Atlantic East Conference

The Atlantic East Conference is a newly founded NCAA Division III collegiate athletic conference in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.[1]

Atlantic East Conference
Established2018
AssociationNCAA
DivisionDivision III
Members7
Sports fielded
  • 20
RegionMid-Atlantic
HeadquartersLancaster, Pennsylvania
CommissionerJessica Huntley (since July 2018)
Websiteatlanticeast.com

History
Atlantic East Conference
🌍
Location of AEC members: full and affiliate.

Beginning play in July 2018, the league consists of seven private universities, each former members of either the Capital Athletic Conference, since renamed the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (C2C), or the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).[2] The charter members consisted of Cabrini University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Immaculata University, Marymount University, Marywood University, Neumann University and Wesley College.

On May 31, 2018, Jessica Huntley was named the inaugural commissioner of the Atlantic East.[3]

On September 16, 2019, the AEC announced its first affiliate member, St. Mary's College of Maryland, who would participate in field hockey starting in the 2020–21 season.[4] This will ultimately be St. Mary's only season in AEC field hockey, as that school will join the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC), which sponsors that sport, for 2021–22 and beyond.[5]

On November 19, 2019, it was announced that William Paterson University will become an affiliate member in men's golf starting in the 2019–20 season. [6]

On January 12, 2020, it was announce that Cedar Crest College would join the AEC as an affiliate member in women's swimming & diving. [7]

On August 17, 2020 and August 19, 2020, it was announced that Gallaudet University and St. Mary's College of Maryland, respectively, would also become an affiliate member in men's and women's swimming and diving.[8] [9]

On July 9, 2020, Delaware State University announced that it would acquire Wesley College starting in the 2021–22 school year, due to the financial struggles Wesley faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10]

On June 18, 2021, Centenary University announced its move to Atlantic East from the CSAC also in 2021–22.[11] Centenary is the conference's first non-Catholic member institution.

On June 29, 2021, New Jersey City University announced that it would be joining the Atlantic East as an affiliate member in men's and women's golf starting in the 2021–22 season.[12]

Member schools

Full members
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined
Cabrini University Radnor, Pennsylvania Cavaliers 1957 Private/Catholic 1,759 2018-19
Centenary University Hackettstown, New Jersey Cyclones 1867 Private/United Methodist 1,597 2021-22
Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania Griffins 1948 Private/Catholic 2,017 2018-19
Immaculata University Immaculata, Pennsylvania Mighty Macs 1940 Private/Catholic 1,043 2018-19
Marymount University Arlington, Virginia Saints 1950 Private/Catholic 3,684 2018-19
Marywood University Scranton, Pennsylvania Pacers 1915 Private/Catholic 2,470 2018-19
Neumann University Aston, Pennsylvania Knights 1965 Private/Catholic 3,000 2018-19

Associate members
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Primary
conference		 AEC
sport
Cedar Crest College Allentown, Pennsylvania Falcons 1867 Private 1,885 2020–21 CSAC Women's swimming
Gallaudet University Washington, D.C. Bison 1864 Private/
Quasigovernmental		 1,740 2020–21 NEAC Men's & women's swimming
New Jersey City University Jersey City, New Jersey Gothic Knights 1929 Public 7,300 2021–22 NJAC Men's & women's golf
St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City, Maryland Seahawks 1840 Public 1,950 2020–21 NEAC Men's & women's swimming; field hockey
William Paterson University Wayne, New Jersey Pioneers 1855 Public 10,970 2019–20 NJAC Men's golf

Former members
Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Current conference
Wesley College Dover, Delaware Wolverines 1873 Private/United Methodist 2,400 2018-19 2020-21 None
(Acquired by Delaware State in 2021)

Membership timeline
New Jersey City UniversitySt. Mary's College of MarylandCedar Crest CollegeWilliam Paterson UniversityCentenary CyclonesWesley WolverinesNeumann KnightsMarywood PacersMarymount SaintsImmaculata Mighty MacsGwynedd Mercy GriffinsCabrini Cavaliers

Sports

The Atlantic East sponsored 20 sports at its launch—nine for men and 11 for women.

