Colonial Athletic Association

Colonial Athletic Association. The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I athletic conference that was established in 1983, with its headquarters located in Richmond, Virginia. The conference consists of 13 member schools, including University of Delaware, Drexel University, College of Charleston, and University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The conference is affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and competes in 21 sports, including basketball, football, and baseball, with teams participating in tournaments such as the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

● History

The conference was founded in 1983 by a group of schools from the Eastern College Athletic Conference, including University of Richmond, William & Mary, and James Madison University. The conference has undergone several expansions and contractions over the years, with schools such as Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University joining and leaving the conference. The conference has also been affiliated with other athletic conferences, including the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Patriot League. Notable events in the conference's history include the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, where LSU Tigers basketball played against Louisville Cardinals men's basketball, and the 2007 NCAA Division I Football Championship, where Appalachian State Mountaineers football played against Massachusetts Minutemen football.

● Member Schools

The conference currently consists of 13 member schools, including University of Delaware, Drexel University, College of Charleston, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Northeastern University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Hofstra University, Towson University, Elon University, James Madison University, William & Mary, and Monmouth University. These schools are located in the East Coast of the United States, with the majority located in the Mid-Atlantic states, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.. The conference also has affiliate members, including University of Albany and Stony Brook University, which participate in sports such as lacrosse and football, with teams competing in tournaments such as the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship and the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

● Championships

The conference sponsors championships in 21 sports, including basketball, football, baseball, and soccer. The conference has produced several national champions, including the University of Delaware football team, which won the 2003 NCAA Division I Football Championship, and the Old Dominion University field hockey team, which won the 2020 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship. The conference also participates in tournaments such as the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Football Championship, with teams competing against other conferences, including the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference. Notable athletes from the conference include Joe Flacco, who played in the Super Bowl XLVII, and Caroline Stanley, who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

● Sports

The conference sponsors sports such as basketball, football, baseball, and soccer, with teams competing against other conferences, including the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Patriot League. The conference also participates in tournaments such as the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Football Championship, with teams competing against other conferences, including the Big Ten Conference and the Big 12 Conference. Notable coaches from the conference include Tubby Smith, who coached at University of Kentucky, and Mark Turgeon, who coached at University of Maryland, College Park. The conference has also produced several notable athletes, including Steve Blake, who played in the NBA Finals, and Dawn Staley, who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

● Facilities

The conference member schools have a variety of facilities, including John A. Daskalakis Athletic Center at Drexel University, Trask Coliseum at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Bob Carpenter Center at University of Delaware. These facilities host conference championships and tournaments, including the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament and the Colonial Athletic Association Football Championship Game. The conference also has partnerships with other facilities, including RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. and Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, which host conference championships and tournaments, including the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

● Media Rights

The conference has media rights agreements with several networks, including ESPN, CBS Sports Network, and NBC Sports. The conference also has a partnership with FloSports, which streams conference events and championships, including the Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament and the Colonial Athletic Association Football Championship Game. The conference also has a radio network, which broadcasts conference games and championships, including the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Football Championship. Notable broadcasters from the conference include Mike Tirico, who worked at ESPN, and Verne Lundquist, who worked at CBS Sports. The conference has also partnered with other media outlets, including The New York Times and USA Today, to provide coverage of conference events and championships.

Category:National Collegiate Athletic Association