Mason–Dixon Conference

The Mason–Dixon Conference was a NCAA Division II^[1] (former NCAA College Division) athletics conference, formed in 1936^[2] 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.

Mason–Dixon Conference
Classification	NCAA Division II
Years of existence	1936–1978
Members	17 at height
Sports fielded	Baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, track, tennis, wrestling
Region	South Atlantic States
States/districts	Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

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.^[3] 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.^[4] The Mason–Dixon Conference sought to "solidify small college athletics and to stimulate a competitive spirit."^[2]

Member schools

Final members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined[5]	Left	Current conference
University of Baltimore	Baltimore, Maryland	1925	Public	2,825	Super Bees	1936–37	1977–78[6]	N/A[a]
Frostburg State College[b]	Frostburg, Maryland	1898	Public	6,133	Bobcats	1977–78	1977–78	Mountain East
George Mason University	Fairfax, Virginia	1957	Public	35,047	Patriots	1972–73	1977–78	Atlantic 10[c]
Mount St. Mary's University	Emmitsburg, Maryland	1808	Catholic	1,889	Mountaineers	1940–41	1977–78	MAAC[c]
Towson State University[d]	Towson, Maryland	1866	Public	22,923	Tigers	1939–40	1977–78	CAA[c]
University of Maryland–Baltimore County	Catonsville, Maryland	1966	Public	13,767	Retrievers	1972–73	1977–78	America East[c]

Notes

1. Baltimore discontinued its athletics program after the 1982–83 school year.
2. Currently known as Frostburg State University since 1987.
3. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
4. Currently known as Towson University since 1997.

Other members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined[5]	Left	Current conference
American University	Washington, D.C.	1893	United Methodist	6,028	Eagles	1936–37	1965–66	Patriot[a]
Bridgewater College	Bridgewater, Virginia	1880	Church of the Brethren	1,690	Bridgewater	1941–42	1975–76	ODAC[b]
The Catholic University of America	Washington, D.C.	1887	Pontifical	5,771	Cardinals	1936–37	1975–76[4]	Landmark[b]
University of Delaware	Newark, Delaware	1743	Public	23,281	Fightin' Blue Hens	1936–37	1946–47	CAA[a] (CUSA in 2025)
Emory and Henry College[c]	Emory, Virginia	1836	United Methodist	1,000	Wasps	1975–76	1975–76	SAC[b]
Gallaudet University	Washington, D.C.	1864	Quasigovernmental	1,740	Bison	1936–37	1973–74	United East[b]
Hampden–Sydney College	Hampden Sydney, Virginia	1775	Presbyterian	1,120	Tigers	1947–48	1975–76	ODAC[b]
Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Nonsectarian	20,174	Blue Jays	1936–37	1973–74	Centennial[b]
Loyola College Maryland[d]	Baltimore, Maryland	1852	Catholic (Jesuit)	4,068	Greyhounds	1940–41	1976–77	Patriot[a]
Lynchburg College[e]	Lynchburg, Virginia	1903	Disciples of Christ	2,500	Hornets	1948–49	1968–69	ODAC[b]
Old Dominion University	Norfolk, Virginia	1930	Public	24,176	Monarchs & Lady Monarchs	1962–63	1968–69	Sun Belt[a]
Randolph–Macon College	Ashland, Virginia	1830	United Methodist	1,146	Yellow Jackets	1936–37	1974–75	ODAC[b]
Roanoke College	Salem, Virginia	1842	Private	2,000	Maroons	1948-49	1975–76	ODAC[b]
Salisbury State College[f]	Salisbury, Maryland	1925	Public	7,383	Sea Gulls	1974–75	1975–76	Coast to Coast (C2C)[b]
St. John's College of Maryland	Annapolis, Maryland	1784	Nonsectarian	775	—	1936–37[2]	—	N/A
Shepherd University	Shepherdstown, West Virginia	1871	Public	3,159	Rams	1964–65	1967–68	PSAC
Washington and Lee University	Lexington, Virginia	1749	Nonsectarian	2,200	Generals	1975–76	1975–76	ODAC[b]
Washington College	Chestertown, Maryland	1782	Nonsectarian	1,479	Shoremen & Shorewomen	1936–37	1971–72	Centennial[b]
Western Maryland College[g]	Westminster, Maryland	1867	Nonsectarian	1,559	Green Terror	1936–37	1973–74	Centennial[b]

Notes

1. Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
2. Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
3. Currently known as Emory and Henry University since 2024.
4. Currently known as Loyola University Maryland since 2009.
5. Currently known as the University of Lynchburg since 2018.
6. Currently known as Salisbury University since 2001.
7. Currently known as McDaniel College since 2002.

Membership timeline

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 – Loyola

1954 – 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–Macon

1967 – 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[7] 1948 – Johns Hopkins 1949 – Western Maryland 1950 – Randolph–Macon 1951 – Western Maryland 1952 – Randolph–Macon 1953 – Hampden–Sydney[8] 1954 – Hampden–Sydney 1955 – Randolph–Macon

1956 – Johns Hopkins 1957 – Hampden–Sydney 1958 – Randolph–Macon 1959 – Johns Hopkins[9][10] 1960 – Randolph–Macon and Western Maryland 1961 – Western Maryland 1962 – Western Maryland 1963 – Western Maryland 1964 – Hampden–Sydney 1965 – Randolph–Macon

1966 – 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

• List of defunct college football conferences
• Chesapeake Conference
• Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)