The Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) will expand to 11 member institutions as league officials announced on Tuesday (May 26) that six schools have accepted invitations to join the CAC and will become official members effective June 15, 2020.
The CAC Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer full membership to six members of the American Collegiate Athletic Conference (ACAA), including: the University of California-Santa Cruz, Finlandia University (Mich.), Mills College (Calif.), Mount Mary University (Wisc.), Pine Manor College (Mass.) and Pratt Institute (N.Y.).
"The Capital Athletic Conference is pleased to welcome these six institutions as the league's newest members," said University of Mary Washington President Dr. Troy Paino, Chair of the CAC Board of Directors. "We look forward to the bright future this newly-structured league will be able to offer our schools and student-athletes."
The CAC will consist of 11 full-time members for the 2020-21 academic year. The Conference will reduce to eight in 21-22 when Southern Virginia University, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Pine Manor College depart. Christopher Newport University, University Mary Washington and Salisbury University will remain with the Conference along with the incoming members from the ACAA.
"Mills College is excited to be joining the CAC at a time when working together to support our student-athletes is especially critical. Kudos to the many hardworking people and institutions that have made this happen, and I look forward to seeing the Mills Cyclones compete in the new conference," said Dr. Beth Hillman, Mills College President and Chair of the ACAA Presidents Council.
"This is an exciting, new era for the Capital Athletic Conference. The addition of these six schools will provide excellent opportunities for both our institutions and our student-athletes to experience new venues and conference opponents," said Salisbury University Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Dr. Gerry DiBartolo, Chair of the CAC Athletic Council. "I am thankful to the leadership of the CAC Board of Directors for its guidance in leading this expansion effort."
"We look forward to both the expanded opportunities for our student-athletes and the new connections and comradery with schools across the country. This exciting step provides Mills, and our fellow ACAA schools, with continued conference stability and helps to secure the Cyclones' place in Division III. The CAC has a history of success and we are excited to be a part of the new iteration of the conference." Allie Littlefox, Mills College Director of Athletics, PE, & Recreation and Assistant Dean of Students.
The conference is expected to be rebranded with a new name and logo over the coming months.
Pine Manor College, which recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with Boston College, will participate in the Conference for one academic year.
The CAC conducts conference championships in 18 sports (eight men and ten women). Men's championships include cross country, soccer, basketball, indoor track and field, lacrosse, baseball, outdoor track and field, and tennis. Women's championships include cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, indoor track and field, lacrosse, softball, outdoor track and field, and tennis.