Great Midwest Athletic Conference

The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) was named the 24th NCAA Division II conference and operates in the Great Lakes and East South Central States regions of the United States.[2] The G-MAC began conference play in the 2012-13 academic year hosting 12 championships and continued to work through the educational assessment program. The conference received approval and became an active Division II conference in 2013-14, hosting 17 championships.

Not to be confused with Great Midwest Conference.

Great Midwest Athletic Conference
Established	2011 (began play in 2012)
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	12 (13 in 2021)
Sports fielded	23 men's: 12 (1 emerging) women's: 11
Region	Great Lakes and East South Central
Headquarters	Indianapolis, Indiana
Commissioner	Tom Daeger[1] (since 2011)
Website	g-macsports.com
Locations

History

Great Midwest Athletic Conference

🌍

Location of G-MAC members: full, affiliate, and future

The initial announcement of a potential new conference surfaced in June 2011 when the presidents and athletic directors of Cedarville University, Notre Dame College, Urbana University, and Ursuline College met to discuss plans for a new Division II conference.[3]

Soon after the initial meeting, Central State University joined and became a fifth member. In October 2011, Kentucky Wesleyan College announced that the school will join the G-MAC, withdrawing from its current conference, the Great Lakes Valley Conference.[4]

In November 2011, Trevecca Nazarene University was accepted as another charter member of the conference.[5] Trevecca had begun the process of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II membership in July, 2011 and entered a provisional NCAA membership year during the conference's initially planned start for the 2013-14 academic year.[5] In late November, the conference announced the hiring of Tom Daeger as Conference Commissioner, with offices in Indianapolis.[1]

On February 20, 2012 the Great Midwest Athletic Conference announced the NCAA had accepted the G-MAC as the 24th NCAA Division ll conference.[6] The conference then added two more members when it was announced on April 23 and May 1, 2012, that the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA–Wise) and Georgetown College had been granted provisional membership in the conference pending their approval by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.[7][8] Georgetown College was rejected for Division II membership, but applied to join Division II in 2014. However, they were denied acceptance once again by the Membership Council.[9] As of 2018, Georgetown has made no further attempt to join Division II.

In the fall of 2012, it was announced that Urbana and UVA–Wise would spend only one season as active members of the G-MAC. At the same time, the G-MAC announced that three West Virginia schools had accepted invitations to join the conference, starting in July 2013—Alderson Broaddus University, Davis & Elkins College, and Ohio Valley University.[10] All three schools were previously members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), which disbanded after most of its football-sponsoring schools announced their departure for a new D-II league that eventually became the Mountain East Conference (MEC).[11] On October 16, 2012, the G-MAC announced that Salem International University, since renamed Salem University, would join the conference on July 1, 2013.[12] Salem would leave the G-MAC in 2016 to become a Division II independent.

On July 12, 2013, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference received official approval from the NCAA Division II Membership Committee, recognizing the Conference as an active NCAA Division II conference. On the same day, it was announced that Ursuline College had been approved as an active NCAA DII member and Trevecca Nazarene University successfully completed its Year Two candidacy and was moved into the Provisional Year of the membership process by the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.

On August 7, 2013, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference partnered with Cumberland University as it embarked on a transition to potential NCAA Division II membership. The G-MAC Presidents Council unanimously admitted Cumberland as a provisional member effective immediately and would have sponsored the institution as it worked through the NCAA Division II membership application process.[13] In July 2014, Cumberland was denied acceptance into the NCAA by the Membership Council.[9] As in the case of Georgetown, Cumberland has made no further attempt to join Division II.

On August 30, 2018, Davis & Elkins announced that it would reunite with most of its former WVIAC rivals in the Mountain East Conference after the 2018–19 school year.[14] The school remains a G-MAC affiliate in men's lacrosse, a sport that the MEC does not sponsor.

