American Mideast Conference

The American Mideast Conference is a non-football NAIA Division I conference which was created in 1949. Ashland, Bluffton, Cedarville, Defiance, and Findlay made up the original membership; all of these schools are now in NCAA Division II or III. Over the years, the conference was somewhat a revolving door, with schools moving "up" in stature and leaving the conference, while others enhanced their own profile by joining. Throughout this period, the conference was a component of NAIA District 22, and its champion automatically received a berth in the District 22 playoffs. After the abolition of the district playoffs and a move to a conference-centric model, the league received an automatic bid to the NAIA Division I Tournament.

In 1998, the conference shed its Ohio identity and became a more widespread entity, adopting the American Midwest Conference name and expanding its membership into Pennsylvania, and then into New York, eventually becoming the largest conference in the NAIA. However, pressures on the conference mounted; geographically, the Pennsylvania and New York members especially were isolated from other NAIA programs, and had a difficult time scheduling non-conference competition. At the same time, travel within the conference was becoming burdensome on every school; slowly, schools began seeking more geographically sane affiliations, all of which entailed moving to NCAA Division II or III. The conference dwindled from over 20 members to only three, and finally closed up shop following the 2012 season.

Data

Began play:	1949-50
Disbanded:	2011-2012
Affiliation:	NAIA I
Formerly known as:	Mid-Ohio League (1949-62)
	Mid-Ohio Conference (1962-1998)

Historical Data

American Mideast Conference Women's Basketball

External Links

American Mideast Conference website (now a dead link)