About The NCAC

Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference is dedicated to fostering a complementary relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the pursuit of academic excellence. Consisting of nine academically selective colleges and universities in Ohio and Indiana — Denison University, DePauw University, John Carroll University, Kenyon College, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Wabash College, Wittenberg University, and The College of Wooster, along with affiliate members Allegheny College, Transylvania University, Washington & Jefferson College and Washington University in St. Louis — the NCAC believes that high-level athletic programs need not be sacrificed in order to meet rigid academic standards.

Significantly, eight NCAC institutions, and three affiliate members, have been granted chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, the preeminent honor society for colleges and universities. Only 293 of the more than 3,000 four-year institutions in the United States have been so honored.

A member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III, the NCAC features championship competition in 23 sports — 11 for men and 12 for women. The 12 women's sports are among the most offered by any Division III conference, and the equality in number and emphasis between men's and women's athletics is just one of the elements that sets the North Coast apart.

The goals of the conference express the best aspirations of American amateur athletics. The NCAC brings together a group of institutions that share a common allegiance to academic quality and to the conduct of athletics so as to support the educational purpose. Intercollegiate athletics can and should complement academic life, rather than compete with it, and sports should enhance the experience of students during their college years. This type of academic and athletic commitment has been led by the nine school presidents, who have taken an active role in the governance of the conference.

All nine NCAC member institutions were represented in the 2025-26 NCAA postseason, with 29 full teams from 17 sports and individuals competing in 12 sports — covering all 23 conference-sponsored sports.

NCAC institutions enjoyed one of the conference's most successful national postseason campaigns in recent history during the 2025-26 academic year, highlighted by three NCAA Division III national championships, multiple Final Four appearances and unprecedented NCAA Tournament representation across several sports.

In football, John Carroll and DePauw earned NCAA Tournament berths, marking the fourth time, and the first since 2014, that the NCAC was represented by multiple teams. The Blue Streaks advanced to the national semifinals for the first time since 2016.

Denison men's swimming & diving captured its seventh NCAA Division III national championship, while the Kenyon women finished third nationally and both the Denison women and Kenyon men placed fourth.

Women's basketball reached a historic milestone as four NCAC teams earned NCAA Tournament selections, the first time in conference history four teams qualified for the national tournament: Denison, DePauw, John Carroll and Ohio Wesleyan. The Big Red capped the season by winning their first NCAA Division III women's basketball national championship.

Baseball also enjoyed a banner season, with Denison, DePauw and Wittenberg earning NCAA Tournament berths. It marked the 24th time the NCAC was represented by multiple teams and just the fifth time three conference teams qualified in the same season. The Big Red went on to capture their first NCAA Division III baseball national championship.

Individually, Ohio Wesleyan's Connor Smith claimed the national title in the men's high jump at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship, while Denison's Ethan Green and Kael Shah claimed the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Doubles National Championship, adding another two national titles to a remarkable year for the conference.

NCAC member institutions have collected 77 national team championships since the conference's first playing season in 1984-85.

In the 2025-26 academic year, 239 All-America or College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America certificates were distributed to student-athletes from North Coast schools.

The NCAC's commitment to equity, its broad base of athletic programs, and an unwavering insistence on excellence in academics has served as a model for conferences throughout the country.

The North Coast has shown not only that these ideals can coexist, but that they can flourish. The NCAC continues as a pace-setter in the 21st century.

National Affiliation
NCAA Division III

Founded and Chartered
February, 1983

Number of Championship Sports
23 (11 men's, 12 women's)