Atlantic East Conference
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 |
| Commissioner | Rebecca Mullen (Interim) (since July 2024) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Headquarters | Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Region | Mid-Atlantic |
| Website | atlanticeast.com |
| Locations | |
 | |
The Atlantic East Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.[1]
On August 11, 2026, the conference announced it would disband following the 2026–27 school year.[2][3]
History
37miles
Elizabeth
full affiliate departingBeginning 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).[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] The United East Conference (formerly NEAC), reversed their decision to add field hockey, thus St. Mary's remained as an affiliate in the sport.
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.[8]
On January 12, 2020, it was announced that Cedar Crest College would join the AEC as an affiliate member in women's swimming & diving.[9]
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.[10][11]
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.[12]
On June 18, 2021, Centenary University announced its move to Atlantic East from the CSAC also in 2021–22.[13] 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.[14]
In 2023, the conference announced that it would add women's flag football as a fully sponsored sport, with the first season planned for spring 2025.[15] The first season took place on the announced schedule, with the initial membership consisting of full members Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann and associate members Eastern University; NCAA Division II member Holy Family University; and Penn State Schuylkill, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association instead of the NCAA. In 2025–26, full conference member Marywood added the sport, and another Division II member, Chestnut Hill College, joined as an associate member. The AEC is the first NCAA conference to officially sponsor flag football.[16]
After Pratt Institute and Saint Elizabeth University announced that both would join the City University of New York Athletic Conference starting in 2027–28 athletic season, on August 11, 2026, the Atlantic East announced that following the 2026–27 school year, the remaining four institutions will join the United East.[2][3]
Chronological timeline
- 2018 – The Atlantic East Conference was founded. Charter members included Cabrini University, Gwynedd Mercy University, Immaculata University, Marymount University, Marywood University, Neumann University and Wesley College, beginning the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2019 – William Paterson University joined the Atlantic East as an associate member for men's golf in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
- 2020 – Three institutions joined the Atlantic East as associate members, all effective in the 2020–21 academic year:
- Gallaudet University for men's and women's swimming & diving
- St. Mary's College of Maryland for field hockey and men's and women's swimming & diving
- and Cedar Crest College for women's swimming and diving
- 2021:
- Wesley left the Atlantic East after the 2020–21 academic year; as the school announced that it would be acquired by Delaware State University, therefore ceasing operations.
- Centenary College of New Jersey (now Centenary University) joined the Atlantic East in the 2021–22 academic year.
- New Jersey City University (NJCU) joined the Atlantic East as an associate member for men's and women's golf in the 2022 spring season (2021–22 academic year).
- 2023:
- New Jersey City (NJCU) left the Atlantic East as an associate member for men's and women's golf after the 2023 spring season (2022–23 academic year).
- The Atlantic East announced that it would add women's flag football as a fully sponsored sport, with a planned start date of the 2025 spring season (2024–25 academic year).
- 2024:
- Two institutions left the Atlantic East as associate members, both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
- St. Mary's (Maryland) for field hockey
- and William Paterson for men's golf
- Cabrini left the Atlantic East after the 2023–24 academic year; as the school announced that it had been sold to nearby Villanova University and had ceased operations.
- Pratt Institute joined the Atlantic East in the 2024–25 academic year.
- Also in the 2024–25 academic year, the Atlantic East became the first NCAA conference to sponsor women's flag football as a varsity sport.
- Two institutions left the Atlantic East as associate members, both effective after the 2023–24 academic year:
- 2025 – Saint Elizabeth University joined the Atlantic East in the 2025–26 academic year.
- 2026 – Marywood and Neumann both left the Atlantic East to join the Middle Atlantic Conferences, beginning the 2026–27 academic year.
- 2027 – The Atlantic East announced that it would dissolve at the conclusion of the 2026–27 academic year; as many schools will leave to join their respective new home primary conferences, beginning the 2027–28 school year:
- Centenary, Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, and Marymount will join the United East Conference.
- Pratt and Saint Elizabeth will join the City University of New York Athletic Conference.
Member schools
Full members
The AEC currently has six full members, all are private schools:
Member departing for the United East Conference on July 1, 2027.
Member departing for the City University of New York Athletic Conference on July 1, 2027.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary University | Hackettstown, New Jersey | 1867 | United Methodist | 1,597 | Cyclones | 2021 | |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania | 1948 | Catholic (Sisters of Mercy) |
2,017 | Griffins | 2018 | |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | 1940 | Catholic (I.H.M.) |
1,043 | Mighty Macs | 2018 | |
| Marymount University | Arlington, Virginia | 1950 | Catholic (RSHM) |
3,684 | Saints | 2018 | |
| Pratt Institute | Brooklyn, New York | 1887 | Nonsectarian | 4,907 | Cannoneers | 2024 | |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown, New Jersey | 1899 | Catholic (Sisters of Charity) |
1,200 | Eagles | 2025 |
- Notes
- ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
Associate members
The AEC currently has eight associate members, three being public schools, one being a privately governed but state-supported institution, and the rest being private schools.
- Notes
- ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- 1 2 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
- ↑ Formerly affiliated with the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) within the Catholic Church until the 1970s.
- ↑ Currently an USCAA athletic conference.
- ↑ St. Mary's (Md.) competed in the Atlantic East as an associate member for field hockey from the 2020 to 2023 fall seasons (2020–21 to 2023–24 school years).
