The MAC Freedom, in full Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom,[1] is a conference participating in NCAA Division III. Along with the MAC Commonwealth, it operates under the umbrella of the Middle Atlantic Conferences, founded in 1912 as the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletics Association and renamed the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1922.
In 1999, the current name of Middle Atlantic Conferences was officially adopted, along with the organization's current three-conference format. All MAC members participate in ether the MAC Commonwealth or MAC Freedom, both of which sponsor the same set of 13 sports, including men's and women's basketball. In 14 other sports, Commonwealth and Freedom members compete together in the Middle Atlantic Conference (singular).
Current members[]
Several current MAC Freedom members were MAC members long before the Commonwealth and Freedom conferences were created. Records of the overall MAC before 1946 are incomplete; joining dates for the overall MAC are the first for which official records exist.
- Arcadia — first joined MAC Freedom in 2007, moved to MAC Commonwealth in 2008, rejoined MAC Freedom in 2020
- Delaware Valley — charter member of MAC Freedom; MAC member since 1965
- DeSales — charter member of MAC Freedom; MAC member since 1997
- Fairleigh Dickinson–Florham — charter member of MAC Freedom; MAC member since 1977
- King's — charter member of MAC Freedom; MAC member since 1977
- Lycoming — charter member of MAC Freedom, moved to MAC Commonwealth in 2007, rejoined MAC Freedom in 2020; MAC member since 1952
- Misericordia — joined in 2008
- Stevens — joined in 2019; MAC member from at least 1946–1978, with records suggesting possible membership from 1922
- Wilkes — charter member of MAC Freedom; MAC member since 1946
Former members[]
- Alvernia (2008–2009) — now in the MAC Commonwealth
- Drew (1999–2007) — now in the Landmark Conference
- Eastern (2008–2020) — now in the MAC Commonwealth
- Manhattanville (2007–2019) — now in the Skyline Conference
- Scranton (1999–2007) — now in the Landmark Conference
References[]
- ↑ "MAC Officially Welcomes York (Pa.), New Conference Structure". Middle Atlantic Conferences. July 1, 2020. https://gomacsports.com/news/2020/6/30/general-mac-officially-welcomes-york-pa-new-conference-structure.aspx. Retrieved July 3, 2020. "Located in Annville, Pa., the Middle Atlantic Conference is an NCAA Division III conference comprised of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) and Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom)."