Oberlin hired Jeff Ramsey as head coach, hoping to reverse the fortunes of a program that is 3-85 in the 90s. Ramsey will inherit a 19-game losing streak. Ramsey has served as an assistant coach at Sonoma State, Nevada-Reno, UC-Davis and Marietta. He replaces Pete Peterson, who had a record of 1-48 in his five seasons.

Oberlin, a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, has had only one winning season since 1963.

Oberlin will not play a full NCAC schedule in 1999 and their games will not count towards other teams' NCAC record. The Yeomen have not won a conference game since 1992 and have not won at all since defeating Thiel 18-17 on Sept. 11, 1997.