Coastal Athletic Association
8625 Patterson Avenue
Richmond, VA 23229
Phone -- 804-754-1616
Fax -- 804-754-1973
The Coastal Athletic Association
The Coastal Athletic Association celebrates its 40th birthday in 2025-26. While the members, geographic footprint and conference name have changed over the years, a long-standing commitment to excellence has never changed.
On July 20, 2023, the Colonial Athletic Association changed its name to the Coastal Athletic Association. The new name reflects the CAA’s recent expansion as well as the commitment from each institution to be United In Excellence on the field and in the classroom.
The CAA has established itself as one of the nation’s top collegiate conferences both athletically and academically for nearly four decades. The conference encompasses many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas with a geographic footprint that stretches from Boston to Charleston, S.C. The CAA has produced 18 national team champions in five different sports, 33 individual national champions, 15 national players of the year, 15 national coaches of the year and 13 Honda Award winners. Just as impressive, however, are the honors accumulated away from competition, which include five Rhodes Scholars and 25 NCAA post-graduate scholars. In 2024-25, more than 4,000 of the league’s student-athletes received the Commissioner’s Academic Award after posting at least a 3.0 grade point average while lettering in a varsity sport.
The landscape of the conference stretches along the majority of the East Coast and includes several of the nation’s top media markets – New York (1), Philadelphia (4), Washington, D.C. (7), Boston (9) and Baltimore (26). The number of television homes in the CAA market exceeds 20 million.
The CAA conducts championships in 24 sports. Male athletes compete for championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis and indoor and outdoor track & field. Female athletes battle for conference titles in basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball.
Over the past 15 years, CAA schools have captured national championships in field hockey, women’s lacrosse and football. Since 1997, the conference has also had teams reach the NCAA Final Four in men’s basketball and women’s basketball, the Women’s College World Series and the semifinals of the Men’s Lacrosse Championship. CAA men’s basketball teams have combined to win 48 games in postseason play since 2006. Charleston won a league-record 31 games in 2022-23 and became the first CAA team to be ranked in the AP Top 25 poll since 1987. CAA women’s basketball teams have recorded 41 victories in postseason play over the past 11 years.
The CAA also excels in many other sports. The conference has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship in nine of the past 14 years with Hofstra advancing to the third round in 2021. The Pride has reached the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship three times in the past six seasons. Towson’s volleyball program has claimed four of the past five league titles and reached the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Championship in 2019. UNCW’s baseball team has earned 11 NCAA Regional berths since 2003. William & Mary’s men’s cross country team strung together an amazing 20 straight conference championships from 2000-19. A conference-record four CAA women’s lacrosse teams received NCAA Tournament berths in 2021. Towson reached the men’s lacrosse Final Four in 2017. Charleston became the first CAA team to advance to the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship in 15 years in 2022 and the Cougars’ Laura Fuenfstueck reached the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship in 2017. Eleven CAA track and field athletes qualified for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championship, with North Carolina A&T’s Paula Salmon (100 hurdles) and Raheem Hayles (400 meters) earning first-team All-America honors. Towson swimmer Brian Benzing earned All-America accolades in 2024 after a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Championship.
CAA member institutions are committed to excellence in the classroom. The CAA Academic Alliance was created in 2002 by the league’s presidents with a goal of expanding their partnership to all aspects of university education and life outside of intercollegiate athletics. The Alliance has facilitated leadership exchanges to promote professional development, developed an academic resource sharing program to support student athletes, and created opportunities for institutions to partner on a wide range of initiatives that enhance student success.
On July 1, 2016, Joseph D’Antonio began his tenure as only the second Commissioner in the history of the CAA. He replaced Thomas E. Yeager, who guided the CAA from its inception in 1985.
The conference traces its roots back to 1983 when current member William and Mary was aligned with East Carolina University, George Mason University, James Madison University, the United States Naval Academy and the University of Richmond as a basketball league (ECAC South). During the next two years, the league added 11 sports, acquired two new members (the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and American University) and decided to form a new conference. The transformation from ECAC South to CAA took place on June 6, 1985.
Old Dominion University joined the CAA in 1991 and was followed by Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995. The conference added the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Hofstra University and Towson University in 2001. Georgia State University and Northeastern University became members of the conference in 2005. College of Charleston began its first year as a CAA member in 2013 and Elon University joined the conference on July 1, 2014.
