IN THE THE BEST PLACE TO ENTER DI
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR BENEFITS
OF DI STATUS
OVC AS LINDENWOOD’S
HOME
NOW IS THE TIME
BENEFITS OF DIVISION I
• Division I Philosophy - Commitment to excellence and national exposure
• Enhanced visibility and publicity
• The front porch of the university
• “D-I Brand”
• National media contracts
• Enrollment
• Support from a variety of constituents
• Revenue distributions from the NCAA and Conference
NATIONAL VISIBILITY
• The OVC has a multi-year media rights agreement that includes a minimum of 650 conference events per year on ESPN+ as well as a linear TV package on the ESPN Family of Networks.
• The OVC began a sponsorship with IMG College in 2008. Now known as Learfield IMG College, the rights deal gives the national company exclusive management of the OVC’s sponsorship sales.
• The OVC produces multiple weekly radio segments that are shared throughout the conference to help promote league schools, coaches, and student-athletes.
WHY MOVE TO DIVISION I NOW?
• NCAA Constitutional changes are anticipated, and there will be an ensuing Division I examination.
• After the Constitutional changes, we anticipate the Division I membership transition process will become more difficult. Additionally, there will always be a membership entry fee.
• Conference realignment is occurring, and no conference or Division will be immune.
• Other Division II programs will receive Division I conference invitations, so making no decision will be a decision.
• Many successful Division I programs have roots in Division II. Rarely do schools that transition to Division I return to Division II.
FORMER DII SCHOOLS NOW IN DIVISION I
2002
2020
2012 2008
OVC: THE RIGHT PLACE TO ENTER THE WORLD OF DI ATHLETICS
• OVC is in our 74th year. We are stable, with a vision for the future.
• A few members may have changed, but at its core, the OVC has not.
• OVC Board of Presidents is highly engaged in planning for the OVC’s future growth.
• Experienced hands at the helm.
• Membership plans reflect our priorities.
• Commitment to serving students.
• Fiscal responsibility.
• National visibility but regional travel and competition.
• Providing a balanced approach to intercollegiate athletics.
• Enhanced brand marketing for the conference and its members.
A COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE
At the OVC, we:
• provide a competitive environment for our student-athletes to be successful at the Division I level while gaining experiences that provide lessons for life.
• are dedicated to integrity on and off the playing field.
SUCCESS 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS 4,000+ STUDENTATHLETES ENGAGED FANBASE, ON-CAMPUS AND IN COMMUNITIES 19 SPORTS
A COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE BUILT FOR
NATIONAL LEVEL SUCCESS
Over the past six years, the OVC has placed multiple teams in the NCAA Championship fields of these sports:
• Baseball
• Men’s Basketball
• Football
• Rifle
Over the past six years, the OVC has won NCAA Tournament games in the following sports:
• Baseball
• Men’s Basketball
• Women’s Basketball
• Football
• Soccer
• Softball
• Volleyball
OVC GRADUATES AT THE NEXT LEVEL
JA MORANT (Murray State), 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year and star point guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.
ROBERT COVINGTON (TSU), only active NBA player from an HBCU.
JIMMY GARRAPOLO
(Eastern Illinois), NFL quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
OVC GRADUATES AT THE NEXT LEVEL
SCOTT STALLINGS (TN Tech), winner of the 2011 PGA Greenbrier Classic and a three-time winner on the PGA Tour.
ALEC MILLS (UT Martin), threw a no-hitter for Chicago Cubs in 2020.
CHELSEY PERRY (UT Martin), a twotime OVC Player of the Year, plays for the Indiana Fever.
A COMPETITIVE BALANCE ACROSS THE CONFERENCE
GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
• THE OVC IS LED BY AN ENGAGED, ACTIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PRESIDENTS AND CHANCELLORS.
• THE BOARD WORKS WITH COUNCIL OF DIRECTORS OF ATHLETICS. • OVC STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY GROUP MEETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO ENSURE STUDENTATHLETES’ VOICES ARE HEARD AND CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED.
• NATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.
STRONG
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
• The Finance Committee governs the OVC’s finances. The conference starts each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) with net cash reserves of a sum equal to $60,000 multiplied by the number of member institutions in the conference.
