The Colonial Athletic Association announced July 20 that the conference will change its name to the Coastal Athletic Association.
With the name change, the league stated it will not change the logo for the conference and will still be referred to as the CAA. CAA commissioner Joe D’Antonio said the change is to reflect the CAA’s expansion with its members across the East coast — from Massachusetts to South Carolina.
“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,” D’Antonio said in a statement. “Our new name is reflective of the Conference’s continuity and unity, as well as each institutions’ commitment to be United in Excellence.”
The conference has also reached its highest peak in 40 years, according to the CAA, with 14 schools across nine states. The schools include Campbell University, College of Charleston, University of Delaware, Drexel University, Elon University, Hampton University, Monmouth University, Hampton University, Hofstra University, North Carolina A&T State University, University of Wilmington, Northeastern University, Stony Brook University, Towson University and William & Mary University.
Elon has been a member of the CAA for nine years after joining July 1, 2014.
The CAA Football Conference will also recognize the name change. CAA Football currently has the largest membership of all Football Championship Subdivision schools for the upcoming season with 15 different Universities.
Though the CAA Board of Directors Chair and College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu said in the league’s press release the new name represents the league’s goals, George Washington University announced last year that it would be dropping all “Colonial monikers” because of its lack of ability to unify and glorification of colonialism.
“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,” Hsu said.