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Old Dominion Athletic Conference

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Old Dominion Athletic Conference
FormerlyVirginia College Conference
AssociationNCAA
Founded1975
CommissionerBrad Bankston
Sports fielded
  • 25
    • men's: 12
    • women's: 13
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams15 full, 2 associates (14 full, 3 associates in 2025)
HeadquartersForest, Virginia, U.S.
RegionSouth Atlantic
Official websiteodaconline.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Of its 15 member schools, all but one are located in Virginia; the other full member is in North Carolina. The conference also has two associate members: one in Virginia and one in North Carolina.

History

[edit]
Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Map
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150km
100miles
Bridgewater
Gallaudet
Southern Virginia
Greensboro
Averett
Ferrum
Randolph
Hollins
Roanoke
Lynchburg
Sweet Briar
Virginia Wesleyan
Randolph–Macon
Washington and Lee
Hampden-Sydney
Guilford
Eastern Mennonite
Shenandoah
Location of ODAC members:
full member
departing member
associate member
future associate member
ODAC logo from 1976 to 2010

The conference was founded in May 1975 as the Virginia College Conference.[1] On January 1, 1976, the name was changed to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The 1976–77 season was the first in which championships were offered. In 1980, Maryville College joined and became the first member outside of Virginia. In 1981, Catholic University joined the conference after leaving Division I's ECAC South Conference. In 1982–83, women's sports were added, and Hollins College (now university), Randolph–Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College), and Sweet Briar College all joined. Mary Baldwin College (now university) joined in 1984. In 1988, Maryville left and was replaced by Virginia Wesleyan College (now university). In 1989 Catholic left the conference to become a charter member of the Capital Athletic Conference, returning in 1999 as a football-only member.[2] They were replaced by Guilford College two years later. The next school to leave the conference was Mary Baldwin, which left in 1992.

In 2010 the ODAC announced the addition of Shenandoah University as a full-time member, with its first full year of involvement during the 2012–13 academic year.[3]

The league office moved its physical location from Salem, to Forest in eastern Bedford County located just outside centrally located Lynchburg, Virginia. They also contracted Jim Ward Design for its new marks.[4]

On March 3, 2015, Sweet Briar College announced it was to close (cease operations) at the end of the 2015 summer session.[5] However, on June 20, 2015, the Virginia Attorney General announced a mediation agreement that kept Sweet Briar College open for the 2015–16 academic year.[6] Sweet Briar reactivated its sports teams in the 2015–16 season and remained a full member of the ODAC.

On September 29, 2015, it was announced that Catholic University would withdraw in 2017 as associate member to join the new football league at the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.[7]

In June 2017, it was announced that Ferrum College would become the 15th full-time member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference after it moved from the USA South Conference.

Southern Virginia University, which joined the ODAC as a football only member in 2019, announced in December of that year that it was leaving both the ODAC and Coast to Coast Athletic Conference to join the football-sponsoring USA South Athletic Conference as a full member.[8]

The conference has hosted Division III championships in football and men's basketball, both of which were held in Salem, Virginia. D-III softball has also used Salem as a championship host along with Division III women's lacrosse and volleyball on several occasions. Since 1993 - the conference and city have hosted over 80 Division III national championships.

It was announced on November 17, 2020, that Emory & Henry College would leave the ODAC and begin its transition to Division II in July 2021 and compete in the South Atlantic Conference in 2022.[9]

The most recent change in conference membership was announced on March 8, 2021, that Averett University would leave the USA South and join its former USA South counterpart Ferrum College in the ODAC as a full member in 2022.[10]

