ANN ARBOR, Mich.–Defiance College is set to become the newest full member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). The Yellow Jackets were accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) by way of a unanimous vote of the Council of Presidents at the association’s annual Fall meetings on Oct. 1. WHAC presidents had previously unanimously voted to accept Defiance pending the NAIA decision. The Yellow Jackets become the first new full conference member since 2018 and expand the WHAC to 13 full-time members spanning Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Defiance College will begin its membership on July 1, 2024 and begin full-time play in the 2024-25 academic year.
“The WHAC presidents enthusiastically support Defiance College as a new NAIA and conference member and we stand ready to support and assist their administration as they make the move back to the NAIA,” said Dr. Karl Einolf, WHAC Council of Presidents Chair, NAIA COP Representative and President of Indiana Tech. “We look forward to working closely with Defiance College President Mankey and her administrative staff to ensure a smooth transition and look forward to watching their student-athletes compete for WHAC championships beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.”
Defiance College is no stranger to the NAIA, having previously competed in the organization from shortly after WWII until they transitioned to NCAA Div. III in 1991. Returning to the NAIA, and becoming a member of the WHAC, was the perfect fit for the institution according to Director of Athletics, Tiffani Selhorst.
“It is an honor to rejoin the NAIA,” said Defiance College Director of Athletics Tiffani Selhorst. “Defiance College has a very successful history with the NAIA and we look forward to competing once again. We believe not only is DC a great fit for the NAIA, but also the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference. The WHAC is competitive and gives us room to grow. We are excited to immediately start competing in the 2024-2025 season. The WHAC matches the Defiance College mission and values and we hope the move will raise our competitiveness. Thank you to all that were involved in helping DC reach this point and we look forward to our future together!”
Defiance College will become full WHAC members in the following sports: Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Wrestling, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field, Baseball and Softball. They also intend to elevate Competitive Cheer, Dance and Esports to Varsity play within the WHAC. Yellow Jacket football will join four other WHAC schools as members of the Mid-States Football Association.
“The WHAC is honored to have Defiance College apply and receive unanimous approval for membership by our conference leadership,” said WHAC Commissioner Eric Ward. “They are a great fit geographically, philosophically, and competitively as a WHAC member and our institutions are excited and looking forward to welcoming them to the conference. We will immediately begin the onboarding process to make sure they are comfortable and familiar with NAIA and conference rules, policies, and expectations, and do everything possible to make sure their student-athletes and coaches are ready to compete next fall.”
The WHAC was established in 1992 and has featured 12 full-time members since 2018. The conference footprint spans Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Since 2021, the conference has offered 29 varsity sports which can be viewed on whac.net. Current full-time WHAC members include: Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Cleary University (Howell, Mich.), Concordia University-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Indiana Tech (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Lawrence Tech (Southfield, Mich.), Lourdes University (Sylvania, Ohio), Madonna University (Livonia, Mich.), Rochester University (Rochester Hills, Mich.) Siena Heights University (Adrian, Mich.), UM-Dearborn (Dearborn, Mich.) and University of Northwestern Ohio (Lima, Ohio).
