AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – On Friday, July 24, 2020 the Ohio Athletic Conference announced that following a vote by the conference Presidents Council that all NCAA intercollegiate athletics competition will be postponed through December 31, 2020. The announcement comes as a result of continued concerns surrounding COVID-19.
The OAC is committed to moving intercollegiate fall competitions to the spring with various models currently being discussed. While competition will not occur during Fall 2020, the OAC is planning a robust engagement of student-athletes through the fall semester to allow for conditioning and preparation for competition that will adhere to CDC and local health guidelines, and NCAA criteria.
"The OAC believes we can continue to provide an excellent experience for our student athletes while continuing to make the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, families, fans and campus communities our highest priority," said OAC Commissioner Tim Gleason.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," said Interim President
Dave Kaufman, "but with coronavirus cases still on the rise, it is just not possible for our student-athletes and coaches to compete safely at this time. Athletics are an important part of the Capital University experience, not only for the athletes, but for all students, parents and alumni. With guidance from the NCAA and local health organizations, our athletes can look forward to physically conditioning and training this fall in preparation for a return to safe competition in the spring."
"As the lead administrator of the athletics department, I am disappointed that I will not be able to see our fall student-athletes compete," said Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation
Dixie Jeffers. "However, this is the right thing to do and as a coach I am excited that our staff will have 114 days to interact and prepare mentally and physically for high-level OAC competition under more safe conditions. We will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin preparing for our seasons to come. We are not done, yet."
The fall sports that will be impacted by the postponement include cross country, golf, football, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Winter sports including basketball, indoor track and field, swimming and diving, and wrestling will have their competition start dates postponed through the 2020 calendar year with plans to resume in January 2021.
