“I am excited for this next stage in the university’s athletic development,” said Dr. Daniel J. Martin, MVNU’s president. “The NCAA affiliation will afford the university a great opportunity to seek a new level of competition without compromising our commitment to developing scholar-athletes. I believe the combination of extending our regional presence and identity as an NCAA member as well as joining with other high-quality, Ohio, private higher education institutions in forming a new conference will best serve the university’s future. The university has been committed to building and sustaining strong athletic programs and believes our projected NCAA membership will enhance our capacity to achieve even greater success in the days ahead.”

MVNU is currently a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in the American Mideast Conference, which is comprised of 16 NAIA-member schools from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The Cougars are also members of the National Christian College Athletic Association.

“It has become evident that a transition to NCAA Division II is in the best interest of our university at this time,” said MVNU athletic director Scott Flemming. “We have had a tremendous relationship with the NAIA and we are grateful for the opportunities they have afforded us. Their postseason events are second to none, and their Champions of Character program has made a lasting effect on the institutions that have been a part of the NAIA.”

“We are now moving forward to the next chapter in Cougar athletics,” Flemming continued. “This transition allows us to align ourselves with other schools with a similar mission and philosophy. It is a process that we will work through over the next three years. We will all have to educate ourselves in regards to the changes in policies and rules. The NCAA is an outstanding organization and we will look forward to being a part of it.”

There are currently five schools in Ohio who are active NCAA Division II members: Ashland University, Central State University, the University of Findlay, Lake Erie College, and Tiffin University. Seven other schools, including MVNU, are in the process of pursuing membership or have announced that they have applied. Applications must be submitted by June 1 to the NCAA in order for MVNU to begin this process. Candidacy Year 1 and Candidacy Year 2 would take place in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively in which MVNU would remain an active NAIA member. Then, a Provisional Year in 2011-2012 would follow that would require MVNU to drop its NAIA membership and be in full compliance of the NCAA regulations. MVNU would then become a full NCAA member in its fourth year in 2012-2013.

The current school year has been one of the most successful in the 40-year history of Cougar sports. The MVNU men’s soccer team advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Final Four in the program’s first-ever trip to nationals. The women’s soccer team and women’s volleyball teams both advanced to the semifinals of the AMC Tournament. Even the MVNU cross country program in just its third year back after a 27-year absence sent junior Mark Porostosky to the NAIA National Meet this year.

During the recently completed basketball season, the MVNU men’s basketball team made its fourth straight appearance in the NAIA Division II National Tournament and the program’s eighth trip to the NAIA National Tournament overall. The women’s basketball team just missed going to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the first time ever when they fell in the AMC Tournament championship game on a layup just ahead of the buzzer. The Lady Cougars, however, did go on to claim the National Christian College Athletic Association national title – their third – and finished with a 27-9 overall record.

The MVNU spring sports teams are no slouches either as the Cougar baseball program boasts six NCCAA national titles, two trips to the NAIA World Series, and 13 players drafted by Major League Baseball teams including Tim Belcher, the No. 1 pick overall in 1983. The MVNU softball team advanced to the NAIA Region IX Tournament championship game last year only to fall in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the MVNU men’s golf team finished fourth at the AMC/NAIA Region IX Tournament.

With a successful 40-year history as a strong foundation, the MVNU athletic department will look forward to striding into the future and the transition to NCAA Division II.