America East Conference | |
---|---|
Established | 1979 |
Association | NCAA |
Division | Division I |
Subdivision | non-football |
Members | 10 full (4 associate; 9 full with 4 associate in 2022) |
Sports fielded |
|
Region | Northeastern United States |
Former names | Eastern College Athletic Conference-North (1979–1988) North Atlantic Conference (1988–1996) |
Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
Commissioner | Brad Walker (since 2021) |
Website | www |
Locations | |
The America East Conference is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division I founded in 1979, whose members are located in the Northeastern United States.
The conference has ten core members including nine public research universities, four of which, Stony Brook University, the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Vermont, are the flagship universities of their states, with Stony Brook also being a member of the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of American and Canadian research universities. The two non-flagship university centers of the State University of New York are in the conference: the University at Albany and Binghamton University. The University of Hartford, currently scheduled to leave the conference in 2023, is the only private university among the core membership. Of the ten members, nine are located within the borders of 7 contiguous states. The tenth, UMBC, is the only institution outside this bloc of states. UMass Lowell and NJIT are the latest institutions to join the conference.
Stony Brook University and the University of Hartford are set to depart the conference in 2022.
The America East Conference sponsors 18 sports (8 men's and 10 women's). The conference is among the best in the country according to Graduation Success Rate (GSR) data released by the NCAA.
The America East Conference was founded as the Eastern College Athletic Conference-North, a men's basketball-only athletic conference in 1979. The conference was known as the Eastern College Athletic Conference-North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from 1988 to 1996. The charter members were the University of Rhode Island, the College of the Holy Cross, Canisius College, Niagara University, Colgate University, Northeastern University, Boston University, the University of Maine, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. The America East Conference made history during the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament on March 16, 2018, when No. 16 seed UMBC defeated No. 1 seed Virginia, marking the first time in men's tournament history that a No. 1 seed had lost to a No. 16 seed.[1]
Many other events have occurred since its formation:
On May 6, 2021, Hartford's governing board voted to begin the process of transitioning the school from Division I to NCAA Division III. Under the plan, Hartford would formally apply to the NCAA for reclassification in January 2022, stop awarding athletic scholarships to incoming students from 2022 to 2023 forward, and join an as-yet-undetermined D-III conference in 2023 before becoming a full D-III member in 2025–26.[8][9]
This ESPN story says Hartford's last year in the American East Conference will the 2021-22 season! [10]
At the time, Hartford was the only private university in the conference; this status will transfer to Bryant once it joins in July 2022.
Departing member highlighted in pink.
Institution | Location | Founded | Joining | Type | Endowment | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryant University | Smithfield, Rhode Island | 1863 | 2022 | Private | $174.2 million | 3,751 | Bulldogs | NEC |
Five schools currently hold associate membership: 3 from California, 1 from Virginia, and 1 from New Jersey.
Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Joined | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | AmEast sport |
Primary conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California | 1868 | Public | 2015–16 | 36,204 | Golden Bears | Field hockey[b] | Pac-12 | |
Stanford University | Stanford, California | 1891 | Private | 17,249 | Cardinal | ||||
University of California, Davis | Davis, California | 1905 | Public | 34,175 | Aggies | Big West | |||
Monmouth University | West Long Branch, New Jersey | 1933 | Private | 2019–20 | 6,500 | Hawks | MAAC | ||
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) |
Lexington, Virginia | 1839 | Public | 2017–18[c] | 1,653 | Keydets | men's swimming & diving women's swimming & diving |
SoCon |
Four schools have had single-sport membership in the past. Two of these, Fairfield[17] and Providence,[18] moved their America East sports into their all-sports conferences. The third, NJIT, left when it joined a conference that sponsored its America East sport,[19] but returned as a full member in July 2020. Pacific dropped its America East sport following the 2018–19 academic year due to budget cuts.[20]
Institution | Location | Founded | Joined | Left | Enrollment | Nickname | Colors | AmEast sport |
Primary conference |
Conference in former AmEast sport |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fairfield University | Fairfield, Connecticut | 1942 | 2007–08 | 2014–15 | 3,800 | Stags | Field hockey | MAAC | ||
New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, New Jersey | 1881 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 11,518 | Highlanders | Women's tennis | America East | ||
