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Coastal Athletic Association
Coastal Athletic Association logo.svg
Formerly ECAC South,
Colonial Athletic Association
Association NCAA
Founded 1979
Commissioner Joe D'Antonio (since 2016)
Sports fielded
  • 23
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 13
Division Division I
Subdivision FCS
No. of teams 14 (13 in 2025)
Headquarters Richmond, Virginia
Region East Coast
Locations
Location of teams in Coastal Athletic Association

The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) is a group of colleges and universities that compete in sports. It used to be called the Colonial Athletic Association. These schools are all located along the East Coast, from Massachusetts down to South Carolina. Most of the schools in the CAA are public universities. The main office for the CAA is in Richmond.

The CAA started in 1979 as a basketball league called the ECAC. In 1985, it changed its name to the Colonial Athletic Association and started adding championships for other sports. Today, the CAA organizes competitions in 23 different sports for both men and women.

In 2005, Northeastern University joined the league. This was important because it gave the CAA enough schools to start sponsoring football games. The football part of the league is called CAA Football. It is managed by the CAA but works as a separate group.

Recently, in 2022 and 2023, several new schools joined the CAA. These included Hampton University, Monmouth University, North Carolina A&T State University, Stony Brook University, and Campbell University. On July 20, 2023, the league changed its name to the Coastal Athletic Association. This new name shows that the league now includes schools across a wider area of the East Coast.

History

Colonial Athletic Association logo
Logo used until 2013

The CAA has grown a lot over the years. Some older members like the Navy and the University of Richmond left. But new schools joined, making the conference bigger. In 2001, four new universities joined: Towson University, Drexel University, Hofstra University, and the University of Delaware. A few years later, Georgia State University and Northeastern University also became members.

The CAA has had many successes in sports. Teams from the CAA have won 16 national championships in different sports. For example, James Madison University won the women's lacrosse championship in 2018. Many individual athletes from CAA schools have also won national titles. In basketball, George Mason made it to the Final Four in 2006, which is a huge achievement. In 2011, the VCU Rams also reached the Final Four.

In 2013, George Mason University left the CAA. Around that time, the CAA stopped sponsoring wrestling because not enough teams were participating.

More recently, in 2021, James Madison University announced it would leave the CAA to join another conference, the Sun Belt Conference. This meant their football team would move to a higher level of competition. The CAA then added several new schools to keep growing. In January 2022, Hampton University, Monmouth University, and Stony Brook University joined. Then, in February 2022, North Carolina A&T State University joined, followed by Campbell University in 2023.

Finally, on July 20, 2023, the Colonial Athletic Association officially changed its name to the Coastal Athletic Association. This new name better represents all the schools now located along the East Coast. However, the conference's logo stayed the same.

In November 2023, Delaware announced it would leave the CAA in 2025 to join Conference USA.

Commissioners

Coastal Athletic Association Commissioner Joe D'Antonio (crop)
Joe D'Antonio
Name Dates
Tom Yeager 1979–July 1, 2016
Joe D'Antonio July 1, 2016–present

Member schools

Full members

Current full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment Nickname Colors
Campbell University Buies Creek, North Carolina 1887 2023 Private 5,622 $165,000,000 Fighting Camels          
College of Charleston Charleston, South Carolina 1770 2013 Public 10,783 $102,800,000 Cougars          
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 1743 2001 Public 23,281 $1,450,000,000 Fightin' Blue Hens          
Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1891 2001 Private 22,412 $798,300,000 Dragons          
Elon University Elon, North Carolina 1889 2014 6,991 $365,600,000 Phoenix          
Hampton University Hampton, Virginia 1868 2022 Private
(HBCU)
3,516 $280,600,000 Pirates & Lady Pirates          
Hofstra University Hempstead, New York 1935 2001 Private 10,871 $637,100,000 Pride               
Monmouth University West Long Branch, New Jersey 1933 2022 5,675 $108,463,000 Hawks          
North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 2022 Public
(HBCU)
13,332 $178,000,000 Aggies          
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 1898 2005 Private 21,627 $1,070,000,000 Huskies          
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 1957 2022 Public 26,782 $360,200,000 Seawolves               
Towson University Towson, Maryland 1866 1979, 2001 22,923 $87,800,000 Tigers          
University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina 1947 1984 17,499 $103,800,000 Seahawks               
College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 1693 1979 8,817 $1,278,400,000 Tribe               

