CLEVELAND — As the fall gets set to begin, John Carroll University is set to begin life in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

JCU joins a league with plenty of tradition and powerhouse programs. The Blue Streaks become the ninth full-time member on the men's side and the eighth full-time member on the women's side. The NCAC has a quartet of affiliate single-sport members.

For Blue Streaks fans both casual and dedicated, this piece is for you, to help you get to know John Carroll's new conference. While JCU's move from the Ohio Athletic Conference to the North Coast Athletic Conference affects athletics, the decision was made at the highest levels to associate JCU with like-minded schools with similar goals and aspirations. Moving to the NCAC aligns with John Carroll's expanded national approach.

As the NCAC's website states, "Founded in 1983, the North Coast Athletic Conference is dedicated to fostering a complementary relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the pursuit of academic excellence." A member of Division III, the NCAC features championship competition in 23 sports — 11 for men and 12 for women. The 12 women's sports are among the most offered by any Division III conference, and the equality in number and emphasis between men's and women's athletics is just one of the elements that sets the North Coast apart.

Balance is the name of the game in this conference. All nine NCAC member institutions were represented in the 2024-25 NCAA postseason, with 28 full teams from 18 sports and individuals competing in 10 additional sports — covering all 23 conference-sponsored sports. NCAC member institutions have collected 74 national team championships since the conference's first playing season in 1984-85.

Academics are of course a major part of the NCAC's identity. In the 2024-25 academic year, 209 All-America or College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America certificates were distributed to student-athletes from NCAC schools.

With that, here is some helpful information about JCU's new friends in the NCAC: 

Denison University

• Nickname: The Big Red
• Colors: Red, White, Black
• Location: Granville, OH
• 133 miles from JCU (2 hours, 25 minutes)
• Enrollment: 2,400 
• Founded in 1831
• Unofficial mascot: Buzzy the Buzzard
• Religious affiliation: Nonsectarian
• Joined NCAC in 1984
• 26 Varsity Sports
• 9 NCAA DIII National Championships, 188 total Conference Championships

DePauw University

• Nickname: The Tigers
• Colors: Gold, Black
• Location: Greencastle, IN
• 368 mi from JCU (5 hours, 37 minutes)
• Enrollment: 1,917 
• Founded in 1837
• Mascot: Tyler the Tiger
• Religious Affiliation: United Methodist Church
• Joined NCAC in 2011
• 23 Varsity Sports

Kenyon College

• Nickname: Owls
• Colors: Purple, Black
• Location: Gambier, OH
• 115 mi from JCU (2 hours, 3 minutes)
• Enrollment: 1,752 
• Founded in 1824
• Mascot: An Owl 
• Religious Affiliation: Protestant Episcopal Church
• Joined NCAC in 1984
•  22 Varsity Sports
• 62 National Championship, 143 Conference Championship

Oberlin College

• Nickname: Yeomen and Yeowomen
• Colors: Gold, Red, Black, White
• Location: Oberlin, OH
• 43 mi from JCU (52 minutes)
• Enrollment: 2,900 
• Founded in 1833
• Mascot: Yeobie the Squirrel
• Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
• Joined NCAC in 1984
• 21 Varsity Sports

Ohio Wesleyan University

• Nickname: Battling Bishops
• Colors: Red, Black
• Location: Delaware, OH
• 132 mi from JCU (2 hours, 7 minutes)
• Enrollment: 1,525 
• Founded in 1842
• Mascot: The Battling Bishop
• Religious Affiliation: United Methodist Church
• Joined NCAC in 1984
•  24 Varsity Sports
• 5 National Championship, 161 Conference Championship

Wabash College

• Nickname: Little Giants
• Colors: Scarlet (White as a secondary color)
• Location: Crawfordsville, IN
• 368 mi from JCU (5 hours, 41 minutes)
• Enrollment: 822 
• Founded in 1832
• Mascot: Wally Wabash
• Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
• Joined NCAC in 1999
• 13 Varsity Sports

Wittenberg University

• Nickname: Tigers
• Colors: Red, White
• Location: Springfield, OH
• 190 mi from JCU (3 hours, 8 minutes)
• Enrollment: 1,207 
• Founded in 1845
• Mascot: Ezry the Tiger
• Religious Affiliation: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Joined NCAC in 1989
• 25 Varsity Sports
• 9 National Championships, 125 Conference Championships

The College of Wooster

• Nickname: Fighting Scots
• Colors: Black and Gold
• Location: Wooster, OH
• 65 mi from JCU (1 hour, 16 minutes)
• Enrollment: 1,700 
• Founded in 1866
• Mascot: Archie (Scottie Dog)
• Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
• Joined NCAC in 1984
• 23 Varsity Sports
• 1 National Championship, 123 Conference Championships

Affiliate Members:

• Allegheny College
• Earlham College
• Transylvania University
• Washington and Jefferson College