The Great American Conference (GAC) is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, with headquarters located in Russellville, Arkansas. Athletic competition began play during the 2011–12 school year.[1][2] Its twelve all-sports member schools are located in Arkansas and Oklahoma in the South Central United States. The conference also has four men's soccer affiliate members, two in Kansas and two in Oklahoma.
As of July 11, 2014, the NCAA Division II Membership Committee recommended the membership application for Oklahoma Baptist University to set up the move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II and it joined the conference for the 2015–16 season.[5]
The GAC and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) announced a partnership in June 2018 to combine their men's tennis and men's soccer leagues in both sports from the 2019–20 academic year. Under the agreement, the MIAA will organize the tennis league and the GAC will organize the soccer league.[6]
Chronological timeline
2011 - The Great American Conference (GAC) was founded. Charter members included six schools from the state of Arkansas (Arkansas Tech, Arkansas–Monticello, Harding, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, and Southern Arkansas from the Gulf South Conference) and three schools from the state of Oklahoma (East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and Southwestern Oklahoma State from the Lone Star Conference) effective beginning the 2011-12 academic year.
2012 - Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene joined the GAC effective in the 2012-13 academic year.
2015 - Oklahoma Baptist joined the GAC effective in the 2015-16 academic year.
2019 - Oklahoma Christian and Rogers State left the GAC as affiliate members for men's and women's track & field outdoor effective after the 2019 spring season (2018-19 academic year).
The male and female scholar-athlete of the year awards are voted upon by the league's faculty athletic representatives or designees.
Year
Male
Female
2011–12
Travis Kincheloe, Football (SOSU)
Emily Kennemer, Softball (ECU)
2012–13
Mickey Hammer, Cross Country (SAU)
Amy Madden, Softball (SNU)
2013–14
Kevin Rodgers, Football (HSU)
Kristen Celsor, Basketball (HU)
2014–15
Davis Richardson, Baseball (HU)
Arielle Saunders, Basketball (HU)
2015–16
Colin Pasque, Track & Field (SNU)
Autumn Suydam, Softball (ECU)
2016–17
Colin Pasque, Track & Field (SNU)
Kori Bullard, Volleyball / Basketball (OBU)
2017–18
Ty Reasnor, Football (ATU)
Kori Bullard, Volleyball / Basketball (OBU)
2018–19
Dylan McDearmon, Baseball (ATU)
Mariah Ewy, Softball (ECU)
2019–20
Mills Bryant, Football (HU)
Abbie Winchester, T&F / Cross country (ECU)
2020–21
Athlete of the Year
The male and female athlete of the year awards are voted upon by the league's sports information directors or designees.
Year
Male
Female
2011–12
Johnie Davis, Basketball (ATU)
Kayla Jackson, Softball (UAM)
2012–13
Kevin Rodgers, Football (HSU)
Roselis Silva, Basketball (ATU)
2013–14
Kevin Rodgers, Football (HSU)
Rebecka Surtevall, Golf (ATU)
2014–15
Michael Hearne, Golf (SNU)
Rebecka Surtevall, Golf (ATU)
2015–16
Corey Wood, Baseball (UAM)
Jalissa Gum, Softball (ATU)
2016–17
Trevor Rucker, Baseball (SAU)
Maddie Dow, Softball (SAU)
2017–18
Zach James, Golf (SOSU)
Brooke Goad, Softball (SAU)
2018–19
Bryce Bray, Football (HU)
Hailey Tucker, Basketball (SWOSU)
2019–20
Jhonathan Dunn, Basketball (SNU)
Kim Moosbacher, Tennis (OKBU)
2020–21
Dorian Chaigneau, Track & Field (HU)
Mahina Sauer, Softball (SNU)
All-Sports Trophy
The All-Sports Trophy is presented to the athletic department with the highest point total at the end of the athletic year. Points are recorded in all sponsored sports with six or more participants. The regular season standings will determine the points for the sports of baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, football, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, and volleyball. The conference championship will determine the points for the sports of men's cross country, women's cross country, men's golf, and women's golf.
Season
School
2011–12
Arkansas Tech
2012–13
Arkansas Tech
2013–14
Arkansas Tech
2014–15
Arkansas Tech
2015–16
Arkansas Tech
2016–17
Harding
NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Rankings
The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an annual award given by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the U.S. colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics.
