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.
Amos can be reached by email at: commissioner@mountaineast.org or at 304.924.1MEC. The conference website is located at mountaineast.org.