Ohio Athletic Conference


The Ohio Athletic Conference is an NCAA conferences|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 members—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 2025–26 academic year.

Conference timeline

  • 1902 – 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 1902–03 academic year.
  • 1907 – Denison University, Heidelberg College and the College of Wooster joined the OAC in the 1907–08 academic year.
  • 1909 – Wittenberg College 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 joined the OAC in the 1914–15 academic year.
  • 1915 – The University of Akron and Baldwin Wallace College 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 and St. Xavier College joined the OAC in the 1921–22 academic year.
  • 1922 – Muskingum College 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, after the 1927–28 academic year.
  • 1931 – Ashland College 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 and Toledo University joined the OAC in the 1932–33 academic year.
  • 1933 – Bowling Green State College 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 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.
  • 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 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:
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedColors
Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea1845Nonsectarian3,220Yellow Jackets1915;
1923;
1961
Capital UniversityBexley1830Lutheran ELCA2,617Comets1927
Heidelberg UniversityTiffin1850United Church of Christ1,086Student Princes1907
Marietta CollegeMarietta1835Nonsectarian1,198Pioneers1926
Alliance1846Nonsectarian2,130Purple Raiders1914
Muskingum UniversityNew Concord1837Presbyterian2,117Fighting Muskies1922
Ohio Northern UniversityAda1871United Methodist3,015Polar Bears1916;
1973
Otterbein UniversityWesterville1847United Methodist3,080Cardinals1921
Wilmington CollegeWilmington1870Quakers1,046Quakers2000

;Notes:

Former members

The OAC had 21 former full members, all but seven were private schools:
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftColorsCurrent
conference
Akron1870Public18,730Zips1915;
1944		1936;
1966		 Mid-American (MAC)
Ashland UniversityAshland1878Brethren6,626Eagles19311948 Great Midwest (G-MAC)
Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green1910Public17,540Falcons19331942 Mid-American (MAC)
Case Institute of TechnologyCleveland1880NonsectarianN/Avarious19021948 University (UAA)
Cincinnati1819Public45,949Bearcats19101924 Big 12
Dayton1850Catholic
11,241Flyers19261934 Atlantic 10 (A-10)
Denison UniversityGranville1831Nonsectarian2,100Big Red1907;
1933		1928;
1984		 North Coast (NCAC)
Hiram CollegeHiram1850Disciples of Christ1,395Terriers1920;
1951;
1989		1935;
1971;
1999		 Presidents' (PAC)
John Carroll UniversityUniversity Heights1886Catholic
2,922Blue Streaks1932;
1989		1948;
2025		 North Coast (NCAC)
Kent State UniversityKent1910Public28,122Golden Flashes19321951 Mid-American (MAC)
Kenyon CollegeGambier1824Episcopal/Anglican1,640Lords &
Ladies		19021984 North Coast (NCAC)
Miami UniversityOxford1809Public19,933RedHawks19111928 Mid-American (MAC)
Oberlin CollegeOberlin1833Nonsectarian2,850Yeomen &
Yeowomen		19021984 North Coast (NCAC)
Columbus1870Public61,369Buckeyes19021912 Big Ten
Athens1804Public28,750Bobcats19101925 Mid-American (MAC)
Delaware1842United Methodist1,850Battlin' Bishops1902;
1947		1928;
1984		 North Coast (NCAC)
Toledo1872Public20,304Rockets19321947 Mid-American (MAC)
Western Reserve UniversityCleveland1826NonsectarianN/Avarious19021932 University (UAA)
Wittenberg UniversitySpringfield1845Lutheran ELCA2,050Tigers1909;
1934		1928;
1989		 North Coast (NCAC)
Wooster1866Nonsectarian1,827Fighting Scots19071984 North Coast (NCAC)
Xavier UniversityCincinnati1831Catholic
7,112Musketeers19211936 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.
InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftColorsOAC
sport		Primary
conference
Defiance CollegeDefiance, Ohio1850United Church of Christ1,000Yellow
Jackets		20112014 Men's swimming & divingWolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
Defiance CollegeDefiance, Ohio1850United Church of Christ1,000Yellow
Jackets		20112014 Women's swimming & divingWolverine-Hoosier (WHAC)
Manchester UniversityNorth Manchester, Indiana1860Church of the Brethren1,250Spartans20152017 Men's swimming & divingHeartland (HCAC)
Manchester UniversityNorth Manchester, Indiana1860Church of the Brethren1,250Spartans20152017 Women's swimming & divingHeartland (HCAC)
Transylvania UniversityLexington, Kentucky1780Disciples of Christ1,120Pioneers20122017 Men's swimming & divingHeartland (HCAC)
Transylvania UniversityLexington, Kentucky1780Disciples of Christ1,120Pioneers20122017 Women's swimming & divingHeartland (HCAC)

