Old Dominion Athletic Conference

Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Name	Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Established	1975
Association	NCAA
Division	NCAA Division III
Members	13
Sports	24
Headquarters	Salisbury, North Carolina
Commissioner	Brad Bankston
Region	Southern United States

Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference operating within NCAA Division III, primarily composed of private liberal arts colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Founded in 1975, it sponsors championships in 24 sports and is renowned for its emphasis on the scholar-athlete model. The conference office is located in Salisbury, North Carolina.

History

The conference was established in 1975, evolving from the earlier Virginia College Conference. Its founding members included institutions such as Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Emory & Henry College, and Lynchburg College. The league initially focused on schools within the Commonwealth of Virginia but has since expanded its geographic footprint. Key milestones include the addition of Washington and Lee University in 1976 and the merger with the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference in 1989, which significantly increased sponsorship of women's sports. The conference has been a steadfast member of NCAA Division III since the NCAA's divisional restructuring.

Member institutions

The conference currently comprises 13 full member institutions. The full members include Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, Ferrum College, Guilford College, Hampden–Sydney College, Hollins University, University of Lynchburg, Randolph College, Randolph–Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Washington and Lee University, and Sweet Briar College. Averett University and Southern Virginia University are affiliate members for specific sports like football and wrestling. Several historical members, such as Emory & Henry College, have departed for other conferences like the South Atlantic Conference.

Sports sponsored

The conference sponsors championship competition in 24 sports, 12 for men and 12 for women. Men's sponsored sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. Women's sponsored sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and equestrian. Not all member institutions sponsor every sport; for example, Hollins University and Sweet Briar College do not field football teams.

Conference facilities

Member institutions feature a variety of historic and modern athletic venues. Notable facilities include Washington and Lee University's Wilson Field for football and lacrosse, the University of Lynchburg's Shellenberger Field for soccer, and Roanoke College's Cregger Center for basketball and volleyball. Bridgewater College hosts events at the Jopson Athletic Complex, while Randolph–Macon College utilizes Day Field for football. Shenandoah University competes at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center, and Hampden–Sydney College plays basketball in Kirby Field House.

Championships

The conference awards team championships in all sponsored sports and recognizes individual champions in sports like track and field, swimming, and wrestling. The University of Lynchburg has been particularly successful in men's soccer and baseball, while Washington and Lee University has dominated in women's tennis and swimming. The ODAC tournament in men's basketball, held annually at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia, is a marquee event. Teams winning conference championships earn automatic qualification to NCAA Division III national championship tournaments.

Notable alumni

Many distinguished athletes and professionals began their careers in the conference. Notable alumni include Muggsy Bogues (Wake Forest University transfer from UDC), who played for the Charlotte Hornets after being spotted at a tournament involving Shenandoah University. Brad Lambert, former head coach of the Charlotte 49ers football team, is an alumnus of Bridgewater College. John K. Delaney, former U.S. Representative from Maryland, played basketball at Guilford College. Leland Melvin, a former NASA astronaut and National Football League player with the Detroit Lions, attended University of Lynchburg.

Category:NCAA Division III conferences Category:Athletic conferences in the United States Category:Sports in Virginia Category:1975 establishments in Virginia