Mid-American Conference MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS 1988 • 1991 • 1996 • 1998 81 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS 1988 • 1991 • 1996 • 1998 Mid-American Conference Since its inception in 1946, the Mid-American Conference has progressively grown and devel- oped into one of the most aggressive Division I conferences in the country. One of only 11 football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences, the MAC named Dr. Jon Steinbrecher as its eighth commissioner in the 63-year history of the league this past March. Steinbrecher came to the MAC after serving for six years as the commis- sioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. The league has grown its commitment to cham- pionships by expanding to six its number of neutral site post season events – football (Detroit’s Ford Field), volleyball (Toledo’s SeaGate Centre), men’s and women’s basketball (Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena), softball (Akron’s Firestone Stadium) and most recently baseball (Chillicothe’s VA Memo- rial Stadium). first overall pick of the 2009 Major League Soccer 15-year stay in Toledo, Ohio, the MAC has estab- The MAC tied a league record in 2008 with five Super Draft. Zakuani earned 2008 MAC Men’s Soc- lished historic measurements in both football and schools participating in bowl games – Buffalo (In- cer Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for men’s and women’s basketball since moving to ternational); Ball State (GMAC); Central Michigan the Hermann Trophy, which goes to the best men’s Northeast Ohio. (Motor City); Western Michigan (Texas); and North- soccer player in the country. The Mid-American Conference was founded as a ern Illinois (Independence Bowl). The 2008 season The conference now has national leadership po- five-school league on February 24, 1946 in Colum- also saw the first MAC football team ranked in the sitions on the following NCAA committees: Warde bus, Ohio with Ohio, Butler, Cincinnati, Wayne State Top 25 since 2003. Ball State was ranked as high as Manual, Buffalo (Academic Cabinet); Susan Lipnick- and Western Reserve admitted as charter members. 12th in the BCS Standings, 12th in the AP and 13th ey, Miami (Leadership Council and Infractions Ap- The Mid-American Conference has 12 full-time in the USA Today Poll. The Cardinals were ranked in peals); Derrick Gragg, Eastern Michigan (Legislative schools and a 13th, Temple, for football only. Com- all three polls for 10 straight weeks. MAC football Council); Dr. John Peters, Northern Illinois (Board prising the East Division is the University of Akron teams won a league record four games versus op- of Directors); Tom Collins, Ball State (Amateurism (joined in 1992), Bowling Green State University ponents from the Big Ten. Toledo became the first Cabinet); Kelly Andrews, Toledo (Awards, benefits, (1952), University at Buffalo (1998), Kent State Uni- MAC team to ever beat Michigan in Ann Arbor; Ball Expenses & Financial Aid Cabinet); Stephannnie versity (1951), Miami University (1947), Ohio Uni- State won its first-ever game against a Big Ten foe Harvey-Vandenburg, Eastern Michigan (Recruiting versity (1946) and Temple University (2007). The when the Cardinals beat Indiana; Central Michigan & Athletic Personal Issues Cabinet); Brad Bates, Mi- West Division members are Ball State University also defeated Indiana; and Western Michigan beat ami (Academic Performance); Eileen Jennings, Cen- (1973), Central Michigan University (1971), Eastern Illinois in a game played at Ford Field. tral Michigan (Infractions); Ted McKown, Kent State Michigan University (1971), Northern Illinois Uni- In its partnership with ESPN, the MAC signed (International Students Records); Jim Klein, Toledo versity (1975-86, 1997), University of Toledo (1950) an eight-year rights agreement through the 2016- (Legislative Review & Interpretations); Karin Lee, and Western Michigan University (1947). 2017 academic year for football, as well as men’s Ball State (Minority Opportunities and Interest); In 1946 men’s basketball was the first competi- and women’s basketball. The deal will be the most Melody Reifel Werner, Eastern Michigan (Research); tive sport in the MAC, which now sponsors a total extensive in the 63-year history of the conference. Catharine Marsszeky, Kent State (Student-Athlete 23 sports. Women’s sports were brought into the The new deal calls for a minimum of 25 events an- Advisory); Lee Merserve, Bowling Green (Walter By- conference’s structure in 1980. nually to be produced and aired on an ESPN plat- ers Scholarship). For men, championships (11) are sponsored in form including the men’s and women’s basketball The MAC also has representation on Division I football, basketball, baseball, cross country, soccer, championships, a regular-season MAC presence Sport Committees and related governing groups: swimming and diving, indoor