Defiance College is a private college located in Defiance, Ohio and affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The campus includes eighteen buildings and access to the Thoreau Wildlife Sanctuary. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, but the college has been on probation since 2023 for concerns with one out of the eighteen accreditation criteria.
History
The college began as Defiance Female Seminary in 1850 and was opened by the Christian Connection, which itself later became part of the United Church of Christ, to provide schooling for young women. In 1903 the Defiance Female Seminary formally became Defiance College, making it one of only two religious-affiliated colleges to begin operation in Ohio during the 20th century.
McCann era
During President Kevin McCann's leadership (1951–1964), the campus increased in size to ; the library, student union, and Pilgrim halls were built; and old buildings were renovated. President Dwight D. Eisenhower paid two visits to Defiance. On October 15, 1953, he laid the cornerstone for the Anthony Wayne Library of American Study . Eisenhower re-visited the campus on May 26, 1963, to deliver the commencement address, at which time the college announced that one room in the library had been designated "the Eisenhower Room," honoring the friendship between Eisenhower and Kevin C. McCann.
Athletics
The Defiance College Yellow Jackets compete in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) as an NCAA Division III school. On October 6, 2023, it was announced that the Defiance College Yellow Jackets would rejoin the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) on July 1, 2024 and would compete in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) in every sport except for football. The Defiance College Football team would join the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).
Men's
Baseball
Basketball
Cross country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Track and field
Wrestling
Women's
Basketball
Cross country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Track and field
Cheer and Dance
Volleyball
Notable alumni
John Ashton, film actor
Pam Borton, former Division 1 Final Four women's basketball head coach
John Brennan Crutchley, convicted serial killer, rapist, and kidnapper
Ben Davis, football player
Esquire Jauchem, producer, director, and designer in theater, opera, dance, and television Don Martindale, football coach Richard Mourdock, Treasurer of State, Indiana Bruce Shingledecker, painter