Defiance College Officially Becomes 13th WHAC Member

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets have officially rejoined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with the beginning of the new academic calendar on July 1. The move was previously announced on October 6, 2023 after DC's Board of Trustees approved the change in affiliation. Defiance was one of five institutions unanimously approved by the NAIA membership committee in the fall. Click here to read the original announcement and here to explore commonly asked questions during the transitional period.

With the move, Defiance is now a full member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) and is immediately postseason-eligible within the conference and at the national level. DC football officially joins the Mid-States Football Association as a provisional member in 2024 and will gain full membership next fall.

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 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 a great fit for the institution and the conference alike. 

"The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference is honored and excited to welcome Defiance College back to the NAIA as our newest full member institution.," said WHAC Commissioner Eric Ward. "I know I speak for all of our presidents, ADs, coaches and student-athletes when I say that we look forward to working with their administration and coaches, and fully anticipate their meaningful contributions to the conference, competitiveness of their teams, and their many student successes on the court and in the classroom. Defiance College is a great addition to the WHAC."

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. 

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).