Former full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors Current
conference
American University Washington, D.C. 1893 1984 2001 Private Eagles                Patriot
University of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland 1979 1981 Public Super Bees           none
Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. 1887 Private
(Roman Catholic)
Cardinals           Landmark
(NCAA Division III)
East Carolina University Greenville, North Carolina 1907 1981 2001 Public Pirates           American
George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia 1957 1979 2013 Patriots           Atlantic 10
Georgia State University Atlanta, Georgia 1913 2005 Panthers           Sun Belt
James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia 1908 1979 2022 Dukes          
United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland 1845 1979 1991 Federal
(Military)
Midshipmen           Patriot
Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia 1930 1982 Public Monarchs                Sun Belt
1991 2013
University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia 1830 1979 2001 Private Spiders           Atlantic 10
Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania 1847 1981 Private
(Roman Catholic)
Red Flash           Northeast
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia 1838 1995 2012 Public Rams           Atlantic 10

Associate members

In all tables below, dates of joining and departure reflect the calendar years these moves took effect. For spring sports, the year of arrival is the calendar year before the first season of competition. For fall sports, the year of departure is the calendar year after the final season of competition.

Current associate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors CAA
sport
Primary
conference
University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California 1960 2020 Public 40,473 Tritons           rowing (w) Big West
University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut 1881 2019 Public 32,257 Huskies           rowing (w) Big East
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan 1849 2012 Public 20,313 Eagles           rowing (w) Mid-American
Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut 1942 2014 Private 5,273 Stags      lacrosse (m) MAAC
Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania 1842 2015 Private 11,023 Wildcats           rowing (w) Big East

Former associate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors CAA
sport
Primary
conference
Conference
in former
CAA sport
Binghamton University Vestal, New York 1946 2001 2013 Public Bearcats                wrestling America East EIWA
Boston College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 1842 2001 2002 Private Eagles           wrestling ACC
Boston University Boston, Massachusetts 1839 2001
(wrestling)
2013 Terriers           wrestling Patriot none
2011
(rowing)
rowing (w) Patriot
University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York 1846 2008 2017 Public Bulls           rowing (w) MAC none
Campbell University Buies Creek, North Carolina 1887 1996 2008 Private Fighting Camels           wrestling Big South Southern
Davidson College Davidson, North Carolina 1837 2001 2007 Wildcats           swimming & diving Atlantic 10
University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio 1850 2002 2014 Flyers           golf (w) Atlantic 10 Metro Atlantic
Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia 1971 1991 1994 Flames                wrestling CUSA none
Loyola University Maryland Baltimore, Maryland 1852 2001 2002 Greyhounds           lacrosse (m) Patriot
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts 1863 2007 2012 Public Minutemen           lacrosse Atlantic 10
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina 1891 1994 1996 Spartans                wrestling SoCon none
Penn State University University Park, Pennsylvania 1855 2009 2014 Nittany Lions           lacrosse (m) Big Ten
University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia 1830 2002 Private Spiders           golf (w) Atlantic 10 Patriot
Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey 1865 2001 2013 Broncs                wrestling MAAC MAC
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania 1921 2009 Colonials                lacrosse (m) Horizon ASUN
(NEC in 2024)
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut 1963 2005
(lacrosse)
Pioneers           lacrosse (m) NEC
(MAAC in 2024)
MAAC
2001
(wrestling)
2010 wrestling EIWA
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1851 2010 2013 Hawks           lacrosse (m) Atlantic 10 Atlantic 10
Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania 1842 2001 2009 Wildcats           lacrosse (m) Big East
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia 1872 1992 1998 Public Hokies           wrestling ACC
Wagner College Staten Island, New York 1883 2001 2007 Private Seahawks           wrestling NEC none
Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio 1831 2002 2013 Musketeers                golf (w) Big East

