Mason–Dixon Conference

Mason–Dixon Conference
Classification	NCAA Division II
Years of existence	1936–1978
Members	17 at height
Sports fielded	Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, track, tennis, wrestling
Region	South Atlantic States
States/districts	Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

The Mason–Dixon Conference is a defunct NCAA Division II (former NCAA College Division) athletics conference, formed in 1936 and disbanded in October 1978. A track championship bearing the conference's name continued for several years after the demise of the all-sports league. Its members were predominantly from states bordering the eponymous Mason–Dixon line. A similarly named Mason-Dixon Athletic Conference began play in NCAA Division II men's basketball in 1983–84 with three of the previous members (Mount St. Mary's University, Randolph–Macon College, University of Maryland–Baltimore County) plus Longwood University, Liberty University and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.

Originally for track and field only, it was established in 1936 by Waldo Hamilton and Dorsey Griffith who both coached the sport at Johns Hopkins University and The Catholic University of America respectively. Its main purpose was to provide an annual championship meet for smaller colleges. The circuit began with nine member schools. Besides the institutions for which the founders represented, the others were American University, Gallaudet University, Randolph–Macon College, University of Baltimore, University of Delaware, Washington College and Western Maryland College.

Within four years it began to include other sports. Men's basketball was added in 1940. The Mason–Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."

Member schools

Final members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
University of Baltimore	Baltimore, Maryland	1925	Public	2,825	Super Bees	1936–37	1977–78	N/A
Frostburg State College	Frostburg, Maryland	1898	Public	6,133	Bobcats	1977–78	1977–78	Mountain East (NCAA D-II)
George Mason University	Fairfax, Virginia	1957	Public	35,047	Patriots	1972–73	1977–78	Atlantic 10 (A-10) (NCAA D-I)
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg, Maryland	1808	Catholic	1,889	Mountaineers	1940–41	1977–78	Metro Atlantic (MAAC) (NCAA D-I)
Towson State Teachers College	Towson, Maryland	1866	Public	22,923	Tigers	1939–40	1977–78	Coastal (CAA) (NCAA D-I)
University of Maryland–Baltimore County	Catonsville, Maryland	1966	Public	13,767	Retrievers	1972–73	1977–78	America East (NCAA D-I)

Notes

Other members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current conference
American University	Washington, D.C.	1893	United Methodist	6,028	Eagles	1936–37	1965–66	Patriot (NCAA D-I)
Bridgewater College	Bridgewater, Virginia	1880	Church of the Brethren	1,690	Bridgewater	1941–42	1975–76	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
The Catholic University of America	Washington, D.C.	1887	Pontifical	5,771	Cardinals	1936–37	1975–76	Landmark (NCAA D-III)
University of Delaware	Newark, Delaware	1743	Public	23,281	Fightin' Blue Hens	1936–37	1946–47	Colonial (CAA) (NCAA D-I)
Emory and Henry College	Emory, Virginia	1836	United Methodist	1,000	Wasps	1975–76	1975–76	South Atlantic (SAC) (NCAA D-II)
Gallaudet University	Washington, D.C.	1864	Quasigovernmental	1,740	Bison	1936–37	1973–74	United East (NCAA D-III)
Hampden–Sydney College	Hampden Sydney, Virginia	1775	Presbyterian	1,120	Tigers	1947–48	1975–76	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Nonsectarian	20,174	Blue Jays	1936–37	1973–74	Centennial (NCAA D-III)
Loyola College Maryland	Baltimore, Maryland	1852	Catholic (Jesuit)	4,068	Greyhounds	1940–41	1976–77	Patriot (NCAA D-I)
Lynchburg College	Lynchburg, Virginia	1903	Disciples of Christ	2,500	Hornets	1948–49	1968–69	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Old Dominion University	Norfolk, Virginia	1930	Public	24,176	Monarchs & Lady Monarchs	1962–63	1968–69	Sun Belt
Randolph–Macon College	Ashland, Virginia	1830	United Methodist	1,146	Yellow Jackets	1936–37	1974–75	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Roanoke College	Salem, Virginia	1842	Private	2,000	Maroons	1948-49	1975–76	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Salisbury State College	Salisbury, Maryland	1925	Public	7,383	Sea Gulls	1974–75	1975–76	Coast to Coast (C2C) (NCAA D-III)
St. John's College of Maryland	Annapolis, Maryland	1784	Nonsectarian	775	?	1936–37	—	N/A
Shepherd University	Shepherdstown, West Virginia	1871	Public	3,159	Rams	1964–65	1967–68	Pennsylvania (PSAC) (NCAA D-II)
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, Virginia	1749	Nonsectarian	2,200	Generals	1975–76	1975–76	Old Dominion (ODAC) (NCAA D-III)
Washington College	Chestertown, Maryland	1782	Nonsectarian	1,479	Shoremen & Shorewomen	1936–37	1971–72	Centennial (NCAA D-III)
Western Maryland College	Westminster, Maryland	1867	Nonsectarian	1,559	Green Terror	1936–37	1973–74	Centennial (NCAA D-III)

Notes

Membership timeline

Champions by sport

Men's basketball

• 1941 – Western Maryland
• 1942 – Loyola
• 1943 – Gallaudet
• 1944 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1945 – American
• 1946 – American
• 1947 – Loyola
• 1948 – Loyola
• 1949 – Loyola
• 1950 – American
• 1951 – American
• 1952 – Baltimore
• 1953 – Loyola

• 1954 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1955 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1956 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1957 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1958 – American
• 1959 – American
• 1960 – American and Mount Saint Mary's
• 1961 – Catholic and Mount Saint Mary's
• 1962 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1963 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1964 – Catholic
• 1965 – Randolph–Macon
• 1966 – Randolph–Macon

• 1967 – Mount Saint Mary's
• 1968 – Roanoke
• 1969 – Old Dominion
• 1970 – Roanoke
• 1971 – Loyola
• 1972 – Roanoke
• 1973 – Loyola
• 1974 – Randolph–Macon
• 1975 – Randolph–Macon
• 1976 – Baltimore
• 1977 – Towson State
• 1978 – Towson State

Football

• 1946 – Delaware
• 1947 – Randolph–Macon
• 1948 – Johns Hopkins
• 1949 – Western Maryland
• 1950 – Randolph–Macon
• 1951 – Western Maryland
• 1952 – Randolph–Macon
• 1953 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1954 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1955 – Randolph–Macon

• 1956 – Johns Hopkins
• 1957 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1958 – Randolph–Macon
• 1959 – Johns Hopkins
• 1960 – Randolph–Macon and Western Maryland
• 1961 – Western Maryland
• 1962 – Western Maryland
• 1963 – Western Maryland
• 1964 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1965 – Randolph–Macon

• 1966 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1967 – Randolph–Macon
• 1968 – Randolph–Macon
• 1969 – Randolph–Macon
• 1970 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1971 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1972 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1973 – Hampden–Sydney
• 1974 – Towson State

See also

• List of defunct college football conferences
• Chesapeake Conference
• Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)