On February 1, 2019, Malone announced that it had eliminated football and "remains committed to athletic competition in the NCAA Div. II and as members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)."[15]

On May 19th, 2020, Ashland University announced they would join the Great Midwest Athletic Conference from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the 2021-22 school year

On June 9th, 2020, Alderson Broaddus announced that they'll be leaving the Great Midwest Athletic Conference to join the Mountain East Conference for the 2020-21 school year

Members

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined
Cedarville University	Cedarville, Ohio	1887	Private (Baptist)	4,160	Yellow Jackets		2012
University of Findlay	Findlay, Ohio	1882	Private (Churches of God)	4,870	Oilers		2017
Hillsdale College	Hillsdale, Michigan	1844	Private (Nonsectarian)	1,521	Chargers		2017
Kentucky Wesleyan College	Owensboro, Kentucky	1858	Private (United Methodist)	830	Panthers		2012
Lake Erie College	Painesville, Ohio	1856	Private (Nonsectarian)	1,177	Storm		2017
Malone University	Canton, Ohio	1892	Private (Evangelical)	1,684	Pioneers		2016
Ohio Dominican University	Columbus, Ohio	1911	Private (Catholic)	1,716	Panthers		2017
Ohio Valley University	Vienna, West Virginia	1960	Private (Church of Christ)	509	Fighting Scots		2013
Tiffin University	Tiffin, Ohio	1888	Private (Nonsectarian)	3,096	Dragons		2018
Trevecca Nazarene University	Nashville, Tennessee	1901	Private (Nazarene)	3,927	Trojans		2012
Ursuline College	Pepper Pike, Ohio	1871	Private (Catholic)	1,073	Arrows		2012
Walsh University	North Canton, Ohio	1960	Private (Catholic)	2,779	Cavaliers		2017

• Ursuline College — women's institution, does not field men's sports.

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined	Sport	Primary Conference
Alderson Broaddus University	Philippi, West Virginia	1871	Private (Baptist)	2,306	Battlers		2020[lower-alpha 1]	lacrosse (M)	Mountain East
Davis & Elkins College	Elkins, West Virginia	1904	Private (Presbyterian)	837	Senators		2019[lower-alpha 2]	lacrosse (M)	Mountain East
Mercyhurst University	Erie, Pennsylvania	1926	Private (Catholic)	2,705	Lakers		2016	lacrosse (M)	Pennsylvania State
Seton Hill University	Greensburg, Pennsylvania	1883	Private (Catholic)	2,080	Griffins		2016	lacrosse (M)	Pennsylvania State
Wheeling University	Wheeling, West Virginia	1954	Private (Catholic)	1,171	Cardinals		2017	lacrosse (M)	Mountain East

1. Alderson Broaddus was a full G-MAC member from 2013 to 2020.
2. Davis & Elkins was a full G-MAC member from 2013 to 2019.

Future member

Institution	Location (Population)	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joining	Nickname	Current Conference	Colors
Ashland University[16]	Ashland, Ohio	1878	Private (Brethren)	6,626	2021	Eagles	GLIAC

Former members

School names and nicknames reflect those used during G-MAC membership.

Institution	Location	Founded	Type	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Alderson Broaddus University	Philippi, West Virginia	1871	Private (Baptist)	Battlers	2013	2020[lower-alpha 1]	Mountain East
Central State University	Wilberforce, Ohio	1887	Public	Marauders & Lady Marauders	2012	2015	Southern Intercollegiate
Davis & Elkins College	Elkins, West Virginia	1904	Private (Presbyterian)	Senators	2013	2019[lower-alpha 1]	Mountain East
Salem International University[lower-alpha 2]	Salem, West Virginia	1888	Private (For-profit)	Tigers	2013	2016	Independent
Urbana University	Urbana, Ohio	1850	Private (Nonsectarian)	Blue Knights	2012	2013	Closed in 2020
University of Virginia's College at Wise	Wise, Virginia	1954	Public	Highland Cavaliers[lower-alpha 3]	2012	2013	South Atlantic

1. Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins maintain G-MAC membership in men's lacrosse.
2. Known as Salem University since 2017.
3. UVA–Wise dropped "Highland" from its athletic branding in 2017.