The conference welcomed four new members on July 1, 2022 with the addition of Hampton University, Monmouth University, North Carolina A&T State University and Stony Brook University. The league expanded to 14 members for the first time when Campbell University joined the conference on July 1, 2023.
CAA Membership History
Current Membership
Campbell University (2023-present)
College of Charleston (2013-present)
Drexel University (2001-present)
Elon University (2014-present)
Hampton University (2022-present)
Hofstra University (2001-present)
Monmouth University (2022-present)
North Carolina A&T State University (2022-present)
University of North Carolina-Wilmington (1985-present)
Northeastern University (2005-present)
Stony Brook University (2022-present)
Towson University (2001-present)
William & Mary (1983-present)
Past Members
American University (1985-2001)
University of Delaware (2001-2025)
East Carolina University (1983-2001)
George Mason University (1983-2013)
Georgia State University (2005-2013)
James Madison University (1983-2022)
United States Naval Academy (1983-1991)
Old Dominion University (1991-2013)
University of Richmond (1983-2001)
Virginia Commonwealth University (1995-2012)
The Coastal Athletic Association online:
CAASports.com | twitter.com/CAASports | facebook.com/CAASports | youtube.com/CAASportsProductions | instagram.com/caasports
CAA Football
8625 Patterson Avenue
Richmond, VA 23229
Phone -- 804-754-1616
Fax -- 804-754-1973
CAA Football
CAA Football has established itself as one of the nation’s premier FCS power conferences for nearly two decades due to its on-field success, national exposure and the achievements of its student-athletes in the classroom, in the community and at the next level.
The conference celebrated 75 years in 2022, with its roots tracing back to the Yankee Conference (1947-1996) and the Atlantic 10 Football Conference (1997-2006) before CAA Football begin in 2007.
CAA Football made history in 2018 by becoming the first conference to ever have six teams (Delaware, Elon, James Madison, Maine, Stony Brook and Towson) receive berths in the NCAA Division I Football Championship and had five teams make the playoff field in 2022. Eleven of the CAA’s current 14 members have made the playoffs since 2015. The league has had multiple teams in the playoffs for the past 34 years, three or more squads in the field for 17 of the past 19 seasons and at least one team in the semifinals in 10 of the past 12 years. A CAA team has competed in the FCS national championship game nine times since 2006.
CAA Football continued its success against non-conference opponents in 2024, finishing 31-14 against FCS foes during the regular season. CAA Football teams have recorded 43 wins over FBS opponents in its history, including at least one FBS victory in 14 of the last 18 years.
A strong presence in the national rankings was another constant in 2024 as CAA Football had eight teams ranked in the national polls at some point during the season, including four in the final poll.
A total of 17 CAA Football players were named to the Stats Perform All-America team in 2024, while nine players and two coaches were selected as finalists for national Player/Coach of the Year awards from Stats Perform.
CAA Football continues to provide a path to the next level, with William & Mary offensive lineman Charles Grant selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The conference had multiple players picked in every NFL Draft from 2006-19.
CAA Football enters the seventh year of its broadcast partnership with FloSports, which will televise more than 70 games on its FloCollege platform. In addition, several teams will have contests televised on regional sports networks.
CAA Football’s emphasis on its players’ off-the-field achievements was evident again in 2024. Elon’s Caleb Curtain was the recipient of the Chuck Boone Leadership Award, which honors the player who best embodies the highest standards of leadership, integrity, teamwork and sportsmanship in his academic and athletic pursuits. Elon’s Kevin Burkett was selected as CAA Football’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was among 872 student-athletes who made the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.
Showing a desire to unite behind a common cause, CAA Football schools have partnered with the Be the Match Foundation. Former Villanova coach Andy Talley has been a driving force nationally for the program, which raises awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. Several CAA Football players have been successful matches and have donated bone marrow in the past decade.
CAA Football has enjoyed a tremendous record in the postseason, earning 128 total playoff berths and placing at least three teams in the field every year from 2006-19. The league’s 130 all-time wins in the NCAA playoffs are the second-most of any FCS conference, and the conference has further established its presence at the national level by placing 24 teams in the national semifinals since 2002.
Former member James Madison took home the FCS national championship in 2016, which was the third title in a decade and sixth overall for CAA Football. Villanova captured the 2009 national championship and Richmond claimed its first FCS crown in 2008. In 2004, JMU won the national championship, becoming the first team since the field expanded to 16 teams in 1986 to reach the final after winning three road playoff games. Delaware rolled past Colgate, 40-0, to capture the first title-game shutout in 2003. Former league member Massachusetts earned a national championship in 1998.
