Principals Athletic Conference

The Principals Athletic Conference is an Ohio High School Athletic Association athletic league that began competition in 1989 and is made up of members from Stark, Summit and Wayne Counties in Ohio.

Current members

All-time members of the Principals Athletic Conference (PAC-8)

School	Nickname	Location	Colors	Tenure	Notes
Canton South	Wildcats	Canton	Red and Gray	2022-
Fairless	Falcons	Navarre	Navy, Silver	1989-
Manchester	Panthers	New Franklin	Red, Black	1989-
Northwest	Indians	Lawrence	Red, Gray, White	2017-
Orrville	Red Riders	Orrville	Red, Black, White	2016-
Triway	Titans	Wooster	Purple, White	2005-
Tuslaw	Mustangs	Massillon	Blue, Red, White	1989-

Former members

School	Nickname	Location	Colors	Tenure	Notes
Coventry	Comets	Coventry	Blue, Gold	1989-97; 2001-2005;	left for Portage Trail Conference. rejoining PAC in 2026
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy	Royals	Cuyahoga Falls	Blue, White	2001-2024	left for North Coast Conference
East Canton	Hornets	East Canton	Blue, Gold	1989-2005	left for Portage Trail Conference
Indian Valley	Braves	Gnadenhutten	Red, Blue	1992-95; 2008-2016	left for Inter-Valley Conference
Sandy Valley	Cardinals	Magnolia	Red, Gray	1989-2001	Left for Inter-Valley Conference
Timken	Trojans	Canton	Blue, Gold	2005-2015	School closed, consolidated with Canton McKinley
Tuscarawas Valley	Trojans	Zoarville	Red, Black	1989-2016	left for Inter-Valley Conference
Loudonville	Redbirds	Loudonville	Red and Gray	2017-2021	Football only member, joined Knox Morrow Athletic Conference in 2022

History

The Principals Athletic Conference (Also known as PAC or PAC-7) began conference play in 1989, with founding members Fairless, Manchester, Tuslaw, East Canton, Sandy Valley, and Tuscarawas Valley.

In 1992, the league expanded to 7 teams following the addition of Indian Valley.

Indian Valley left the league in 1995 for the East Central Ohio Conference, along with Coventry, who left in favor of becoming an independent school.

The league once again expanded into 8 teams with Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and. Coventry, who rejoined after 4 years of being an independent school in 2001. Sandy Valley left the same year for the Inter-Valley Conference

In 2005, East Canton left the league in favor of the former Portage Trail Conference along with Coventry who would be joining the Metro Athletic Conference. The same year saw the additions of Timken and Triway.

In 2008, Indian Valley would rejoin the league after being in the ECOC for over 10+ years.

In 2013, Northwest High School and Orrville High School had applied for membership in the PAC, but both were later turned down after a league discussion. ^[1]

In 2015, Indian Valley and Tuscarawas Valley both announced their intention of joining the Inter-Valley Conference beginning the 2016-17 school year. ^[2] The same year, Timken would shutter their school following the consolidation plan between them and Canton McKinley High School. ^[3]

In 2015, 4 schools applied to join the PAC, with 2 of 4 being accepted as full-time members. ^[4] Orrville who would begin conference play in the PAC starting the 2016-17 school year, and Northwest who would begin conference play starting the 2017-18 school year. ^[5] Loudonville was accepted into the league as a football only member ^[6]

In 2020, Canton South, who applied to join the PAC but was denied in 2015, accepted their invitation to join the league effective the 2022-23 school year.

In 2022, Loudonville stepped down as a football only member and joined the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference. ^[7]

In 2023, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy announced their departure from the PAC to form the North Coast Conference in 2024 along with Elyria Catholic, Holy Name, Padua, Beaumont, Lake Catholic, and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. ^[8]

In 2024, Coventry confirmed that they had accepted an offer to leave the Metro Athletic Conference and rejoin the PAC and are set to rejoin the conference in 2026. Coventry was a founding member of the PAC and was a member from 1989-95 and 2001-05. ^[9]

See also

• Ohio High School Athletic Conferences

References

1. Harpster, David (January 30, 2013). "Northwest, Orrville apply for membership in the Principals Athletic Conference". IndeOnline.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
2. Metzger, Roger (February 21, 2015). "Five high schools to join Inter-Valley Conference". Times Reporter. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
3. "School Board Unanimously Approves "One Community, One School"". Canton City School District. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
4. Dorksen, Aaron (March 4, 2015). "Orrville, Northwest Extended Invitations to Join Principals Athletic Conference". Wooster Daily Record . Retrieved March 7, 2015.
5. King, Steve (March 17, 2015). "Steve King: Prinicpals [sic] Athletic Conference plans its future". The Suburbanite. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
6. Dorksen, Aaron (April 18, 2015). "Loudonville to join PAC for football only in 2017-18". The Daily Record. Archived from the original on April 22, 2015.
7. Popovich, Mike (July 2, 2020). "Canton South to Join Principals Athletic Conference in 2022". Canton Repository . Retrieved August 10, 2020.
8. Shapiro, Todd (May 31, 2023). "Elyria Catholic finds home in new conference (UPDATED)". The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
9. Leonard, Michael (July 18, 2024). "Coventry High School to join Principals Athletic Conference. When will it exit the MAC?". Akron Beacon Journal . Retrieved January 7, 2025.