The Mason–Dixon Conference was an 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 Division II men's basketball in 1983–84 with three of the previous members (Mount St. Mary's University, Randolph–Macon College, and the 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 conference 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

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent conference
University of BaltimoreBaltimore, Maryland1925Public2,825Super Bees19361978N/A
Frostburg State CollegeFrostburg, Maryland1898Public6,133Bobcats19771978Mountain East (MEC)
George Mason UniversityFairfax, Virginia1957Public35,047Patriots19721978Atlantic 10 (A10)
Mount St. Mary's UniversityEmmitsburg, Maryland1808Catholic1,889Mountaineers19401978Metro Atlantic (MAAC)
Towson State UniversityTowson, Maryland1866Public22,923Tigers19391978Coastal (CAA)
University of Maryland–Baltimore CountyCatonsville, Maryland1966Public13,767Retrievers19721978America East (AmEast)

Notes

Other members

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent conference
American UniversityWashington, D.C.1893United Methodist6,028Eagles19361966Patriot
Bridgewater CollegeBridgewater, Virginia1880Church of the Brethren1,690Bridgewater19411976ODAC
The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, D.C.1887Pontifical5,771Cardinals19361976Landmark
University of DelawareNewark, Delaware1743Public23,281Fightin' Blue Hens19361947Conf. USA (CUSA)
Emory and Henry CollegeEmory, Virginia1836United Methodist1,000Wasps19751976South Atlantic (SAC)
Gallaudet UniversityWashington, D.C.1864Quasigovernmental1,740Bison19361974United East
Hampden–Sydney CollegeHampden Sydney, Virginia1775Presbyterian1,120Tigers19471976Old Dominion (ODAC)
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland1876Nonsectarian20,174Blue Jays19361974Centennial
Loyola College MarylandBaltimore, Maryland1852Catholic (Jesuit)4,068Greyhounds19401977Patriot
Lynchburg CollegeLynchburg, Virginia1903Disciples of Christ2,500Hornets19481969Old Dominion (ODAC)
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Virginia1930Public24,176Monarchs & Lady Monarchs19621969Sun Belt (SBC)
Randolph–Macon CollegeAshland, Virginia1830United Methodist1,146Yellow Jackets19361975Old Dominion (ODAC)
Roanoke CollegeSalem, Virginia1842Private2,000Maroons19481976Old Dominion (ODAC)
Salisbury State CollegeSalisbury, Maryland1925Public7,383Sea Gulls19741976Coast to Coast (C2C)
St. John's College of MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland1784Nonsectarian775—1936—N/A
Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown, West Virginia1871Public3,159Rams19641968Pennsylvania (PSAC)
Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, Virginia1749Nonsectarian2,200Generals19751976Old Dominion (ODAC)
Washington CollegeChestertown, Maryland1782Nonsectarian1,479Shoremen & Shorewomen19361972Centennial
Western Maryland CollegeWestminster, Maryland1867Nonsectarian1,559Green Terror19361974Centennial

Notes

Membership timeline

Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)

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 – Loyola1954 – 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–Macon1967 – 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–Macon1956 – 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–Macon1966 – 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