CAA Football boasts a total of 32 individual national award winners in league history. Villanova quarterback John Robertson (2014), Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke (2012), New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos (2006), William & Mary quarterback Lang Campbell (2004), Villanova running back Brian Westbrook (2001), Nova wide receiver Brian Finneran (1997), UNH running back Jerry Azumah (1998) and Towson running back Dave Meggett (1998) all earned the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in FCS under the league banner. UNH linebacker Matt Evans (2011), JMU defensive lineman Arthur Moats (2009), and JMU linebacker Derrick Lloyd (2001) each received the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS, while JMU defensive lineman Andrew Ankrah was chosen as the FCS ADA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. Robertson (2012) and Towson’s Terrance West (2011) are past recipients of the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in FCS. New Hampshire’s Sean McDonnell (2005 and 2014), Towson’s Rob Ambrose (2011), JMU’s Mickey Matthews (1999 and 2008), Villanova’s Andy Talley (1997) and Boston University’s Dan Allen (1993) are past Eddie Robinson Award winners from the league as the top coach in FCS. Stony Brook’s Billy Cosh (2024), UAlbany’s Greg Gattuso (2023), Maine’s Joe Harasymiak (2018), JMU’s Mike Houston (2016), McDonnell (2014), Matthews (2004), Talley (1997 and 2009), Delaware’s K.C. Keeler (2010), Richmond’s Mike London (2008), and Massachusetts’ Mark Whipple (1998) have all garnered the AFCA National Coach of the Year honor. Stony Brook’s Chris Infantino received the Stats Perform Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award in 2018.
The league remains successful beyond the collegiate playing field. CAA Football has had 125 players drafted by NFL franchises dating back to 1948. A total of 47 players have been selected in the draft over the last 20 years, including 2013 Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco of Delaware (18th overall to the Baltimore Ravens in 2008).
CAA Football features 14 teams in 2025 with a geographic footprint that extends up and down the East Coast, with schools located from Maine to North Carolina. Members include UAlbany, Bryant, Campbell, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Monmouth, New Hampshire, North Carolina A&T, Rhode Island, Stony Brook, Towson, Villanova and William & Mary. Joe D’Antonio is in his 10th year as commissioner of CAA Football and the Coastal Athletic Association.
While CAA Football officially began March 1, 2007, its roots date back 78 years. On December 3, 1946, the Code of the Yankee Conference went into effect. Established as an all-sports conference for the New England land grant colleges, the six charter members included Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Upon the formation of Division I-AA football in 1978, the league disbanded all sports except for football. Delaware and Richmond were admitted to the conference in 1986, Villanova was added in 1988 and James Madison, Northeastern and William and Mary joined the league in 1993. The Atlantic 10 assumed operational control of the conference from 1997-2006, with Hofstra becoming part of the league in 2001 and Towson joining the group in 2004. With the conference under the CAA Football banner, UAlbany and Stony Brook were welcomed in 2013, followed by Elon in 2014. Hampton and Monmouth became CAA members in 2022, Campbell and North Carolina A&T joined in 2023, and Bryant played its first season in the league in 2024. Sacred Heart University will join CAA Football for the 2026 season.
CAA Football Membership History
Current Membership
University at Albany (2013-present)
Bryant University (2024-present)
Campbell University (2023-present)
Elon University (2014-present)
Hampton University (2022-present)
University of Maine (1947-present)
Monmouth University (2022-present)
University of New Hampshire (1947-present)
North Carolina A&T State University (2023-present)
University of Rhode Island (1947-present)
Stony Brook University (2013-present)
Towson University (2004-present)
Villanova University (1988-present)
William and Mary (1993-present)
Future Member
Sacred Heart University (2026)
Past Members
Boston University (1973-1997)
University of Connecticut (1947-1999)
University of Delaware (1986-2024)
Georgia State University (2012)
Hofstra University (2001-2009)
James Madison University (1993-2021)
University of Massachusetts (1947-2011)
Northeastern University (1993-2009)
Old Dominion University (2011-2012)
University of Richmond (1986-2024)
University of Vermont (1947-1974)
CAA Football online:
CAAFootball.com | twitter.com/CAAFootball | facebook.com/CAAFootball | youtube.com/CAAFootball | instagram.com/caafootball