WHEELING -
The 12
institutions that announced the formation of the Mountain East Conference in
August have officially applied for approval to begin competing as the NCAA's
newest Division II conference in 2013-14.
The MEC's formal
application, signed by the presidents of all 12 institutions, was
hand-delivered to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis on Friday along with all
supporting documentation.
Pending approval from
the NCAA, the new league's charter members include: Concord University (W.Va.),
Fairmont State University (W.Va.), Glenville State College (W.Va.), Notre Dame
College (Ohio), Shepherd University (W.Va.), The University of Charleston
(W.Va.), The University of Virginia's College at Wise (Va.), Urbana University
(Ohio), West Liberty University (W.Va.), West Virginia State University
(W.Va.), Wheeling Jesuit University (W.Va.), and West Virginia Wesleyan College
(W.Va.).
The MEC Board of
Directors, composed of the presidents of the 12 institutions, voted unanimously
to move forward with the process of forming the new regional all-sports
conference during a November meeting at Fairmont State University.
The
Board unanimously approved the appointment of Reid Amos as the league's first
Commissioner, upon the recommendation of the MEC's Committee of Athletic
Administrators (CAA). Amos, currently Vice President of Broadcasting at West
Liberty, had been serving as recording secretary and spokesperson for the
conference in addition to working as a liaison between the CAA and the Board
since the decision to form a new league was reached.
"Reid has nearly two
decades of experience with NCAA Division II athletics and has successfully led
many initiatives, particularly in the areas of conference development and media
enhancements," said West Liberty University President Robin Capehart, Interim
Chair of the MEC Board. "In fact, he is currently serving as Chair of the NCAA Division
II Men's Golf Committee.
"In addition to his
long-standing business relationships with many of our members, Reid has
provided excellent leadership for all of us throughout this process and we have
every confidence he will continue to do so as we forge ahead on this new path."
Amos is excited about
the opportunities which lie ahead for the MEC and its 12 charter members.
"We are very pleased to
have presented our credentials to the NCAA seeking to become the 25th Division
II Conference," Amos said. "The MEC will value providing a quality experience
for its student-athletes in a highly competitive conference. Our institutions
are committed to moving forward as a model conference guided by NCAA standards
which enable our best programs to rank among the nation's best. With the great
athletic histories of our institutions, I am honored to be named the first
Commissioner of the Mountain East Conference by our Board of Directors as we
move forward into a bright future."
If the MEC is approved for
competition in 2013-14, the league would meet the NCAA requirement for
conference championships in 16 sports: men's and women's basketball, baseball,
men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's golf, men's and
women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and
field, and volleyball.
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