Glendale and Kickapoo Accepted, Will Replace Branson and Carl Junction in COC

The Central Ozark Conference will remain a 10-team league after Glendale and Kickapoo accepted invitations to join the conference.

The Nixa School District was among several organizations and outlets that released the information welcoming the two schools to the conference. 

The move will keep the COC as a 10-team league which means they schools will not have to schedule any out-of-conference games during the nine-week regular season. The two schools will take the place of Branson and Carl Junction, who announced earlier this month that they would leave after the spring of 2024 to join the new Ozark Mountain Conference along with Bolivar, Marshfield, Rogersville, and West Plains. Hillcrest was later added to the group giving the new OMC seven members. 

The Ozark Conference has now lost half of its 10 football schools the the moves of Bolivar, Glendale, Hillcrest, Kickapoo, and West Plains. Parkview is now the lone Springfield School in the OC along with Camdenton, Lebanon, Rolla, and Waynesville. Springfield Central is independent in football but an OC Member in other sports. 

The moves follow action by several other schools that announced departures from the Big Eight East Division, Besides Marshfield and Rogersville, Hollister, Reeds Spring, and Springfield Catholic announced a move to join five schools including Forsyth in the Mid-Lakes Conference.

An announcement from Springfield Public Schools on these moves and possible futures for Central and Parkview is expected in the next few days.

Current Conference Alignment beginning with the 2024-25 School Year:
OMC: Bolivar, Branson, Carl Junction, Hillcrest, Marshfield, Rogersville, West Plains
COC: Carthage, Glendale, Kickapoo, Joplin, Neosho, Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Webb City, Willard
Mid-Lakes: Clever, Fair Grove, Forsyth, Hollister, Reeds Spring, Skyline, Springfield Catholic, Strafford
Big Eight: Aurora, Cassville, East Newton, Lamar, Monett, McDonald County, Mt Vernon, Nevada, Seneca  
OC: Camdenton, Central, Lebanon, Parkview, Rolla, Waynesville