Chronological timeline

[edit]
  • 1975 – The ODAC was founded as the Virginia Athletic Conference. Charter members included Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite College (now Eastern Mennonite University), Emory & Henry College, Hampden–Sydney College, Lynchburg College (now the University of Lynchburg), Randolph–Macon College, Roanoke College and Washington and Lee University. However, it was renamed to become the Old Dominion Athletic Conference on 1 January 1976, effective beginning the 1976–77 academic year, their first year of competition.
  • 1980 – Maryville College joined the ODAC, effective in the 1980–81 academic year.
  • 1981 – Catholic University joined the ODAC, effective in the 1981–82 academic year.
  • 1982 – Women's sports were instated in the ODAC, also three women's sports institutions of Hollins College (now Hollins University), Randolph–Macon Woman's College (now Randolph College) and Sweet Briar College joined the ODAC, effective in the 1982–83 academic year.
  • 1984 – Mary Baldwin College (now Mary Baldwin University) joined the ODAC, effective in the 1984–85 academic year.
  • 1988 – Maryville left the ODAC, effective after the 1987–88 academic year.
  • 1989
    • Catholic (D.C.) left the ODAC, effective after the 1988–89 academic year.
    • Virginia Wesleyan College (now Virginia Wesleyan University) joined the ODAC, effective in the 1989–90 academic year.
  • 1991 – Guilford College joined the ODAC, effective in the 1991–92 academic year.
  • 1992 – Mary Baldwin left the ODAC, effective after the 1991–92 academic year.
  • 1999 – Catholic (D.C.) re-joined the ODAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 1999 fall season (1999–2000 academic year).
  • 2011 – Greensboro College and Notre Dame of Maryland University joined the ODAC as associate members for women's swimming, effective in the 2011–12 academic year.
  • 2012 – Shenandoah University joined the ODAC, effective in the 2012-13 academic year.
  • 2015 – Ferrum College joined the ODAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming, effective in the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2016 – Notre Dame (Md.) left the ODAC as an associate member for women's swimming by discontinuing the sport, effective after the 2015–16 academic year.
  • 2017 – Catholic (D.C.) left the ODAC as an associate member for football, effective after the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year).
  • 2018 – Ferrum upgraded to join the ODAC for all sports, effective in the 2018–19 academic year.
  • 2019 – Southern Virginia University joined the ODAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2021
  • 2022 – Southern Virginia and Greensboro joined as associate members in men's wrestling in the 2022–23 academic year.
  • 2023 – The ODAC announced that it would add men's volleyball for the 2025 season (2024–25 academic year), initially with seven full members. At the time of announcement, Eastern Mennonite, Randolph–Macon, and Roanoke had established programs; Averett and Virginia Wesleyan were preparing to play their first varsity seasons in 2024; and Lynchburg and Randolph had committed to starting varsity play in 2025.[11]
  • 2025

Member schools

[edit]

Current members

[edit]

The ODAC currently has 15 full members; all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Football?
Averett University Danville, Virginia 1859 Nonsectarian 2,719 Cougars 2022 Yes
Bridgewater College Bridgewater, Virginia 1880 Church of the Brethren 1,800 Eagles 1976 Yes
Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, Virginia 1917 Mennonite 998 Royals 1976 No
Ferrum College Ferrum, Virginia 1913 United Methodist 1,500 Panthers 2018[a] Yes
Guilford College Greensboro, North Carolina 1837 Quaker 2,682 Quakers 1991 Yes
Hampden–Sydney College[b] Hampden Sydney, Virginia 1775 Presbyterian 1,120 Tigers 1976 Yes
Hollins University[c] Roanoke, Virginia 1842 Nonsectarian 816 N/A[d] 1982 No
University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, Virginia 1903 Disciples of Christ 2,500 Hornets 1976 No
Randolph College[e] Lynchburg, Virginia 1891 United Methodist 522 WildCats 1982 No
Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia 1830 United Methodist 1,146 Yellow Jackets 1976 Yes
Roanoke College Salem, Virginia 1842 Lutheran ELCA 1,920 Maroons 1976 Yes (2025)
Shenandoah University Winchester, Virginia 1875 United Methodist 2,800 Hornets 2012 Yes
Sweet Briar College[c][f] Sweet Briar, Virginia 1901 Nonsectarian 530 Vixens 1982 No
Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach, Virginia 1961 United Methodist 1,446 Marlins 1989 No
Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia 1749 Nonsectarian 2,200 Generals 1976 Yes
Notes
  1. ^ Ferrum competed in the ODAC as an associate member for men's and women's swimming from 2015–16 to 2017–18.
  2. ^ This institution is a men's college, therefore it does not compete in women's sports.
  3. ^ a b This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  4. ^ Hollins University does not have an official athletic nickname.
  5. ^ This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (Randolph since 2007–08).
  6. ^ Non-basketball member.

Associate members

[edit]

The ODAC currently has two associate members; both are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference 		ODAC
sport(s)
Greensboro College Greensboro, North Carolina 1838 Private 1,250 Pride 2011–12 USA South Women's Swimming & Diving
2022–23 Men's wrestling
Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, Virginia 1867 LDS Church 1,106 Knights 2022–23 USA South Men's wrestling

Future associate members

[edit]
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Primary
conference 		ODAC
sport(s)
Gallaudet University Washington, D.C. 1864 Quasigovernmental 1,740 Bison 2025–26 United East (UEC) Football

Former members

[edit]

