Otterbein2009: Ohio Northern2008: Otterbein2007: Mount Union2006: Baldwin-Wallace1998β2005: Otterbein1997: John Carroll1996: Otterbein1994β1995: John Carroll1992β1993: Otterbein1991: Heidelberg/Hiram1990: John Carroll1988β1989: Wittenberg1987: MuskingumMen's wrestling
2021β2025: Baldwin-Wallace2020: Mount Union2016β2019: Baldwin Wallace2015: Mount Union2013β2014: Heidelberg2011β2012: Mount Union2006β2010: Heidelberg2002β2005: John Carroll2001: Ohio Northern2000: Muskingum1998β1999: John Carroll1995β1997: Mount Union1991β1994: John Carroll1985β1990: Mount Union1982β1984: Capital1980β1981: Ohio Northern1979: Muskingum1975β1978: Ohio Northern 1974: Mount Union1971β1973: Baldwin-Wallace1970: Wittenberg1968β1969: Denison1967: Hiram1965β1966: Baldwin-Wallace1964: Hiram1963: Baldwin-Wallace1959β1962: HiramMen's cross country
2025: Otterbein2021β2024: John Carroll2020 No meet2018-2019: Otterbein2015β2017: Ohio Northern2012β2014: Mount Union2011: Ohio Northern2010: Mount Union2009: Heidelberg2007-2008: Ohio Northern2005β2006: Mount Union2003β2004: Otterbein2001β2002: Mount Union1998-2000: Heidelberg1996β1997: Mount Union1994β1995: Otterbein1993: Mount Union1992: Otterbein- 1990-1991: Mount Union
- 1988-1989: Otterbein
- 1987: Mount Union
- 1986: Otterbein
- 1984-1985: Mount Union
- 1981-1983: Baldwin-Wallace
- 1980: Otterbein
- 1979: Baldwin-Wallace
- 1974-1978: Mount Union
- 1973: Baldwin-Wallace
- 1972: Denison
- 1966-1971: Mount Union
- 1965: Akron
- 1964: Mount Union
- 1962-1963: Akron
- 1961: Muskingum
- 1959-1960: Oberlin
- 1956-1958: Ohio Wesleyan
- 1955: Oberlin
- 1954: No meet
- 1952-1953: Oberlin
- 1951: Wooster
- 1948-50: Oberlin
- 1947: Case
- 1946: Oberlin
- 1943-1945: No meet
- 1942: Bowling Green
- 1939-1941: Oberlin
- 1938: Wooster
- 1934-1937: Oberlin
- 1933: Wooster
- 1929-1932: Oberlin
Women's cross country
- 2025: Ohio Northern2021-2024: John Carroll
- 2020: No Meet2015β2018: Otterbein2014: Mount Union
- 2010-2012: Ohio Northern
- 2009: Baldwin-Wallace2008: Ohio Northern2007: Baldwin-Wallace2005-2006: Ohio Northern2003β2004: Mount Union1999-2002: Baldwin-Wallace1998: Ohio Northern1992-1997: Baldwin-Wallace1991: John Carroll1990: Mount Union1987-1989: Baldwin-Wallace1986: Baldwin-Wallace and Mount Union1985: Wittenberg