On Wednesday, February 9, the University of Southern Indiana accepted an invitation to join the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) as it’s Division I partner. The partnership allows the University to move forward with reclassification in the NCAA prior to a June 1 deadline. Upon acceptance, the transition process takes four years to complete.
USI would begin competing in the Ohio Valley Conference at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year and would leave the GLVC at the end of this academic year. Although USI may be eligible for conference championships during the four-year transition, it would not be eligible for NCAA championships.
"This is an important day for USI and for our athletic programs. We are honored to have been invited and to accept an invitation from the Ohio Valley Conference as we transition to Division I athletics—the highest level of athletic play. The OVC has an impressive record of stability and success, and they will be a strong partner for us as we make this logical step of growth and expansion and as we work to meet our strategic plan goal of elevating the visibility and reputation of this great institution. This is not only a great opportunity for USI but also for this community and state."
- USI President Ronald S. Rochon
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Eastern Illinois University
Morehead State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University
University of Tennessee at Martin
Now in its 74th year, the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) continues to build on the success that has made it the nation’s eighth-oldest NCAA Division I conference. Founded in 1948, the OVC is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee and has been located in the Nashville metropolitan area since 1979.
The OVC sponsors baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis and track for men, and basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball and beach volleyball for women. The OVC also sponsors combined men’s and women’s rifle.
OVC teams have garnered national championships in football and national team and individual titles in rifle, cross country, track and golf. Over the past seven years, the league has had multiple teams in NCAA Championships in baseball, men’s basketball, football and rifle, and has won NCAA Tournament games in baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, football, soccer, softball and volleyball.
Since 2018, the OVC has hosted its men’s and women’s basketball championships at the Ford Center in Evansville, including setting attendance records in 2019. Additionally, the OVC hosts neutral site championships in baseball, softball, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis.
When the OVC celebrates its 75th anniversary next year, full league membership, in addition to the University of Southern Indiana, will include the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Eastern Illinois University, Morehead State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee at Martin.
During the 2020-21 academic year, a record 1,718 OVC student-athletes were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for achieving a 3.25 GPA or higher, while a record 356 earned the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for compiling a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The OVC has a multi-year media rights agreement with ESPN as well as a sponsorship agreement with LEARFIELD collegiate sports marketing company.
As the OVC looked at adding a new member to the conference, the OVC Board of Presidents and our broader membership were very interested in USI joining the conference, for many reasons including:
Beth DeBauche, Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner
Student Athlete GPA: 3.29
Retention Rates: Single-year retention is 915 (out of 1,000)
Academic All-GLVC for 2021-22: 228
35 Academic All-America honors
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 188 (includes Track & Field scoring appearances;
Cross Country nationals)
2010 NCAA II Baseball National Championship
2014 NCAA II Baseball National Championship
2018 NCAA II Softball National Championship
1995 NCAA II Men’s Basketball National Championship
10 NCAA II Individual National Championships in Cross Country and Track & Field
16 NCAA II Regional Championships
USI was a founding member of the GLVC and began competing in 1979
USI has had seven national athlete/players of the year
Stan Gouard, current head coach, was a two-time NCAA II Men's Basketball National Player of the Year
Mike Hillyard, USI alumnus and head coach, has been named GLVC Coach of the Year 29 times in Men's and Women’s Cross Country
USI has had 231 student athletes earn All-America honors
