CAA to change name to Coastal Athletic Association, keep same logo
The Colonial Athletic Association will undergo a slight rebrand, the conference announced Thursday morning.
The conference, which includes William & Mary and Hampton University, will be renamed the Coastal Athletic Association. The conference will still be referred to as the CAA and plans to use the same logo, according to a release.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news Thursday morning.
“The Conference’s new name represents a culmination of its efforts over the past three years to expand its membership, solidify its geographic footprint and affirm its long-standing mission through a new vision statement which emphasizes that CAA institutions work together to advance nationally competitive college athletic programs – coupled with outstanding academic programs – that empower student athletes as whole persons who strive at the highest level in every aspect of their lives,” CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio said in a release. “Our new name is reflective of the Conference’s continuity and unity, as well as each institutions’ commitment to be United in Excellence.”
The name change comes after the conference’s expansion down the East coast. The conference’s footprint currently stretches from Boston to Charleston, South Carolina.
The CAA grew to 13 members in 2022 after Hampton, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T and Stony Brook all joined the conference.
On July 1, the conference gained its 14th member when Campbell joined.
“The CAA’s Board of Directors, institutional administrators and Conference staff have worked collaboratively over the past three years to best position the league for future success both athletically and academically,” CAA BOD chair and College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu said in a release. “The addition of Campbell, Hampton, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T and Stony Brook have not only solidified the CAA’s membership, but through the CAA Academic Alliance have provided enhanced opportunities for academic collaboration and civil engagement amongst the Conference’s members. Consistent with our Conference’s longstanding tradition, the schools of our expanded footprint along the Atlantic Coast are renowned for their pursuit of academic excellence. Our new Conference name is symbolic of the unified academic framework in which each institution prioritizes student-athlete academic engagement and achievement.”
William & Mary is one of the founding members of the CAA. At the time, The Tribe was part of a six-team, basketball-only conference called the ECAC South in 1983. In 1985 the ECAC South added 11 more sports, two new member schools and rebranded to the CAA.
The CAA in football has been around for 75 years. Founded as the Yankee Conference in 1947, the conference rebranded to the Atlantic 10 football conference in 1997 and then became CAA football in 2007.
With 15 institutions, CAA football will feature the largest membership in the FCS for the 2023 season. Albany, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Richmond and Villanova are members of the CAA Football conference only.
Michael Sauls, michael.sauls@virginiamedia.com, (757) 803-5774
