Empire 8

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Empire 8
(E8)
Established 1964
Association NCAA
Division Division III
Members 12 (9 full, 3 associate)
Sports fielded 22 (men's: 11; women's: 11)
Region New York, New Jersey
Former names Independent College Athletic Conference (19641991)
Empire Athletic Association (19911999)
Headquarters Rochester, New York
Commissioner Chuck Mitrano (since 2001)
Website empire8.com
Locations

The Empire 8 (E8) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III. The E8 sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's football, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women’s soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.

About the Empire 8

The Empire 8 can trace its beginnings back to 1964 with the founding of the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). At this time, the conference was made up of Alfred University, Clarkson University, Hobart College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, and Union College. After Union left the league, Ithaca College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the ICAC.

In 1991, the ICAC regrouped to become the Empire Athletic Association (EAA), with Clarkson leaving and Hartwick College joining to replace the spot. Hobart/William Smith, RPI, and St. Lawrence left in 1993, to be replaced by Elmira College, Nazareth College, and Utica College. Alfred re-joined and St. John Fisher College joined the league in 1998.

The EAA became the Empire 8 Athletic Conference in 1999, hosting 13 sports.

Stevens Institute of Technology joined as a field hockey member beginning in 2006 and became a full member in 2007. Rochester Tech announced on June 5, 2009 that it planned to leave the Empire 8 for the Liberty League beginning in the fall of the 2011-12 season. Houghton College announced that they will join the Empire 8 in the 2012-13 season as they transition from a NAIA school to NCAA Division III status, though they will be ineligible for the postseason until they become full D-III members in 2016.

Member schools

Current members

Full member institutions include:

Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined
Alfred University Alfred, New York Saxons 1836 Private 2,055 1964,
1998
Elmira College Elmira, New York Soaring Eagles 1855 Private 1,170 1993
Hartwick College Oneonta, New York Hawks 1797 Private 1,600 1991
Houghton College Houghton, New York Highlanders 1883 Private 1,415 2012
Ithaca College Ithaca, New York Bombers 1892 Private 6,800 1971
Nazareth College Pittsford, New York Golden Flyers 1924 Private 3,140 1993
St. John Fisher College Pittsford, New York Cardinals 1948 Private 4,008 1998
Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey Ducks 1870 Private 5,260 2007
Utica College Utica, New York Pioneers 1946 Private 3,105 1993

Affiliate members

Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Primary Conference Empire 8 Sport
Buffalo State College[1] Buffalo, New York Bengals 1871 Public 11,659 2012-13 SUNYAC football
Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland Bobcats 1898 Public 6,133 2011-12 Capital football
Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland Sea Gulls 1925 Public 8,606 2011-12 Capital football
Washington & Jefferson College Washington, Pennsylvania Presidents 1781 Private 1,519 2002-03 Presidents' field hockey

Former members

Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Current Conference
Clarkson University Potsdam, New York Golden Knights 1896 Private 3,539 1964 1991 Liberty
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, New York Statesmen (Hobart)
Herons (William Smith)
1822 (Hobart)
1908 (William Smith)
Private 2,118 1964 1993 Liberty
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York Engineers 1824 Private 7,521 1964 1993 Liberty
Rochester Institute of Technology Henrietta, New York Tigers 1829 Private 17,652 1971 2011 Liberty
St. Lawrence University Canton, New York Saints 1856 Private 2,431 1964 1993 Liberty
Union College Schenectady, New York Dutchmen (men's)
Dutchwomen (women's)
1795 Private 2,194 1964 1971 Liberty

Former affiliate members

Institution Location Nickname Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Primary Conference Empire 8 Sport
Springfield College[2] Springfield, Massachusetts Pride 1885 Private 5,062 2002-03 2011-12 NEWMAC football

Membership timeline

Houghton College Stevens Institute of Technology St. John Fisher College Utica College Nazareth College (New York) Elmira College Hartwick College Rochester Institute of Technology Ithaca College Union College St. Lawrence University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Hobart and William Smith Colleges Clarkson University Alfred University

Championships

References

External links

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