Providence College | Providence, Rhode Island | 1917 | 2010–11 | 2013–14 | 3,850 | Friars | Women's volleyball | Big East | ||
University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | 1851 | 2015–16 | 2018–19 | 6,196 | Tigers | Field hockey | WCC | Discontinued program |
Full members (non-football) Assoc. member (list sports) Other Conference Other Conference
The America East Conference sponsors championship competition in eight men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[21] The most recent changes to the roster of America East sports were announced in 2016, with the dropping of women's tennis after the 2015–16 season due to a lack of sponsoring teams and the revival of men's swimming and diving effective in the 2017–18 school year.[16]
Sport | Men's | Women's |
---|---|---|
Baseball | 8 |
-
|
Basketball | 10 |
10
|
Cross Country | 10 |
10
|
Field Hockey | - |
9
|
Lacrosse | 8 |
8
|
Soccer | 9 |
10
|
Softball | - |
7
|
Swimming & Diving | 5 |
7
|
Track and Field (Indoor) | 10 |
10
|
Track and Field (outdoor) | 10 |
10
|
Volleyball | - |
7
|
School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & Diving | Track & Field (indoor) |
Track & Field (outdoor) |
Total Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | ![]() |
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7 |
Binghamton | ![]() |
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8 |
Hartford | ![]() |
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7 |
Maine | ![]() |
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6 |
New Hampshire | ![]() |
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5 |
NJIT | ![]() |
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8 |
Stony Brook | ![]() |
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7 |
UMass Lowell | ![]() |
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7 |
UMBC | ![]() |
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8 |
Vermont | ![]() |
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6 |
Totals | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 4+1[a] | 10 | 10 | 69+1 |
Future members | |||||||||
Bryant | ![]() |
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8 |
School | Fencing | Football | Golf | Ice Hockey | Skiing | Tennis | Volleyball | Wrestling |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | No | CAA | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Binghamton | No | No | Big Sky | No | No | Mid-American | No | EIWA |
Bryant | No | Big South[a] | NEC[b] | No | No | NEC[b] | No | No |
Hartford | No | No | Big Sky | No | No | No | No | No |
Maine | No | CAA | No | Hockey East | No | No | No | No |
New Hampshire | No | CAA | No | Hockey East | EISA | No | No | No |
NJIT | MACFA | No | No | No | No | Southland | EIVA | No |
Stony Brook | No | CAA | No | No | No | No | No | No |
UMass Lowell | No | No | No | Hockey East | No | No | No | No |
Vermont | No | No | No | Hockey East | EISA | No | No | No |
School | Basketball | Cross Country |
Field Hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving |
Track & Field (indoor) |
Track & Field (outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total Sports |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | ![]() |
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9 |
Binghamton | ![]() |
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9 |
Hartford | ![]() |
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8 |
Maine | ![]() |
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8 |
New Hampshire | ![]() |
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9 |
NJIT | ![]() |
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6 |
Stony Brook | ![]() |
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9 |
UMass Lowell | ![]() |
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8 |
UMBC | ![]() |
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9 |
Vermont | ![]() |
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8 |
Totals | 10 | 10 | 5+4[a] | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6+1[b] | 10 | 10 | 7 | 83+5 |
Future members | |||||||||||
Bryant | ![]() |
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10 |
School | Bowling | Fencing | Golf | Gymnastics | Ice Hockey | Rowing | Skiing | Tennis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany | No | No | MAAC | No | No | No | No | No |
Binghamton | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Independent |
Bryant | NEC[a] | No | NEC[a] | No | No | Independent | No | NEC[a] |
Hartford | No | No | MAAC | No | No | No | No | No |
Maine | No | No | No | No | Hockey East | No | No | No |
New Hampshire | No | No | No | EAGL | Hockey East | No | EISA | No |
NJIT | No | MACFA | No | No | No | No | No | Southland |
Stony Brook | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Missouri Valley |
Vermont | No | No | No | No | Hockey East | No | EISA | No |
School | Total | Men | Women | Co-ed | Nickname | Most successful sport (Titles) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
None | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None | None |
No America East school has won a national title in a sport sponsored by the conference; however, member institutions have been national champions in non-America East sports.
Main article: America East Conference Men's Basketball Tournament |
This list goes through the 2018–19 season.