The GAC has a tie-in with the Live United Texarkana Bowl in which the highest non-playoff team will receive an automatic selection to the game. The C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl began a Division II game in 2012 with the GAC receiving the at-large selection in each of the first four years of the game. The Corsicana Bowl which began in 2017 has a at-large selection option with the GAC.
Year
Game
School
Opponent
Score
2012
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl
Southern Arkansas
McMurry
L 35–36
2013
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl
Ouachita Baptist
Tarleton State
Cancelled
Live United Texarkana Bowl
Harding
Texas A&M–Commerce
W 44–3
2014
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl
East Central
Texas A&M–Commerce
L 21–72
Live United Texarkana Bowl
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Central Missouri
L 21–48
2015
C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl
Arkansas Tech
Eastern New Mexico
W 51–35
Live United Texarkana Bowl
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Central Oklahoma
L 21–38
2016
Live United Texarkana Bowl
Southern Arkansas
Texas A&M–Kingsville
L 17–24
Men's Soccer
GAC Champions
Year
Season
Tournament
2015
Ouachita Baptist
Ouachita Baptist
2016
Oklahoma Baptist
Harding
2017
Harding
Ouachita Baptist
2018
Harding
Ouachita Baptist
2019
Fort Hays State
Rogers State
GAC All-Time Standings
Conference
Tournament
School
W
L
T
Pct
Titles
Last Title
W
L
T
Pct
Titles
Last Title
Harding
5
6
1
.458
0
–
2
1
0
.667
1
2016
Oklahoma Baptist
8
4
0
.667
1
2016
2
2
0
.500
0
–
Ouachita Baptist
7
4
1
.625
1
2015
2
1
0
.667
1
2015
Southern Nazarene
3
9
0
.250
0
–
0
2
0
.000
0
–
Women's Soccer
GAC Champions
Year
Season
Tournament
2011
East Central
East Central
2012
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2013
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2014
Southern Nazarene
Ouachita Baptist
2015
Harding
Harding
2016
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Harding
2017
Oklahoma Baptist
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2018
Oklahoma Baptist
Oklahoma Baptist
2019
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Spring 2021
Oklahoma Baptist
Ouachita Baptist
2021
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Oklahoma Baptist
2022
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
GAC All-Time Standings
Conference
Tournament
School
W
L
T
Pct
Titles
Last Title
W
L
T
Pct
Titles
Last Title
East Central
40
71
13
.375
1
2011
2
4
2
.375
1
2011
Harding
59
52
15
.528
1
2015
4
8
1
.346
2
2016
Northwestern Oklahoma State
24
82
14
.258
0
–
0
3
0
.000
0
–
Oklahoma Baptist
59
21
10
.711
3
2021
8
4
0
.667
2
2021
Ouachita Baptist
70
46
10
.595
0
–
7
8
1
.469
2
2021
Southern Nazarene
36
78
5
.324
1
2014
1
3
2
.333
0
–
Southwestern Oklahoma State
84
22
19
.748
6
2022
13
5
2
.700
5
2022
NCAA Tournament Results
Year
School
Opponent
Score
2012
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Minot State
W 3–0
Central Missouri
L 0–3
2015
Harding
Augustana
L 1–2
2016
Harding
Fort Hays State
L 1–3
2017
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Missouri Western
W 1–0
Minnesota State–Mankato
T 1–1 (4-2 PK)
Central Missouri
L 0–3
2018
Oklahoma Baptist
Central Oklahoma
L 0–2
2019
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Central Missouri
L 1–3
Volleyball
GAC Champions
Year
Season
Tournament
2011
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2012
Harding
Harding
2013
Harding
Arkansas Tech
2014
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2015
Arkansas Tech
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2016
Harding
Southern Nazarene
2017
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2018
