Presidents' Athletic Conference

Presidents' Athletic Conference
(PAC)
Established 1955
Association NCAA
Division Division III
Members 10
Sports fielded 19 (men's: 10; women's: 9)
Region Appalachia
Headquarters Wexford, Pennsylvania
Commissioner Joe Onderko (since 2006)
Website pacathletics.org
Locations

The Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Of its 10 member schools, all private, liberal arts institutions of higher learning, eight are located in Western Pennsylvania. One member is in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, an area adjoining and historically tied to Western Pennsylvania, and the other is on the Kentucky side of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.

History

The PAC was founded in 1955 by the presidents of Western Reserve University (1955–1967), Case Institute of Technology (1955–1970), John Carroll University (1955–1988) and Wayne State University (1955–1967).[1] Unlike other conferences at that time, the PAC was designed to be controlled by the presidents of the institutions rather than the athletic directors.[1] Member institutions were to admit athletes on the same academic standards as other students and award scholarships only based on academic achievement or need.[1]

By 1958, the PAC expanded east to include Allegheny College (1958–1984), Bethany College (1958–present), Thiel College (1958–present) and Washington & Jefferson College (1958–present).[1] Eventually, many other member institutions joined the PAC, like Chatham University (2007–present), Geneva College (2007–present), Grove City College (1958–present), Saint Vincent College (2006–present), Thomas More College (2005–present), Waynesburg University (1990–present) and Westminster College (2000–present).[2]

Some former PAC member institutions include Adelbert College (1967–1970), Alfred University (1996–1998), Carnegie Mellon University (1968–1989), Eastern Michigan University (1962–1967) and Hiram College (1972–1989).[2]

The headquarters is located in Wexford, Pennsylvania.[3]

Membership evolution[2]

Member schools

Current members

Institution Location Nickname Founded Enrollment Joined Colors
Bethany College Bethany, West Virginia Bison 1840 1,030 1958          
Chatham University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cougars 1869 2,300 2007          
Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Golden Tornadoes 1848 1,791 2007          
Grove City College Grove City, Pennsylvania Wolverines 1876 2,500 1984          
Saint Vincent College Latrobe, Pennsylvania Bearcats 1846 1,652 2006          
Thiel College Greenville, Pennsylvania Tomcats 1866 1,066 1958          
Thomas More College Crestview Hills, Kentucky Saints 1921 1,900 2005          
Washington & Jefferson College Washington, Pennsylvania Presidents 1781 1,519 1958          
Waynesburg University Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Yellow Jackets 1849 1,500 1990          
Westminster College New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Titans 1852 1,482 2000          
Note

- Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports

Associate members

The PAC currently has two associate members, both of which play only football in the league. The 2014 season was the first for both schools.[4]

Institution Location Nickname Founded Enrollment Joined Primary Conference PAC Sport
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Tartans 1900 6,362 2014-15 UAA football
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Spartans 1967 4,661 2014-15 UAA football

Former members

Institution Location Nickname Founded Enrollment Joined Left Current Conference
Allegheny College Meadville, Pennsylvania Gators 1815 2,100 1958 1984 NCAC
Alfred University Alfred, New York Saxons 1836 2,300 1996 1998 Empire 8
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Tartans 1900 6,170 1968 1989 UAA
Case Institute of Technology Cleveland, Ohio Rough Riders 1880 n/a 1955 1970 n/a[fm 1]
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio Spartans 1967 4,661 1970 1984 UAA
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan Eagles 1849 22,974 1962 1967 MAC
(NCAA Division I)
Hiram College Hiram, Ohio Terriers 1850 1,271 1972 1989 NCAC
John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio Blue Streaks 1886 3,726 1955 1988 OAC
Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan Tartars[fm 2] 1868 32,564 1955 1967 GLIAC
(NCAA Division II)
Western Reserve University[fm 3] Cleveland, Ohio Red Cats 1826 n/a 1955 1970 n/a[fm 1]
Notes
  1. 1 2 Case Tech and Western Reserve University merged in 1967.
  2. Wayne State adopted its current nickname of Warriors in 1999.
  3. Western Reserve was known as Adelbert College during the Case Western Reserve University merger with Case Tech from 1967 to 1970.

Membership timeline

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Sports

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Football
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Golf
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Soccer
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Softball
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Swimming & Diving
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Tennis
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Track and field
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Volleyball
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Wrestling
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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 E. Lee, North (1991). "Chapter 14: The Frustrating Fifties". Battling the Indians, Panthers, and Nittany Lions: The Story of Washington & Jefferson College's First Century of Football, 1890-1990. Daring Books. pp. 161–168. ISBN 978-1-878302-03-8. OCLC 24174022.
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.pacathletics.org/links/recordbook.pdf
  3. http://www.pacathletics.org/links/pac_members.html
  4. http://www.pacathletics.org/CMU-CWRUmemberrelease.pdf

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