• Before the end of the fiscal year, the Conference distributes to its full members all remaining net revenue received during that fiscal year.
• Funds earned by the OVC through the NCAA Basketball Tournament's Performance Fund are distributed to the members.
• Currently, the OVC has earned three basketball performance units and gives CFP money. The conference will receive those units for four additional years.
• The OVC is in year three of a seven-year contract with ESPN. Most years, the OVC Finance Committee recommends the members receive a media distribution or new media equipment, subject to the Board’s approval.
NCAA DISTRIBUTIONS
FUND EST. THIS YEAR TIMING OF FUND FOR TRANSITIONING INSTITUTIONS Academic Enhancement Fund $140,920 2026 - 27 Academic Performance $69,000 2026-27 Sports Sponsorship $36,577 2028-29 Grant in Aid $300 with an escalator Approx. $195,000 if an institution has 150 2028-29 Equal Conference Grant $1,685,705 2026 - 27 (Distribution to the OVC office) Student Funds Approx. $200,000 2026 -27 Basketball Performance $377,141 2026 - 27 (Distribution to the OVC office)
LINDENDWOOD AND THE OVC SHARE VALUES
We both care about:
• PROVIDING OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH AN EXEMPLARY COMPETITIVE EXPERIENCE
• ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION
• INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER
• OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES, COACHES AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND COMMUNITIES.
• A SHARED COMMITMENT TO SUCCESS IN ALL WE DO.
USI AND OVC MEMBER SCHOOLSMORE ALIKE THAN DIFFERENT
SCHOOL OVC MEMBERSHIP PUBLIC / PRIVATE ENROLLMENT BASIC CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION Eastern Illinois 1996 Public 8,630 Master’s College & Universities: Larger Program Morehead State 1948 Public 9,561 Master’s College & Universities: Larger Program Murray State 1948 Public 9,456 Master’s College & Universities: Larger Program SEMO 1991 Public 11,502 Master’s College & Universities: Larger Program SIUE 2008 Public 12,860 Doctoral/Professional Universities Tennessee State 1986 Public 7,774 Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity Tennessee Tech 1949 Public 10,177 Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity UT Martin 1992 Public 7,119 Master’s Colleges & Universities: Small Program Lindenwood Private 4.822 Master’s College & Universities: Larger Program
GREAT GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT
ST.
• OVC’S FOOTPRINT IS MOVING A BIT FARTHER NORTH AND WEST.
• CREATING A THREE-MARKET PRESENCE WITH NASHVILLE, EVANSVILLE, AND ST. LOUIS.
EVANSVILLE
• EASY ACCESS TO FAMILY AND FANS TO ATTEND COMPETITIONS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS. NASHVILLE
LOUIS
CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVANSVILLE
• THE FORD CENTER HAS SERVED AS THE HOME OF THE OVC MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE 2018.
• THE MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME CROWD OF 10,525 IN 2019 ESTABLISHED A NEW OVC TOURNAMENT ATTENDANCE RECORD. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS SET THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH 8,145 FANS IN ATTENDANCE. • THE WESSELMAN TENNIS CENTER HOSTED THE 2021 OVC MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WILL HOST THEM AGAIN IN 2022.
OVC: PREPARED FOR GROWTH
• EXCITING FUTURE FOR THE CONFERENCE.
• OVC HAS BEEN ACTIVELY AND THOUGHTFULLY FOCUSED ON MEMBERSHIP GROWTH. WE ARE AHEAD OF OTHERS IN THE PROCESS.
• THE OVC IS THE EIGHTH OLDEST DIVISION I CONFERENCE (1948).
• THE OVC WILL CELEBRATE OUR 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2022-23.
• THE OVC IS A PRESIDENT-LED LEAGUE.
NOW IS YOUR TIME
Joining the OVC means:
• ENHANCING ALL OF YOUR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS.
• A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
• THE DEDICATION TO THE BETTERMENT OF ALL SCHOOLS AND STUDENT-ATHLETES.
• THE CONTINUED FOCUS ON DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, NOT THE EASY WAY.
IN THE
