Empire 8
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 (1964–1991) Empire Athletic Association (1991–1999) |
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
Championships
References
External links
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