;Notes:

Membership timeline


DateFormat = yyyy
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
Period = from:1902 till:2027
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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
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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
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text:^"Ohio Athletic Conference membership history"
  1. > 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 2023–24, the OAC sponsors the following championships:
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming & Diving
Tennis
Indoor Track
Outdoor Track
Volleyball
Wrestling

Facilities

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
  • 2020: Mount Union
  • 2019: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2018: John Carroll
  • 2017: Marietta
  • 2016: John Carroll
  • 2015: Mount Union
  • 2014: Wilmington
  • 2013: Marietta
  • 2012: Capital
  • 2011: Marietta
  • 2010: Wilmington
  • 2009: John Carroll
  • 2008: Heidelberg
  • 2007: Capital
  • 2005–2006: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2003–2004: John Carroll
  • 2002: Otterbein
  • 1999–2001: Ohio Northern
  • 1998: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1997: Mount Union
  • 1996: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1995: Ohio Northern
  • 1991–1994: Otterbein
  • 1990: Muskingum
  • 1989: Otterbein
  • 1988: Muskingum
  • 1987: Wittenberg
  • 1986: Otterbein
  • 1985: Wittenberg
  • 1984: Capital
  • 1981–1983: Wittenberg
  • 1980: Ohio Northern
  • 1979: Wittenberg
  • 1978: Otterbein
  • 1977: Muskingum
  • 1976: Oberlin
  • 1974–1975: Wittenberg
  • 1973: Wooster
  • 1972: Wittenberg
  • 1971: Capital
  • 1970: Oberlin
  • 1969: Wittenberg
  • 1968: Dennison
  • 1967: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1964–1966: Akron
  • 1960–1963: Wittenberg

    Football

  • 2017–2025: Mount Union
  • 2016: John Carroll
  • 1995–2015: Mount Union
  • 1994: Baldwin Wallace/John Carroll/Mount Union
  • 1992–1993: Mount Union
  • 1991: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1990: Mount Union
  • 1989: John Carroll
  • 1988: Baldwin-Wallace/Wittenberg
  • 1987: Capital
  • 1985–1986: Mount Union
  • 1982–1984: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1981: Wittenberg
  • 1980: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1979: Wittenberg
  • 1977–1978: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1976: Wittenberg
  • 1973–1974: Wittenberg
  • 1972: Heidelberg
  • 1971: Ohio Wesleyan
  • 1970: Wittenberg
  • 1969: Wittenberg
  • 1968: Baldwin Wallace
  • 1967: Ohio Wesleyan
  • 1961–1966: Wittenberg
  • 1960: Muskingum
  • 1959: Heidelberg

    Men's soccer

  • 2024: Otterbein
  • 2023: Ohio Northern
  • 2018–2022: John Carroll
  • 2017: Otterbein
  • 2016: John Carroll
  • 2015: Ohio Northern
  • 2014: Heidelberg
  • 2010–2013: Ohio Northern
  • 2009: Capital/Ohio Northern
  • 2008: Ohio Northern
  • 2004: Wilmington
  • 2000: Wilmington

    Women's soccer

  • 2021–2024: Otterbein
  • 2020: John Carroll
  • 2019: Ohio Northern
  • 2018: Otterbein
  • 2017: Ohio Northern
  • 2016: Mount Union
  • 2013–2015: Capital
  • 2012: Ohio Northern
  • 2011: Capital
  • 2010: Otterbein