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Football	Y
Golf	Y	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming & Diving	Y	Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field Indoor	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y
Wrestling	Y

In swimming and diving for both sexes, the G-MAC and Mountain East Conference operate as a single league, conducting a combined conference championship meet.[17]

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Football	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Wrestling ^†	Total GMAC Sports
Alderson Broaddus	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	11
Cedarville	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y		Y	Y	Y		8
Findlay	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Hillsdale	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y		8
Kentucky Wesleyan	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y		8
Lake Erie	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	9
Malone	Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	Y		Y	Y		9
Ohio Dominican	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y			Y	Y		8
Ohio Valley	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	9
Tiffin	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Trevecca Nazarene	Y	Y	Y	[lower-alpha 1]	Y		Y			Y	Y		7
Walsh	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		10
Totals	12	12	12	8	11	4	11	4	5	12	12	4	109
Affiliate Members
Davis & Elkins						Y							10
Mercyhurst						Y							1
Seton Hill						Y							1
Wheeling						Y							1

1. Trevecca Nazarene's football team will start play in 2021.

• ^† — Emerging sport; teams currently compete in Independents

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball	Total GMAC Sports
Alderson Broaddus	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Cedarville	Y	Y			Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Findlay	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Hillsdale	Y	Y				Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Kentucky Wesleyan	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	9
Lake Erie	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	8
Malone	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	9
Ohio Dominican	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	8
Ohio Valley	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	9
Tiffin	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Trevecca Nazarene	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y			Y	Y	Y	8
Ursuline	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Walsh	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	10
Totals	13	13	10	7	12	13	6	8	13	13	13	121

A divisional format is used for volleyball.

East Alderson Broaddus Lake Erie Malone Ohio Valley Ursuline Walsh

West Cedarville Findlay Hillsdale Kentucky Wesleyan Ohio Dominican Trevecca Nazarene

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Men			Women
		Sprint football[lower-alpha 1]	Volleyball[lower-alpha 2]		Bowling[lower-alpha 3]	Field hockey
Alderson Broaddus		CSFL[lower-alpha 4]	IND			IND
Kentucky Wesleyan					IND
Ursuline					IND
Walsh					IND

1. Not sanctioned by the NCAA.
2. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA conducts a national championship tournament open to schools in Divisions I and II.
3. De facto Division I sport. The NCAA conducts a national championship tournament open to schools in all three divisions.
4. Collegiate Sprint Football League, the governing body for sprint football.

Championships

See also: Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

References

1. Alcox, Kevin (November 21, 2011). "G-MAC hires Tom Daeger as commissioner". Cedarville University. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
2. Jablonski, David (October 17, 2011). "Urbana, Cedarville join Great Midwest Athletic Conference". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
3. "NDC one of core four looking to build conference". Notre Dame College. June 8, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
4. "New Great Midwest Athletic Conference includes Ohio, Kentucky institutions". NCAA. October 18, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
5. "Trevecca Welcomed by Great Midwest Athletic Conference". Trevecca Nazarene University. November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
6. Boettcher, Jerome (February 20, 2012). "Trevecca Nazarene's next conference gains approval from NCAA". Nashville City Paper. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
7. "UVA-Wise Granted Provisional Membership to G-MAC Conference". UVA-Wise. April 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
8. Staff (May 2, 2012). "Georgetown College finds conference home as step to moving to NCAA Division II". KYForward. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
9. Lintner, Jonathan (July 14, 2014). "Georgetown's D II transition hits snag". The Courier-Journal.
10. "G-MAC News: Conference Adds Three New Members" (Press release). Great Midwest Athletic Conference. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
11. Rine, Shawn (August 20, 2012). "Cards, Toppers Set To Jump Into New League". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Wheeling, WV. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
12. "G-MAC News: Salem International will Join the G-MAC" (Press release). Great Midwest Athletic Conference. October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
13. G-MAC admits Cumberland for provisional membership. Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Retrieved August 7, 2013
14. "Davis & Elkins To Join MEC; UNC Pembroke To Be Associate Member" (Press release). Bridgeport, West Virginia: Mountain East Conference. August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
15. "Malone Eliminates Intercollegiate Football As Part of Restructuring". Malone University Athletics. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
16. "Ashland University To Join Great Midwest Athletic Conference In Summer Of 2021". Richland Source. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
17. "Great Midwest, Mountain East Form 2018 Conference Championship Event" (Press release). Great Midwest Athletic Conference. September 14, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2018.

External links

• Official website