track and field, out- on ESPN, the Marathon MAC Football Champion- Cathy O’Donnell, Kent State (Field Hockey); Dave door track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis. ship and a minimum of 11 regular-season football Heeke, Central Michigan (Football Issues); Marling For women, championships (12) are sponsored games. “Newt” Engle, Akron (Rifle); Karin Lee, Ball State in basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country, Women’s athletics shined for the MAC this past (Tennis); Rich Ceronie (Track & Field); Laing Ken- field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, year. For the first time in the history of the confer- nedy, Kent State (Men’s Basketball); Charlie Coles, gymnastics, indoor track and field, outdoor track ence the MAC sent three teams to the NCAA wom- Miami (Men’s Basketball Issues); Jim Schaus, Ohio and field and tennis. en’s volleyball tournament (Miami, Ohio and West- and Reggie Witherspoon, Buffalo (Men’s Basketball ern Michigan). Western Michigan became only the Rules); Steven Cady, Miami (Men’s Ice Hockey); Mary third team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen (Ohio Lu Gribschaw, Akron (Men’s Soccer); Greg Christo- CONTACT INFORMATION 2005 and Western Michigan 1983). In women’s pher, Bowling Green (Women’s Basketball); Anucha 24 Public Square, 15th Floor basketball MAC Tournament Champion Ball State Brown-Sanders, Buffalo and Donyale Canada, MAC Cleveland, OH 44113 upset perennial national power Tennessee in the (Women’s Basketball Issues); Curt Miller, Bowling Phone: 216.566.4622 first round of the NCAA tournament handing the Green (Women’s Basketball Rules); Jerry Reighard, www.MAC-Sports.com Central Michigan (Gymnastics); Matt Wolfert, Ball Lady Vols their first ever loss in the opening round Dr. Jon Steinbrecher ..................................... Commissioner (ext. 311) of the NCAA tournament. The victory was named State (Women’s Soccer); Dee Abrahamson, North- Bob Gennarelli ....................Senior Assoc. Commissioner (ext. 308) “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” of the 2009 ern Illinois (Women’s Softball Rules); Derek van der Rick Boyages .....................................Assoc. Commissioner (ext. 307) Merwe, Central Michigan (Wrestling). Donyale Canada ...............................Assoc. Commissioner (ext. 312) NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, while first Jackie Mynarski ................................Assoc. Commissioner (ext. 318) year head coach Kelly Packard was named Maggie From two-time Super Bowl quarterback win- Ken Mather ................................... Assistant Commissioner (ext. 301) Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year by the ning Ben Roethlisberger (Miami University), NFL Jeff Bacon ...................................... Assistant Commissioner (ext. 316) Defensive MVP James Harrison (Kent State Univer- Jeremy Guy .......................... Director of Communications (ext. 303) WBCA. Betty Sislak .............................................. Director of Finance (ext. 314) Akron continued its dominance of MAC men’s sity), British Open winner Ben Curtis (Kent State Erin Dugan .....................Assoc. Director/Media Relations (ext. 319) soccer with its 11th regular-season championship University), World Series winning manager Bob Julie Kachner .........................................Executive Assistant (ext. 311) Ed Mont .......................Intern/Bowl Operations Assistant (ext. 324) to go along with its sixth MAC Tournament title – Brenly (Ohio University) and Olympic bobsled team both league records. The Zips were ranked as high member Brock Kreitzburgh (University of Toledo), as No. 2 during the season and reached the Sweet the Mid-American Conference continues to excel in Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament before falling producing leaders in the world of athletics. to Northwestern, 1-0. Steve Zakuani, who helped guide the University of Akron men’s soccer pro- History of the MAC gram to a record-setting campaign in 2008, was the Based in Cleveland since July 1999 following a 82 NCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT 1987-88 • 1990-91 • 1995-96 • 1997-98 2008-09 Final MAC Standings 2008 Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Final Standings CONFERENCE OVERALL West Division W L Pct W L Pct Ball State 7 9 .438 14 17 .452 Central Michigan 7 9 .438 12 19 .387 Western Michigan 7 9 .438 10 21 .323 Eastern Michigan 6 10 .375 8 24 .250 Northern Illinois 5 11 .313 10 20 .333 Toledo 5 11 .313 7 25 .219 East Division W L Pct W L Pct Buffalo 11 5 .688 21 12 .636 Bowling Green 11 5 .688 19 14 .576 Akron 10 6 .625 23 13 .639 Miami 10 6 .625 17 13 .567 Regular Season Champion: Bowling Green All-MAC Honorable Mention Tournament Champion: Akron Mike Allen-Ohio Tyler Dierkers-Miami Greg Gamble-Buffalo Jarrod Jones- Ball State All-MAC