    Baseball

  • 2024–2025: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2023: John Carroll
  • 2020–2022: Marietta
  • 2019: Otterbein
  • 2018: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2017: Otterbein
  • 2015–2016: Marietta
  • 2014: John Carroll
  • 2013: Mount Union
  • 2011–2012: Marietta
  • 2008–2010: Heidelberg
  • 2005–2007: Otterbein
  • 2004: Heidelberg
  • 2003: Otterbein
  • 1990–2002: Marietta
  • 1989: Otterbein
  • 1986–1988: Marietta
  • 1985: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1984: Marietta
  • 1982–1983: Ohio Northern
  • 1977–1981: Marietta
  • 1976: Ohio Northern
  • 1975: Marietta
  • 1974: Ohio Northern
  • 1971–1973: Marietta
  • 1970: Marietta/Mount Union
  • 1969: Ohio Wesleyan
  • 1968: Wittenberg
  • 1967: Hiram
  • 1966: Wittenberg
  • 1965: Ohio Wesleyan
  • 1964: Mount Union
  • 1963: Wittenberg
  • 1962: Hiram
  • 1961: Ohio Wesleyan
  • 1960: Wittenberg

    Women's volleyball

  • 2020–2024: Otterbein
  • 2018–2019: Ohio Northern
  • 2017: Otterbein
  • 2016: Ohio Northern
  • 2015: Heidelberg
  • 2011–2014: Mount Union
  • 2010: Heidelberg
  • 2009: Ohio Northern
  • 2008: Heidelberg

    Men's golf

  • 2025: John Carroll
  • 2023–2024: Otterbein
  • 2022: John Carroll
  • 2021: Otterbein
  • 2015–2019: Otterbein
  • 2014: Baldwin Wallace
  • 2013: Otterbein
  • 2012: Mount Union
  • 2010–2011: Otterbein
  • 2009: Ohio Northern
  • 2008: Otterbein
  • 2007: Mount Union
  • 2006: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1998–2005: Otterbein
  • 1997: John Carroll
  • 1996: Otterbein
  • 1994–1995: John Carroll
  • 1992–1993: Otterbein
  • 1991: Heidelberg/Hiram
  • 1990: John Carroll
  • 1988–1989: Wittenberg
  • 1987: Muskingum

    Men's wrestling

  • 2021–2025: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2020: Mount Union
  • 2016–2019: Baldwin Wallace
  • 2015: Mount Union
  • 2013–2014: Heidelberg
  • 2011–2012: Mount Union
  • 2006–2010: Heidelberg
  • 2002–2005: John Carroll
  • 2001: Ohio Northern
  • 2000: Muskingum
  • 1998–1999: John Carroll
  • 1995–1997: Mount Union
  • 1991–1994: John Carroll
  • 1985–1990: Mount Union
  • 1982–1984: Capital
  • 1980–1981: Ohio Northern
  • 1979: Muskingum
  • 1975–1978: Ohio Northern
  • 1974: Mount Union
  • 1971–1973: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1970: Wittenberg
  • 1968–1969: Denison
  • 1967: Hiram
  • 1965–1966: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1964: Hiram
  • 1963: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1959–1962: Hiram

    Men's cross country

  • 2025: Otterbein
  • 2021–2024: John Carroll
  • 2020 No meet
  • 2018-2019: Otterbein
  • 2015–2017: Ohio Northern
  • 2012–2014: Mount Union
  • 2011: Ohio Northern
  • 2010: Mount Union
  • 2009: Heidelberg
  • 2007-2008: Ohio Northern
  • 2005–2006: Mount Union
  • 2003–2004: Otterbein
  • 2001–2002: Mount Union
  • 1998-2000: Heidelberg
  • 1996–1997: Mount Union
  • 1994–1995: Otterbein
  • 1993: Mount Union
  • 1992: 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 Northern
  • 2021-2024: John Carroll
  • 2020: No Meet
  • 2015–2018: Otterbein
  • 2014: Mount Union
  • 2010-2012: Ohio Northern
  • 2009: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2008: Ohio Northern
  • 2007: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 2005-2006: Ohio Northern
  • 2003–2004: Mount Union
  • 1999-2002: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1998: Ohio Northern
  • 1992-1997: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1991: John Carroll
  • 1990: Mount Union
  • 1987-1989: Baldwin-Wallace
  • 1986: Baldwin-Wallace and Mount Union
  • 1985: Wittenberg

    Men's lacrosse

  • 2025: Ohio Northern
  • 2024: John Carroll
  • 2016–2022: John Carroll
  • 2013–2015: Otterbein

    Women's lacrosse

  • 2025: Mount Union
  • 2022–2024: Capital
  • 2021: John Carroll
  • 2014–2019: Mount Union