The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) was formed in 1902 and is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States. Its current commissioner is Sarah Otey. 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 (NACDA). It is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Through the years, 31 schools have been members of the OAC. The enrollments of the current ten member institutions range from around 1,000 to 4,500. Member teams are located in Ohio.
Heidelberg University is a private university in Tiffin, Ohio. Founded in 1850, it was known as Heidelberg College until 1889 and from 1926 to 2009. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.
The Akron Zips men's basketball team represents the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference East division. The Zips are currently coached by John Groce. Prior to becoming members of the MAC in 1992, the Zips were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and the Mid-Continent Conference. They had played in NCAA Division II into the mid 1970s, where they reached the National Championship Game twice, both of which they lost.
The Mount Union Purple Raiders football program represents the University of Mount Union in college football at the NCAA Division III level as members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Mount Union have played their home games at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance, Ohio since 1913, which makes it the oldest college football stadium in Ohio. The Purple Raiders have claimed 13 NCAA Division III Football Championship and 34 OAC titles and have 12 undefeated seasons.
DeLane Fitzgerald is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Southern Utah University, a position he has held since 2022. Fitzgerald served as the head football coach at Frostburg State University from 2014 to 2021 and at Southern Virginia University from 2009 to 2013. He played college football at James Madison University from 1997 to 1999.
The Case Western Reserve Spartans are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams of Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Case Western Reserve University competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartans compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA), except in football where the team competes as an associate member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The university offers 19 sports—10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.
The Bridgewater State Bears are composed of 22 varsity teams representing Bridgewater State University in intercollegiate athletics. All teams compete at the NCAA Division III level and all teams compete in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), except for field hockey, tennis and swimming & diving which plays in the Little East Conference (LEC).
Greg Debeljak is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at Case Western Reserve University, a position he has held since 2004. Debeljak and his Spartans compete at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference and University Athletic Association.
The 2017 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the University of Mount Union in the 2017 NCAA Division III football season. The Purple Raiders, led by fifth-year head coach Vince Kehres, were members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and played their home games at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance, Ohio.
The 2018 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team will represent the University of Mount Union in the 2018 NCAA Division III football season. The Purple Raiders, will be led by sixth-year head coach Vince Kehres, are members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and will play their home games at Mount Union Stadium in Alliance, Ohio.
The 2015 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 2015 NCAA Division III football season. In their third year under head coach Vince Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 15–0 record, won the OAC championship, advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, and defeated St. Thomas (MN), 49–35, in the national championship game.
The 2012 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 2012 NCAA Division III football season. In their 27th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 15–0 record, won the OAC championship, advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs, and defeated St. Thomas (MN), 28–10, in the national championship game.
The 1998 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 1998 NCAA Division III football season. In their 13th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 14–0 record, won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 523 to 227. They qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and advanced to the national championship team, defeating Rowan, 44–24.
The 1997 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 1997 NCAA Division III football season. In their 12th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 14–0 record, won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 752 to 112. They qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and advanced to the national championship game, defeating Lycoming.
The 1996 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 1996 NCAA Division III football season. In their 11th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 14–0 record, won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 669 to 184. They qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and advanced to the national championship team, where they defeated Rowan, 5-–24.
The 2001 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mount Union in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 2001 NCAA Division III football season. In their 16th year under head coach Larry Kehres, the Purple Raiders compiled a perfect 14–0 record, won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 582 to 155. They qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs and advanced to the national championship team, defeating the Bridgewater Eagles, 30–27.
The 1946 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the 21 member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1946 college football season.
The 2022 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the ten member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), sometimes referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 2022 NCAA Division III football season.
The 1943 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1943 college football season.
The Western Connecticut Wolves football team represents Western Connecticut State University in college football at the NCAA Division III level. The Wolves are members of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), fielding its team in the MASCAC since 2013. The Wolves play their home games at the WAC in Danbury, Connecticut. The team was previously known as the Western Connecticut Colonials and Western Connecticut Indians.