No. | Team | Records | Win Pct. | America East Tournament Championships |
America East Regular Season Championships |
Final Fours | National Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Albany | 1,296-968 | .572 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Stony Brook | 864-724 | .544 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
3 | Vermont | 1,268-1126 | .530 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
4 | UMass Lowell | 646-608 | .515 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Hartford | 857-987 | .465 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Maine | 973–1215 | .445 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | New Hampshire | 926-1355 | .406 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
8 | UMBC | 581-860 | .403 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
9 | Binghamton | 679-1022 | .399 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* | Denotes a tie for regular season conference title |
† | Denotes game went into overtime |
Year | Regular Season Champion | Record |
---|---|---|
1979–80 | Boston | 19–7 |
1980–81 | Northeastern | 21–5 |
1981–82 | Northeastern | 8–1 |
1982–83 | Boston | 8–2 |
1983–84 | Northeastern | 14–0 |
1984–85* | Canisius Northeastern |
13–3 |
1985–86 | Northeastern | 16–2 |
1986–87 | Northeastern | 17–1 |
1987–88 | Siena | 16–2 |
1988–89 | Siena | 16–1 |
1989–90* | Northeastern Boston |
9–3 |
1990–91 | Northeastern | 8–2 |
1991–92 | Delaware | 14–0 |
1992–93 | Drexel | 12–2 |
1993–94 | Drexel | 12–2 |
1994–95 | Drexel | 12–4 |
1995–96 | Drexel | 17–1 |
1996–97 | Boston | 17–1 |
1997–98* | Delaware Boston |
12–6 |
1998–99* | Delaware Drexel |
15–3 |
1999–00 | Hofstra | 16–2 |
2000–01 | Hofstra | 16–2 |
2001–02 | Vermont | 13–3 |
2002–03 | Boston | 13–3 |
2003–04 | Boston | 17–1 |
2004–05 | Vermont | 16–2 |
2005–06 | Albany | 13–3 |
2006–07 | Vermont | 15–1 |
2007–08 | UMBC | 13–3 |
2008–09* | Binghamton Vermont |
13–3 |
2009–10 | Stony Brook | 13–3 |
2010–11 | Vermont | 13–3 |
2011–12 | Stony Brook | 14–2 |
2012–13 | Stony Brook | 14–2 |
2013–14 | Vermont | 15–1 |
2014–15 | Albany | 15–1 |
2015–16 | Stony Brook | 14–2 |
2016–17 | Vermont | 16–0 |
2017–18 | Vermont | 15–1 |
2018–19 | Vermont | 14–2 |
2019–20 | Vermont | 14–2 |
2020-21* | UMBC Vermont |
10-4 |
2021–22 | Vermont | 17–1 |
Main article: 2018 UMBC vs. Virginia men's basketball game |
During the 2018 NCAA Tournament, UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's tournament, beating the Virginia Cavaliers 74–54.[22][23]
Main article: America East Conference Women's Basketball Tournament |
No. | Team | Records | Win Pct. | America East Tournament Championships |
America East Regular Season Championships |
Final Fours | National Championships |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maine | 705–522 | .575 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
2 | Albany | 624–578 | .519 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
3 | New Hampshire | 583–545 | .517 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
4 | Vermont | 521–493 | .514 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
5 | Stony Brook | 594–602 | .497 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Binghamton | 504–512 | .496 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7 | Hartford | 550–596 | .480 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
8 | UMass Lowell | 537–600 | .472 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
9 | UMBC | 520–711 | .422 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
* | Denotes a tie for regular season conference title |
† | Denotes game went into overtime |
Year | Regular Season Champion | Record |
---|---|---|
1984–85* | New Hampshire Northeastern |
|
1985–86 | Northeastern | 10–2 |
1986–87 | Northeastern | 12–2 |
1987–88* | Boston Maine |
12–2 |
1988–89 | Maine | 13–1 |
1989–90 | Maine | 11–1 |
1990–91 | Maine | 9–1 |
1991–92 | Vermont | 14–0 |
1992–93 | Vermont | 14–0 |
1993–94 | Maine | 12–2 |
1994–95 | Maine | 14–2 |
1995–96 | Maine | 18–0 |
1996–97 | Maine | 17–1 |
1997–98 | Vermont | 15–3 |
1998–99 | Maine | 17–1 |
1999–00 | Vermont | 15–3 |
2000–01 | Delaware | 17–1 |
2001–02 | Vermont | 14–2 |
2002–03 | Maine | 16–0 |
2003–04 | Maine | 17–1 |
2004–05 | Maine | 16–2 |
2005–06 | Hartford | 15–1 |
2006–07 | Hartford | 15–1 |
2007–08 | Hartford | 14–2 |
2008–09 | Boston | 16–0 |
2009–10 | Hartford | 16–0 |
2010–11 | UMBC | 13–3 |
2011–12 | Boston | 15–1 |
2012–13 | Albany | 16–0 |
2013–14 | Albany | 15–1 |
2014–15* | Albany Maine |
14–2 |
2015–16* | Albany Maine |
15–1 |
2016–17 | New Hampshire | 15–1 |
2017–18 | Maine | 13–3 |
2018–19 | Maine | 15–1 |
Main article: America East Conference Men's Lacrosse Tournament |
Main article: America East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament |