American Mideast Conference

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.

American Mideast Conference
AMC
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

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, 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 Institution, the conference has been shut down.

Sports

The AMC formerly sponsored 15 sports:

Past members

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

Final members schools
Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Current
conference
Carlow University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1929 Private (Catholic) 2,400 2001–02 2011–12 Celtics RSC
Daemen College Amherst, New York 1947 Private (Nonsectarian) 2,100 2001–02 2011–12 Wildcats ECC
(NCAA Division II)
Fisher College Boston, Massachusetts 1903 Private (Nonsectarian) 1,121 2011–12 2011–12 Falcons Independent (AII)
Houghton College Houghton, New York 1883 Private (Wesleyan) 1,300 2001–02 2011–12 Highlanders Empire 8
(NCAA Division III)
Point Park University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1960 Private (Nonsectarian) 3,376 1999–00 2011–12 Pioneers RSC
Roberts Wesleyan College Chili, New York 1866 Private (Free Methodist) 2,000 2001–02 2011–12 Redhawks ECC
(NCAA Division II)
Walsh University North Canton, Ohio 1958 Private (Catholic) 2,500 1976–77 2011–12 Cavaliers G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio 1856 Private (HBCU) 900 1999–00 2011–12 Bulldogs Independent (AII)

Members schools leaving before 2012
Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Current
conference
Ashland University Ashland, Ohio 1878 Private (Brethren) 6,500 1949–50 1965–66 Eagles GLIAC
(NCAA Division II)
Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio 1899 Private (Mennonite) 1,149 1949–50 1970–71 Beavers HCAC
(NCAA Division III)
Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio 1887 Private (Baptist, Evangelical) 3,077 1949–50 2010–11 Yellow Jackets G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio 1887 Public (HBCU) 2,799 2000–01 2001–02 Marauders SIAC
(NCAA Division II)
Defiance College Defiance, Ohio 1850 Private (United Church of Christ) 1,000 1949–50 1970–71 Yellow Jackets HCAC
(NCAA Division III)
University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio 1882 Private (Churches of God) 4,600 1949–50,
1967–68,
1993–94		 1961–62,
1970–71,
1996–97		 Oilers G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 1848 Private (Reformed Presbyterian) 1,791 1998–99 2006–07 Golden Tornadoes Presidents' (PAC)
(NCAA Division III)
Malone University Canton, Ohio 1892 Private (Evangelical) 2,385 1965–66 2010–11 Pioneers G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio 1968 Private (Nazarene) 2,675 1975–76 2010–11 Cougars Crossroads
University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, Ohio 1920 Private (Nonsectarian) 4,200 2008–09 2009–10 Racers WHAC
Notre Dame College South Euclid, Ohio 1927 Private (Catholic) 2,000 1998–99 2010–11 Falcons Mountain East (MEC)
(NCAA Division II)
Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio 1911 Private (Catholic) 3,052 1971–72 2008–09 Panthers G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio 1871 Private (United Methodist) 3,721 1950–51 1961–62 Polar Bears OAC
(NCAA Division III)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Private 2,300 1971–72 2008–09 RedStorm RSC
Seton Hill University Greensburg, Pennsylvania 1883 Private (Catholic) 2,014 1999–00 2006–07 Griffins PSAC
(NCAA Division II)
Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio 1986 Public 4,600 1991–92 2009–10 Bears Mid-South
Saint Vincent College Latrobe, Pennsylvania 1846 Private (Catholic) 1,840 1998–99 2005–06 Bearcats Presidents' (PAC)
(NCAA Division III)
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888 Private (Nonsectarian) 4,942 1973–74 2006–07 Dragons G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Urbana University Urbana, Ohio 1850 Private (Nonsectarian) 1,505 1971–72 2007–08 Blue Knights None; closed in 2020
Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio 1871 Private (Catholic) 1,103 2001–02 2010–11 Arrows G-MAC
(NCAA Division II)
Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio 1870 Private (Quakers) 1,200 1955–56 1970–71 Quakers OAC
(NCAA Division III)

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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