Ohio Valley University Officially Moves to NAIA

Ohio Valley University is excited to announce they have been granted full membership to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), effective immediately.

At the beginning of the 2020-21 school year, OVU announced they would be departing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (affiliated with NCAA Division II) and the search began to find a new home for Fighting Scots athletics. That search was more refined in February when Ohio Valley was granted provisional membership in the River States Conference, pending the final decision of the NAIA.

Although the decision to make this move was difficult, OVU had faith that its duty to provide a quality college experience, (spiritually, academically, and through athletics) aligns with the philosophy and goals within the NAIA.

"We are thinking about the future. And in order for us to move forward in the best way, our move is to go to the NAIA and be a part of the River States Conference.," said Ohio Valley President Michael Ross. "We feel this is the best move for us. The River States Conference fits for us a better geographical area for travel, the types of schools we play, and it just fits who we are as a university."

With the inclusion of OVU (officially on July 1), the RSC will have 15 member institutions representing five states - Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. OVU will be immediately eligible for conference and national postseason competition for the 2021-22 school year.

Ohio Valley competes in 15 of the RSC's 17 championship sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and volleyball. The Fighting Scots also sponsor a wrestling team.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the OVU Athletic program this year follow @ovu_athletics on Twitter and Instagram, like Ohio Valley University Athletics on Facebook or visit fightingscots.ovu.edu.