The ODAC has four former full members; all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. 1887 Catholic
(Pontifical) 		3,469 Cardinals 1981 1989[a] Landmark
Emory & Henry College Emory, Virginia 1836 United Methodist 1,000 Wasps 1976 2021 South Atlantic (SAC)[b]
Maryville College Maryville, Tennessee 1819 Presbyterian 1,176 Scots 1980 1988 C.C. of the South (CCS) (SAA in 2026)
Mary Baldwin College[c][d] Staunton, Virginia 1842 Presbyterian 2,542 Fighting Squirrels 1984 1992 USA South
Notes
  1. ^ Catholic (D.C.) would later re-join the ODAC as an associate member for football from 1999 to 2016 (1999–2000 to 2016–17 school years).
  2. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  3. ^ Mary Baldwin was formerly a women's college, therefore it did not offer men's sports during the school's tenure within the conference; but eventually became co-ed since the 2017–18 school year.
  4. ^ Currently known as Mary Baldwin University since 2016.

Former associate members

[edit]

The ODAC had three former associate members; all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left ODAC
sport(s) 		Current
primary
conference 		Current
conference
in former
ODAC sport(s)
The Catholic University of America[a] Washington, D.C. 1887 Catholic
(Pontifical) 		3,469 Cardinals 1999 2017 football Landmark
Notre Dame of Maryland University[b] Baltimore, Maryland 1873 Catholic
(SSND) 		4,878 Gators 2011 2016 women's swimming United East (UEC) (dropped sport)
Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, Virginia 1867 LDS Church 1,106 Knights 2019 2021 football USA South
Notes
  1. ^ Catholic (D.C.) was a full member of the ODAC from 1981–82 to 1988–89.
  2. ^ This institution was a women's college, therefore it did not offer men's sports during the school's affiliation within the conference; but eventually became co-ed since the 2023–24 school year.

Membership timeline

[edit]

This timeline is expressed with color bars.

Gallaudet UniversityAverett UniversitySouthern Virginia UniversityFerrum CollegeShenandoah UniversityNotre Dame of Maryland UniversityGreensboro CollegeGuilford CollegeVirginia Wesleyan CollegeMary Baldwin CollegeSweet Briar CollegeRandolph CollegeHollins UniversityCatholic University of AmericaMaryville CollegeWashington and Lee UniversityRoanoke CollegeRandolph–Macon CollegeLynchburg CollegeHampden–Sydney CollegeEmory and Henry CollegeEastern Mennonite UniversityBridgewater College

Purple denotes football playing member.
Green denotes non-football playing member.
Red denotes associate member (football-only).
Blue denotes associate member (non-football).

Sports

[edit]
See also: Old Dominion Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament

The conference sponsors championships in the following sports:

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball Green tickY
Basketball Green tickY Green tickY
Cross Country Green tickY Green tickY
Equestrian Green tickY
Field Hockey Green tickY
Football Green tickY
Golf Green tickY Green tickY
Lacrosse Green tickY Green tickY
Soccer Green tickY Green tickY
Softball Green tickY
Swimming Green tickY Green tickY
Tennis Green tickY Green tickY
Track and field (indoor) Green tickY Green tickY
Track and field (outdoor) Green tickY Green tickY
Volleyball [a] Green tickY
Wrestling Green tickY
  1. ^ The ODAC will begin sponsoring men's volleyball in 2024–25.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Virginia Colleges form Conference; 1976 Action Set". The Bee (Danville, Virginia). May 20, 1975. p. 8.
  2. ^ "D3 football Catholic returns to ODAC". D3Football.com. July 7, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  3. ^ "Shenandoah University to Join the ODAC". ODAC. September 29, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  4. ^ "ODAC Unveils New Set of Logos". ODAC. October 13, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  5. ^ Nick Anderson and Susan Svrluga (March 3, 2015). "Sweet Briar College to close because of financial challenges". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  6. ^ Karin Kapsidelis (June 20, 2015). "Agreement reached to keep Sweet Briar open - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News And Politics". Richmond.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "NEWMAC Adds Eighth Football Member Catholic University". NEWMAC (published April 8, 2015). September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "Southern Virginia Set to Join USA South" (Press release). Southern Virginia University Athletics. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  9. ^ "Emory & Henry College to Join South Atlantic Conference; Will Begin Competition in 2022-23" (Press release). South Atlantic Conference. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "Averett University to Join the ODAC as a Full-Time Member". ODAC. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "ODAC Approves Men's Volleyball as 26th Sponsored Sport" (Press release). Old Dominion Athletic Conference. October 6, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Gallaudet football to join the ODAC as an Associate Member in 2025" (Press release). Gallaudet University. July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
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