Former members
The AEC had four former full members, all private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrini University | Radnor, Pennsylvania | 1957 | Catholic (Missionary Sisters) |
1,759 | Cavaliers | 2018 | 2024 | N/A[c] |
| Marywood University | Scranton, Pennsylvania | 1915 | Catholic (I.H.M.) |
2,470 | Pacers | 2018 | 2026 | MAC Freedom |
| Neumann University | Aston, Pennsylvania | 1965 | Catholic (Franciscan) |
3,000 | Knights | 2018 | 2026 | MAC Commonwealth |
| Wesley College | Dover, Delaware | 1873 | United Methodist | 2,400 | Wolverines | 2018 | 2021 | N/A[d] |
- Notes
- ↑ Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
- ↑ Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
- ↑ Cabrini was acquired by Villanova University in 2024.
- ↑ Wesley was acquired by Delaware State University in 2021.
Former associate members
The AEC had three former associate members, all were private schools.
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined[a] | Left[b] | AEC sport(s) |
Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey City University | Jersey City, New Jersey | 1929 | Public | 7,300 | Gothic Knights | 2021 | 2023 | Men's golf | New Jersey (NJAC) |
| Women's golf | |||||||||
| St. Mary's College of Maryland[c] | St. Mary's City, Maryland | 1840 | Public | 1,950 | Seahawks | 2020 | 2024 | Field hockey | United East |
| William Paterson University | Wayne, New Jersey | 1855 | Public | 10,970 | Pioneers | 2019 | 2024 | Men's golf | New Jersey (NJAC) |
- Notes
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
Sports
The Atlantic East sponsored 20 sports at its launch—nine for men and 11 for women. The conference has since added flag football as a 12th women's sport.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball |  | |
| Basketball | | |
| Cross country | | |
| Field hockey | | |
| Flag football | | |
| Lacrosse | | |
| Soccer | | |
| Softball | | |
| Swimming | | |
| Tennis | | |
| Track & field (outdoor) | | |
| Volleyball | | |
Men's sponsored sports by school
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming | Tennis | Track & field (outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total AEC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary | |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
6 |
| Gwynedd Mercy | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Immaculata | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Marymount | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
| Pratt | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Saint Elizabeth | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Totals | 5 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2+2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 43+2 |
| Gallaudet | |
1 | ||||||||
| St. Mary's | |
1 |
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic East Conference that are played by Atlantic East schools
| School | Equestrian | Esports[a] | Golf | Track & field (indoor) |
Wrestling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary | IHSA[A] | |
|
|
IND |
| Gwynedd Mercy | |
|
|
United East | |
| Immaculata | |
|
|
United East | |
| Marymount | |
|
MASCAC | United East | IND |
| Pratt | IHSA[b] | |
IND | United East | |
- ↑ 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 |
Flag football[c] |
Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Track & field (outdoor) |
Volleyball | Total AEC sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| Gwynedd Mercy | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Immaculata | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
| Marymount | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
| Pratt | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Saint Elizabeth | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Totals | 6 | 6 | 2+1 | 3+3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 2+3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 48+7 |
| Cedar Crest | |
1 | ||||||||||
| Eastern | |
1 | ||||||||||
| Gallaudet | |
1 | ||||||||||
| Holy Family | |
1 | ||||||||||
| Manhattanville | |
1 | ||||||||||
| Penn State Schuylkill | |
1 | ||||||||||
| St. Mary's | |
1 |
- Notes
- ↑ Non NCAA
- ↑ Pratt's equestrian program is governed by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
- ↑ The NCAA has recommended flag football for addition to its Emerging Sports for Women program. All three divisions are set to vote on this proposal no later than the January 2026 NCAA convention.
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic East Conference that are played by Atlantic East schools
| School | Equestrian[a] | Esports[b] | Golf | Track & field (indoor) |
Wrestling[c] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary | IHSA[d] | |
|
|
IND |
| Gwynedd Mercy | |
|
|
United East | |
| Immaculata | |
|
|
United East | |
| Marymount | |
|
Centennial | United East | IND |
| Pratt | IHSA[e] | |
|
United East | |
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Non NCAA
- ↑ Single Division
- ↑ Centenary's equestrian program is governed by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
- ↑ Pratt's equestrian program is governed by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
References
- ↑ "Atlantic East has name, formal announcement". D3sports.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- 1 2 "Atlantic East Conference Update" (Press release). Atlantic East Conference. August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- 1 2 "United East Conference Announces Addition of Four New Members". gounitedeast.com. 2026-08-11. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
- ↑ "A new conference shuffle coming". D3sports.com. June 6, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ↑ "Huntley Named Atlantic East Conference Founding Commissioner". D3sports.com. May 31, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ↑ "St. Mary's College (Md.) to Join Atlantic East as Field Hockey Affiliate". Marywood Pacers. September 16, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "ATLANTIC EAST WELCOMES WILLIAM PATERSON AS MEN'S GOLF AFFILIATE, EFFECTIVE SPRING 2020". Atlantic East Conference. November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "University announces an agreement to acquire Wesley College". Delaware State University. July 9, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
- ↑ "Centenary Athletics Moving to the Atlantic East Conference". Centenary Cyclones. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ↑ "NJCU Joins Atlantic East Conference as Associate Members in Men's & Women's Golf". NJCU Knights. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ↑ "Atlantic East Conference Announces Partnership with NFL/RCX Sports to Sponsor Female Flag Football" (Press release). Atlantic East Conference. June 5, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ↑ "Atlantic East Conference Makes History with Launch of First-Ever NCAA Women's Flag Football Season" (Press release). Atlantic East Conference. February 26, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
External links
