Following a wave of recent movement surrounding the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), Hiram has announced its plan to leave the conference. Hiram intends to re-join the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC), of which they were a member from 1971–89.
“Hiram will participate in the NCAC as a full member this 2024-25 academic year, with all rights and privileges,” said Keri Alexander, a spokesperson for the NCAC. “However, Hiram men’s volleyball will initiate competition in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference during the 2024-25 academic year, as they were previously accepted as a PAC affiliate member.”
According to President of Hiram College Robert E. Bohrer, the main reason for the switch is that joining the PAC will allow Hiram to compete with more local schools, giving fans the opportunity to support their team at away competitions. More local competition will also allow for less missed class time due to travel for student-athletes, which Hiram hopes will promote a better balance between academics and athletics.
The switch is mutually beneficial to Hiram and the PAC as a whole.
“Adding [Hiram] back to our ranks as a full member strengthens the league academically and athletically, as well as in terms of alumni and fan engagement,” said PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko.
The NCAC will see major changes entering the 2025 fall season, as John Carroll University will formally join the NCAC, replacing Allegheny College, who left in 2021. The loss of Hiram and addition of John Carroll will keep the NCAC at its current size of nine teams, but the conference will need to bring in another school to get back up to the 10-school roster it used to hold.
Hiram’s absence will largely go unnoticed by the NCAC, as their men’s athletic teams have failed to make significant headway in recent years. During the 2023–24 academic year, Hiram went a collective .077 in men’s head-to-head NCAC competition. However an eligible replacement will be sure to shake up the conference standings.
“Our presidents are actively discussing membership options and have been doing so for quite some time,” said Alexander. “Membership is one of the most important, and often most difficult, decisions a conference can make.”
It will take time to find the right fit, as potential new member schools must fit the existing culture of the NCAC. The members of the NCAC are looking to find an institution that considers academics, athletics, and student-athlete experiences in the same way that current members do.