Membership timeline

Campbell University Big South Conference ASUN Conference ASUN Conference Big South Conference NCAA Division I independent schools Stony Brook University America East Conference NCAA Division I independent schools New England Collegiate Conference (Division II) NCAA Division III independent schools Skyline Conference NCAA Division III independent schools North Carolina A&T State University Big South Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Monmouth University Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Northeast Conference Hampton University Big South Conference Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Elon University Southern Conference Big South Conference NCAA Division I independent schools South Atlantic Conference Conference Carolinas College of Charleston Southern Conference ASUN Conference NAIA independent schools Northeastern University America East Conference America East Conference America East Conference NCAA Division I independent schools Sun Belt Conference Georgia State University ASUN Conference ASUN Conference NCAA Division I independent schools Sun Belt Conference Hofstra University America East Conference America East Conference East Coast Conference (Division I) Drexel University America East Conference America East Conference East Coast Conference (Division I) Conference USA University of Delaware America East Conference America East Conference East Coast Conference (Division I) Atlantic 10 Conference Virginia Commonwealth University Metro Conference Sun Belt Conference University of North Carolina at Wilmington NCAA Division I FBS independent schools Patriot League American University East Coast Conference (Division I) American Athletic Conference USA Conference USA East Carolina University NCAA Division I FBS independent schools College of William & Mary Sun Belt Conference James Madison University Atlantic 10 Conference George Mason University Atlantic 10 Conference University of Richmond Patriot League United States Naval Academy Sun Belt Conference Conference USA Sun Belt Conference Old Dominion University Towson University America East Conference Big South Conference East Coast Conference (Division I) Northeast Conference Towson University Northeast Conference Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania) Landmark Conference Capital Athletic Conference Old Dominion Athletic Conference The Catholic University of America University of Baltimore

Full members (non-football)  Other Conference  Other Conference 

Sports

The CAA holds championship competitions in many different sports. There are ten sports for men and thirteen for women. Some schools are "associate members" in a few sports, meaning they only compete in those specific sports within the CAA. Football is managed separately by CAA Football.

Coastal Athletic Association teams
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
12
-
Basketball
14
14
Cross Country
11
13
Field Hockey
-
7
Golf
11
10
Lacrosse
8
9
Rowing
-
8
Soccer
11
13
Softball
-
12
Swimming & Diving
6
9
Tennis
11
13
Track and Field (Indoor)
8
13
Track and Field (Outdoor)
9
13
Volleyball
-
12

Men's sponsored sports by school

School Baseball Basketball Cross
country
Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming
& diving
Tennis Track &
field
(indoor)
Track &
field
(outdoor)
Total
CAA
sports
Campbell Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Charleston Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No 6
Delaware Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 7
Drexel No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No 6
Elon Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No 6
Hampton No Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes 6
Hofstra Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Monmouth Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
North Carolina A&T Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes 7
Northeastern Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No Yes Yes 6
Stony Brook Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes 7
Towson Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No No 5
UNC Wilmington Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes 8
William & Mary Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Totals 12 14 11 11 7+1 11 6 11 8 9 98+1
Associate members
Fairfield Yes 1
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the CAA which are played by CAA schools
School Football Gymnastics Ice hockey Sailing Squash Wrestling
Campbell CAA Football SoCon
Charleston SAISA
Delaware CAA Football
Drexel Independent EIWA
Elon CAA Football
Hampton CAA Football MAISA
Hofstra EIWA
Monmouth CAA Football
North Carolina A&T CAA Football
Northeastern Hockey East
Stony Brook CAA Football
Towson CAA Football
William & Mary CAA Football EIGL

Women's sponsored sports by school

School Basketball Cross
country
Field
hockey
Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming
& diving
Tennis Track &
field
(indoor)
Track &
field
(outdoor)
Volleyball Total
CAA
sports
Campbell Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
Charleston Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Delaware Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 13
Drexel Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No 8
Elon Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
Hampton Yes Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
Hofstra Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
Monmouth Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No 12
North Carolina A&T Yes Yes No Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
Northeastern Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes 9
Stony Brook Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
Towson Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 12
UNC Wilmington Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
William & Mary Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
Totals 14 13 7 10 9 4+4 13 12 9 13 13 13 12 139+4
Associate members
UC San Diego Yes 1
Eastern Michigan Yes 1
UConn Yes 1
Villanova Yes 1
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the CAA which are played by CAA schools
School Beach
volleyball
Bowling Equestrian Gymnastics Ice hockey Sailing Squash Triathlon
Charleston Sun Belt Independent SAISA
Delaware
Drexel Independent
Hampton MAISA Independent
Monmouth MEAC
North Carolina A&T MEAC
Northeastern Hockey East Independent
Towson EAGL
UNC Wilmington Sun Belt
William & Mary ECAC

