About the Conference

Teresa Clark, who coached the Cedarville University women's volleyball team from 1996 through 2005, was presented 2006 NAIA Coach of Character Award out of more than 4,000 coaches in the association.

The American Mideast Conference, formerly known as the Mid-Ohio Conference, has completed 57 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 19 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 in 2002.

The latest expansion included five schools who opened AMC play in fall, 2001. The list features three New York schools - Daemen College, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Houghton College. Also joining were two institutions who compete in women's athletics only - Carlow College and Ursuline College.

Saint Vincent withdrew from the league following the 2005-06 season. The latest announcement has Myers University in Cleveland, Ohio scheduled to begin AMC competition beginning in the fall, 2007. On the otherhand, Geneva College, Seton Hill University, and Tiffin University will all withdraw after the 2006-07 campaign.

Laura Kot

2005-06 Conference Highlights

The American Mideast Conference is not only the largest NAIA conference in the country, but is recognized as one of the association's top conferences both on the field of competition and in the classroom. Last season, member schools kept up the league's tradition of excellence with numerous athletes receiving All-America and Scholar-Athlete honors.

AMC schools produced a total of 55 NAIA All-American performances - 31 in the women's division and 24 in the men's. A total of 235 AMC student-athletes, 150 women and 85 men, were named to their respective NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete teams. The program recognizes outstanding junior and senior athletes who carry a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The AMC also had the top NAIA scholar-team in three sports. The trio included Seton Hill in women's tennis, Roberts Wesleyan in men's tennis, and Ohio Dominican in men's golf.

Tiffin University was the AMC All-Sports Award champion in the women’s division while Malone College won the men’s. Cedarville University was the runner-up in both divisions.

Individually, Teresa Clark, who coached the Cedarville University women's volleyball team from 1996 through 2005, was presented the 2006 NAIA Coach of Character Award. She was selected out of more than 4,000 NAIA coaches nationwide to receive the association's highest honor directed toward a coach.

Kristi Beougher

Mount Vernon Nazarene softball player Laura Kot was the recipient of the A.O. Duer Award which is presented annually to a junior men’s and women’s student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in character, playing ability and scholarship. Additionally, Cedarville's Kristi Beougher was presented the Emil S. Liston Award which is given annually by Daktronics recognizing a male and female junior basketball player based on scholarship, character and playing ability.

J. Albert Turner Award
The J. Albert Turner Award is a longstanding tradition of the conference. It is presented to the Player of the Year in each of the AMC's 15 championship sports.

The award is given in the honor of the late J. Albert Turner, who served many years as Commissioner of the Mid-Ohio Conference. He provided much leadership and financial assistance to the league, especially in its formative years, and used his expertise as a longtime football and basketball official in serving as the MOC's Supervisor of Officials. A 1934 graduate of Cedarville College, Mr. Turner was well respected in the City of Springfield, Ohio as a junior high school teacher and coach for 30 years.