The American Mideast Conference, formerly known as the Mid-Ohio Conference, has completed 52 years of providing quality athletic competition for academically qualified student-athletes. The AMC, which is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, believes that collegiate athletics is an integral part of the total educational program of each of its member schools.
The presidents of the 20 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 15 sports. Women's titles are awarded in cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, golf, tennis, and track & field with men's champions to be crowned in cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and track & field. AMC student-athletes continue to make their mark on the NAIA national level each year by virtue of All-Americans, Scholar-Athletes, team rankings, or statistical leaders.
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 multi-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.
Cedarville College, Malone College, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, Ohio Dominican College, the University of Rio Grande, Shawnee State University, Tiffin University, Urbana University, and Walsh University were joined by three new members for the 1998-99 school year. That trio included Geneva College and Saint Vincent College, both located in Pennsylvania, and Notre Dame College.
Wilberforce University and two more Pennsylvania schools, Point Park College and Seton Hill College, began full conference play in the fall of 1999. Central State University began regular season AMC competition in the fall of 2000, but then withdrew from the league following the 2001-02 school year.
The latest expansion includes five schools who opened AMC play in fall, 2001. The list includes three New York schools - Daemen College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Houghton College. Also joining are two institutions who compete in women's athletics only - Carlow College and Ursuline College.