Harding
Harding
2019
Oklahoma Baptist
Oklahoma Baptist
Spring 2021
West: Oklahoma Baptist East: Harding
Oklahoma Baptist
2021
Oklahoma Baptist
Arkansas Tech
2022
Harding
Harding
GAC All-Time Standings
Conference
Tournament
School
W
L
Pct
Titles
Last Title
W
L
Pct
Titles
Last Title
Arkansas Tech
150
51
.746
4
2017
19
7
.731
5
2021
Arkansas–Monticello
49
137
.263
0
–
1
6
.143
0
–
East Central
60
126
.323
0
–
3
6
.333
0
–
Harding
163
39
.807
6
2022
21
9
.700
3
2022
Henderson State
64
122
.344
0
–
3
5
.375
0
–
Northwestern Oklahoma State
67
102
.396
0
–
4
6
.400
0
–
Oklahoma Baptist
100
28
.781
3
2021
9
4
.692
2
2021
Ouachita Baptist
100
93
.518
0
–
4
11
.267
0
–
Southeastern Oklahoma State
66
124
.347
0
–
3
9
.250
0
–
Southern Arkansas
58
131
.307
0
–
4
6
.400
0
–
Southern Nazarene
106
71
.599
0
–
8
8
.500
1
2016
Southwestern Oklahoma State
118
77
.605
0
–
9
11
.450
1
2015
NCAA Tournament Results
Year
School
Opponent
Score
2011
Arkansas Tech
Washburn
L 0–3
2013
Arkansas Tech
Minnesota–Duluth
L 0–3
2014
Arkansas Tech
Minnesota–Duluth
L 0–3
2015
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Concordia–St. Paul
L 0–3
2016
Southern Nazarene
Concordia–St. Paul
L 0–3
Men's Basketball
GAC Champions
Year
Season
Tournament
2012
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2013
Harding
Ouachita Baptist
2014
Arkansas Tech
Harding
2015
Ouachita Baptist
Arkansas Tech
2016
Harding
Ouachita Baptist
2017
East Central
East Central
2018
Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene
2019
Southern Nazarene
Southern Nazarene
2020
Southern Nazarene
Henderson State
2021
West: Oklahoma Baptist East: Arkansas-Monticello
Arkansas-Monticello
2022
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
GAC All-Time Standings
Conference
Tournament
School
W
L
Pct
Titles
Last Title
W
L
Pct
Titles
Last Title
Arkansas Tech
120
103
.538
2
2014
10
6
.625
2
2015
Arkansas–Monticello
112
112
.500
1
2021
8
7
.533
1
2021
East Central
121
104
.538
1
2017
7
8
.467
1
2017
Harding
90
132
.405
2
2016
7
6
.538
1
2014
Henderson State
113
112
.502
0
–
8
7
.533
0
–
Northwestern Oklahoma State
93
111
.456
0
–
1
4
.200
0
–
Oklahoma Baptist
74
75
.497
1
2021
4
4
.500
0
–
Ouachita Baptist
106
116
.477
1
2015
9
7
.563
2
2016
Southeastern Oklahoma State
123
102
.547
1
2022
6
9
.400
0
–
Southern Arkansas
114
110
.509
0
–
5
11
.313
0
–
Southern Nazarene
138
72
.657
3
2020
9
6
.600
2
2019
Southwestern Oklahoma State
85
140
.378
0
–
7
6
.538
1
2022
NCAA Tournament Results
Year
School
Opponent
Score
2012
Arkansas Tech
West Texas A&M
W 79–68
Tarleton State
W 64–63
Midwestern State
L 61–77
2013
Arkansas Tech
Minnesota State–Mankato
L 65–81
Harding
Central Missouri
W 75–71
Minnesota State–Mankato
L 65–86
2014
Arkansas Tech
Central Missouri
L 44–56
Harding
Minnesota State–Mankato
L 56–97
2015
Arkansas Tech
Augustana College
L 77–104
2016
Harding
Augustana
L 85–100
Ouachita Baptist
Northwest Missouri State
L 53–78
2017
Arkansas Tech
Southwest Minnesota State
L 82–93
Arkansas–Monticello
Augustana
L 69–76
East Central
Minnesota State–Moorhead
W 115–106 (OT)
Southwest Minnesota State
L 70–74
Women's Basketball
GAC Champions
Year
Season
Tournament
2012
Arkansas Tech
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2013
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2014
Harding
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2015
Harding
Harding
2016
Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech
2017
Harding
Harding
2018
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Arkansas Tech
2019
Southwestern Oklahoma State
Southwestern Oklahoma State
2020
Southeastern Oklahoma State
Southeastern Oklahoma State
2021
West: Southwestern Oklahoma State East: Arkansas Tech