Current champions

RS = regular-season champion; T = tournament champion

Season Sport Men's
champion
Women's
champion
Fall 2023 Cross country Stony Brook Elon
Field hockey Monmouth (RS)
William & Mary (T)
Soccer Hofstra & Monmouth (RS)
Hofstra (T)
Towson (RS & T)
Volleyball Towson (RS)
Delaware (T)
Winter 2023–24 Basketball Charleston (RS & T) Stony Brook (RS)
Drexel (T)
Swimming & diving UNCW UNCW
Spring 2023 Baseball UNCW (RS & T)
Golf UNCW Charleston
Lacrosse Delaware (RS & T) Stony Brook (RS & T)
Rowing Northeastern
Softball Delaware (RS)
Hofstra (T)
Tennis UNCW William & Mary
Track & field (outdoor) Northeastern Elon

Men's basketball

CAABasketball

The CAA has a strong history in men's basketball. Many teams have won regular season titles and tournament championships over the years.

Men's CAA tournament championships and finalists

School Championships Finals Appearances Years
Old Dominion 8 10 1980, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2010, 2011
UNC Wilmington 6 12 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2016, 2017
Richmond 5 8 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1998
VCU 5 8 1996, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012
James Madison 4 11 1981, 1983, 1994, 2013
George Mason 4 10 1989, 1999, 2001, 2008
Charleston 3 4 2018, 2023, 2024
Navy 3 5 1985, 1986, 1987
Northeastern 2 5 2015, 2019
Delaware 2 2 2014, 2022
Hofstra 1 4 2020
Drexel 1 2 2021
East Carolina 1 1 1993
William & Mary 0 5
Elon 0 1
Stony Brook 0 1
Campbell 0 0
Hampton 0 0
Monmouth 0 0
North Carolina A&T 0 0
Towson 0 0

Former member of the CAA

Women's basketball

The CAA also has a rich history in women's basketball, with many teams achieving success in both regular season play and tournaments.

Women's CAA tournament championships and finalists

School Championships Finals Appearances Years
Old Dominion 17 18 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
James Madison 9 17 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
Drexel 3 9 2009, 2021, 2024
Delaware 3 8 2012, 2013, 2022
East Carolina 2 6 1984, 1985
Richmond 2 4 1990, 1991
Elon 2 2 2017, 2018
Towson 1 2 2019
Monmouth 1 1 2023
American 0 2
George Mason 0 3
UNC Wilmington 0 2
Stony Brook 0 1
William & Mary 0 1
VCU 0 1
Campbell 0 0
Hampton 0 0
North Carolina A&T 0 0
Northeastern 0 0

Former member of the CAA

Football

The CAA also has its own football league, called CAA Football.

Men's soccer

The CAA has a history of strong men's soccer teams, with many schools winning regular season titles.

All-time conference championships

School Championships Outright Championships Years
James Madison ‡ 7 7 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2011, 2017, 2018
Hofstra 5 3 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023
UNC Wilmington 4 3 2008, 2009, 2014, 2019
Elon 2 0 2015, 2022
Towson 2 1 2011, 2012
Villanova ‡ 2 0 2009, 2012
William & Mary 2 0 2010, 2015
Delaware 1 0 2010
Monmouth 1 0 2023
Massachusetts ‡ 1 0 2007

Facilities

This table shows the main sports facilities for each school in the Coastal Athletic Association.

School Basketball arena (Nickname) Capacity Baseball park Capacity
Campbell Gore Arena 3,095 Jim Perry Stadium 1,250
Charleston TD Arena 5,100 CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriot's Point 2,000
Delaware Bob Carpenter Center (The "Bob") 5,000 Bob Hannah Stadium 1,300
Drexel Daskalakis Athletic Center (The "DAC") 2,509 Non-baseball school
Elon Schar Center 5,100 Walter C. Latham Park 500
Hampton Hampton Convocation Center 6,000 Non-baseball school
Hofstra Mack Sports Complex (The "Mack") 5,124 University Field 400
Monmouth OceanFirst Bank Center 4,100 Monmouth Baseball Field N/A
North Carolina A&T Corbett Sports Center 5,000 War Memorial Stadium 7,500
Northeastern Matthews Arena (men's)
Cabot Center (women's)
6,000
2,500
Parsons Field 3,000
Stony Brook Island Federal Credit Union Arena 4,160 Joe Nathan Field 1,000
Towson SECU Arena 5,200 John B. Schuerholz Baseball Complex 500
UNC Wilmington Trask Coliseum 5,200 Brooks Field 3,500
William & Mary Kaplan Arena 8,600 Plumeri Park 1,000

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Colonial Athletic Association para niños

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