About the MAC
Providing leadership in education and in diversity, the Mid-American Conference moves into its 61st year of service to the student-athlete.
Since its inception in 1946, the Mid-American Conference has progressively grown and developed into one of the most aggressive Division I conferences in the country. Under the guidance of Commissioner Rick Chryst, the seventh commissioner in the history of the league, the MAC has responded to the ever changing landscape of membership issues and member standards in the fast-paced environment of collegiate athletics.
In May of 2007, three MAC institutions ? the University of Akron, Ball State University and the University at Buffalo ? were among the 10 NCAA Division I-A athletic departments recognized for excellence in the area of diversity. The achievements were presented by the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M University.
In addition, Akron and Kent State were noted for Diversity Strategy; Akron and Toledo for African American Graduation: Female Student-Athletes; Ball State and Kent State for African American Graduation: Male Student-Athletes; Buffalo for Employee Diversity: Sex; and Ball State and Buffalo for Employee Diversity: Values and Attitudes.
In a report issued in September of 2006, the MAC had the highest percentage of public institutions with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 70 percent or above (8 of 12 schools) and a GSR of 50 percent or more (12 of 12 schools). In football GSR, the MAC led all other I-A leagues as eight of the 12 schools topped the 70 percent or better rate. The MAC’s total of eight at 70 percent-plus accounted for 32 percent of the 25 public institutions nationwide that posted 70 percent or better.
MAC football produced four bowl teams in 2006, the second most in league history in a single season. The 2007 gridiron season welcomes the addition of Temple University to the East Division.
MAC women’s basketball produced two firsts in 2007. Bowling Green became the first MAC women’s basketball team to advance as far as the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, and Northern Illinois’ guard Stephanie Raymond became the first-ever MAC player in the WNBA when she played for the Chicago Sky after being a second round draft selection.
Recent past MAC noteworthy accomplishments include that of former Kent State President Dr. Carol Cartwright. She chaired the Executive Committee of the NCAA Board of Directors from 2002-2005 during a legislative process that keyed legislation relative to I-A status.
In addition, in an NCAA report released in October 2004, the MAC led the 11 I-A conferences in long-term graduation rates for football student-athletes at public institutions.
The conference now has national leadership positions on the following NCAA committees: - Ad Hoc Committee to Review Issues Related to Gender and Equity (Carol Cartwright, CEO, Kent State); Division I Board of Directors (Sidney Ribeau, CEO, Bowling Green); Championships/Competition Cabinet (Brad Bates, Miami); Committee on Academic Performance (Brad Bates); Committee on Athletics Certification (Shonna Brown, MAC); General Counsel (Eileen K. Jennings, Central Michigan); Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet (Derrick Gragg, Eastern Michigan and Warde Manual, Buffalo); Infractions Appeals (Susan Lipnickey, Miami); Legislative Review and Interpretations (James Klein, Toledo); Management Council (Dell Robinson, MAC); Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (Stephanie Swiger, Bowling Green); Executive Committee (Sidney Ribeau, CEO, Bowling Green); Playing Rules Oversight Panel (Rick Chryst, MAC); Walter Byers Scholarship Committee (Lee Meserve, Bowling Green);
Furthermore, the MAC has representation on the Division I Sport Committees and related governing groups: - Baseball (David Heeke, Central Michigan); Football Issues (Kirby Hocutt, Ohio); Men’s Basketball (Laing Kennedy, Kent State); Men’s Basketball Issues (Charlie Coles, Miami); Men’s Soccer (Mary Lu Gribschaw, Akron); Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (Rich Ceronie, Miami); Women’s Basketball (Jim Phillips, Northern Illinois); Men’s Basketball Rules (Reggie Witherspoon, Buffalo); Gymnastics (Jerry Reighard, Central Michigan); Softball Rules (Dee Abrahamson, Northern Illinois).
From Super Bowl quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (Miami University), British Open winner Ben Curtis (Kent State University), World Series winning manager Bob Brenly (Ohio University) and Olympic bobsled team member Brock Kreitzburg (University of Toledo), the Mid-American Conference continues to excel in producing leaders in the world of athletics.
MAC Milestones
In March of 2006, Chryst and Cleveland Cavaliers President Len Komoroski announced that the Mid-American Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments would remain in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena through 2011. The MAC also announced a format change for both tournaments, bringing all 12 men’s and women’s teams to Cleveland beginning in 2007. The MAC also co-hosted the 2007 Women’s Final Four at Quicken Loans Arena, after successfully hosting the 2006 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional at Quicken Loans Arena.
In 2006, Chryst also announced a new, five-year relationship with International Sports Properties (ISP), Inc. to oversee and coordinate the league's marketing and sponsorship rights. ISP, which currently manages 29 college properties nationwide, is considered the leader in the collegiate sports marketing industry. The MAC will be ISP’s first conference property.
ISP will be responsible for managing, and ultimately growing, the MAC’s stable of corporate partners, which currently stands at nine - FirstEnergy, Huntington Bank, Kraft, Marathon Oil, GMAC Financial Services, Aeropostale, Gatorade, Automart.com and Sirius satellite radio. FirstEnergy has been the title sponsor for the men’s basketball tournament since its first year in Cleveland in March 2000, Kraft has been associated with the women’s basketball tournament since 2001, and Marathon Oil will be sponsoring the football championship for the third time in 2007.
History of the MAC
Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a 15- year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has established historic measurements in both football and men’s and women’s basketball since its move to Northeast Ohio.
The Mid-American Conference was founded as a five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Columbus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. The Mid-American Conference has 12 full-time
schools and a 13th, Temple, for football only. Comprising the East Division is the University of Akron (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State University (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State University (1951), Miami University (1947) and Ohio University (1946). The West Division members are Ball State University (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois University (1975-86, 1997), University of Toledo (1950) and Western Michigan University (1947).
In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competitive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total of 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the conference’s structure in 1980.
For men, championships (11) are sponsored in football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis.
For women, championships (12) are sponsored in basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track and tennis.