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballY
BasketballYY
Cross countryYY
Field hockeyY
GolfYY
LacrosseYY
SoccerYY
SoftballY
Swimming & divingYY
TennisYY
Track & field (outdoor)YY
VolleyballY

Men's sponsored sports by school
School Baseball Basketball Cross
country		 Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming
& diving		 Tennis Track
& field
(outdoor)		 Total
AEC
sports
Cabrini Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N 8
Centenary Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N 6
Gwynedd Mercy Y Y Y N Y Y N Y Y 7
Immaculata Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y 8
Marymount Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Marywood Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 9
Neumann Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y 8
Totals 7 7 7 5+2 7 7 4+2 6 5 55+4
Gallaudet Y 1
NJCU Y 1
St. Mary's Y 1
William Paterson Y 1

    Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic East Conference that are played by Atlantic East schools
    School Equestiran Ice
    hockey    		 Rugby Track
    & field
    (indoor)    		 Volleyball Wrestling
    Centenary IHSA[upper-alpha 1] N N N N Independent
    Gwynedd Mercy N N N ECAC N N
    Immaculata N N N N CVC N
    Marymount N N N N CVC N
    Marywood N N MARC ECAC N N
    Neumann N UCHC N ECAC CVC N
    1. Centenary's equestrian program is not sponsored by the NCAA but through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

    Women's sponsored sports by school
    School Basketball Cross
    country    		 Field
    hockey    		 Golf Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swimming
    & diving    		 Tennis Track
    & field
    (outdoor)    		 Volleyball Total
    AEC
    sports
    Cabrini Y Y Y Y[lower-alpha 1] Y Y Y Y Y N Y 10
    Centenary Y Y N N Y Y Y N N N Y 6
    Gwynedd Mercy Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y 9
    Immaculata Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 10
    Marymount Y Y N Y[lower-alpha 1] Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 10
    Marywood Y Y Y Y[lower-alpha 2] Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 11
    Neumann Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N[lower-alpha 3] Y Y Y 10
    Totals 7 7 5+1 4+1 7 7 7 4+3 6 5 7 66+5
    Cedar Crest Y 1
    Gallaudet Y 1
    NJCU Y 1
    St. Mary's Y Y 2
    Notes
    1. Cabrini University and Marymount University are also affiliate members of the Centennial Conference in women's golf.
    2. Marywood University is also an affiliate member of the Landmark Conference in women's golf.
    3. Neumann University announced the addition of women's swimming for the 2015-16 season but has yet to have its inaugural season.

    Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic East Conference that are played by Atlantic East schools
    School Equestrian[lower-alpha 1] Rowing Rugby[lower-alpha 2] Track
    & field
    (indoor)
    Cabrini N MARC N N
    Centenary IHSA[lower-alpha 3] N N N
    Gwynedd Mercy N N N ECAC
    Marywood N N MARC ECAC
    Neumann N N N ECAC
    1. Although equestrianism in NCAA Divisions I and II is included in the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, D-III equestrian is still outside that program.
    2. Women's rugby in all NCAA divisions is part of the Emerging Sports for Women program.
    3. Centenary's equestrian program is governed by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

    Current Champions
    Season Sport Women's Champion Mens Champion
    Fall 2019 Cross Country Marywood (2) Marywood (2)
    Field Hockey Marywood (1) N/A
    Soccer Cabrini (1) Immaculata (1)
    Volleyball Marymount (2) N/A
    Winter 2019-20 Basketball Marymount (2) Wesley (1)
    Winter 2020-21 Swimming St. Mary's (1) Cabrini (3)
    Spring 2021 Baseball N/A Marymount (1)
    Golf Marymount (2) Cabrini (2)
    Lacrosse Cabrini (2) Cabrini (2)
    Softball Wesley (1) N/A
    Tennis Immaculata (2) Cabrini (2)
    Outdoor Track & Field Marywood (2) Marywood (2)

    References
    1. "Atlantic East has name, formal announcement". D3sports.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
    2. "A new conference shuffle coming". D3sports.com. June 6, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
    3. "Huntley Named Atlantic East Conference Founding Commissioner". D3sports.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
    4. "St. Mary's College (Md.) to Join Atlantic East as Field Hockey Affiliate". Marywood Pacers. September 16, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    5. "St. Mary's College of Maryland to Join North Eastern Athletic Conference in 2021" (Press release). North Eastern Athletic Conference. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
    6. "ATLANTIC EAST WELCOMES WILLIAM PATERSON AS MEN'S GOLF AFFILIATE, EFFECTIVE SPRING 2020". Atlantic East Conference. November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    7. "ATLANTIC EAST WELCOMES CEDAR CREST AS WOMEN'S SWIM AND DIVE AFFILIATE, EFFECTIVE FALL 2020". Atlantic East Conference. January 12, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    8. "GALLAUDET TO JOIN ATLANTIC EAST AS ASSOCIATE MEMBER IN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING, EFFECTIVE FALL 2020". Atlantic East Conference. August 17, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    9. "Atlantic East Welcomes St. Mary's College of Maryland as Men's and Women's Swimming Affiliate, Effective Fall 2020". Atlantic East Conference. August 19, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    10. "University announces an agreement to acquire Wesley College". Delaware State University. July 9, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
    11. "Centenary Athletics Moving to the Atlantic East Conference". Centenary Cyclones. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
    12. "NJCU Joins Atlantic East Conference as Associate Members in Men's & Women's Golf". NJCU Knights. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
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