| American Mideast Conference Officials | ||
| Commissioner: | Dr. James Houdeshell, University of Findlay | |
| Information Director: | Mark Womack, Cedarville University | |
The American Mideast Conference, formerly known as the Mid-Ohio Conference, has been providing quality athletic competition for academically qualified student-athletes since the league's founding in 1949. The AMC, which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), believes that collegiate athletics is an integral part of the total educational program of each of its member schools.
The presidents of the 21 member institutions have taken an active part in the operation of the conference. Their move from an advisory to governance role has helped place a renewed dedication to excellence in academics and athletics.
The AMC features championships in 14 sports, seven for men and seven for women. AMC student-athletes and teams continue to make their mark on the NAIA national level by virtue of All-Americans, All-America Scholar-Athletes, team rankings, or statistical leaders.
The AMC was founded in 1949 when five colleges -- Ashland, Bluffton, Cedarville, Defiance, and Findlay -- formed the Mid-Ohio League. Ohio Northern joined the MOL during the 1950-1951 school year, and while Cedarville dropped football in 1952, it left five football schools in the league and six in basketball and most other sports. Wilmington College became the league's seventh member in 1955.
Prior to the 1962-1963 school year, Findlay and Ohio Northern withdrew. After those two colleges left, the Mid-Ohio Conference was formed with five member institutions -- Ashland, Bluffton, Cedarville, Defiance, and Wilmington. Malone became the MOC's sixth member in 1965. After Ashland withdrew in 1966, Findlay returned to the conference in 1967.
A major transition occurred in 1971 when Bluffton, Defiance, Findlay, and Wilmington all left, but Urbana, Rio Grande, and Ohio Dominican all joined to form a five-team league with Cedarville and Malone.
Tiffin entered the MOC in 1973, Mt. Vernon Nazarene came in in 1975, and Walsh joined in 1976. The eight schools stayed together until Malone departed following the 1988-1989 school year. However, Shawnee State gave the MOC its eighth member again in 1991. The league expanded to its largest membership ever of ten schools when Findlay and Malone rejoined the MOC for the 1993-1994 school year. Findlay withdrew from the league once again following the 1996-1997 season.
The biggest announcement in the history of the league occurred on March 12, 1998. The conference presidents announced the name would be changed to the American Mideast Conference and the league would embark on a two-phase expansion that would make it the largest NAIA-affiliated conference in the country. Of equal significance was the fact that for the first time ever league membership would extend beyond the borders of Ohio. Geneva College and Saint Vincent College, both located in Pennsylvania, along with Notre Dame College of Ohio, joined the conference beginning with the 1998-1999 school year. Wilberforce University, Central State University, and two more Pennsylvania schools, Point Park College and Seton Hill University, began full conference play in the fall of 1999.
In the summer of 2000, five more schools from three states joined the AMC to bring the membership total to 21. Ursuline College (Ohio), Carlow College (Pennsylvania), and three New York schools - Daemen College, Houghton College, and Roberts Wesleyan College - all begin regular-season conference competition in the 2001-2002 school year. Central State dropped out of the AMC prior to the 2002-2003 school year
The AMC recognizes women's championships in cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis, softball, and outdoor track and field. Men's titles are awarded in cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field.