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Atlantic 10 Conference

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The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) is a collegiate athletic conference whose schools compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I. The A-10's member schools are located mostly on the East Coast and Midwest of the United States: Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Atlantic 10 Conference
FormerlyEastern Collegiate Basketball League (1976–77)
Eastern Athletic Association (1977–82)
Eastern 8 (unofficial, 1976–82)
AssociationNCAA
Founded1976
CommissionerBernadette McGlade
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 10
    • women's: 12
DivisionDivision I
Subdivisionnon-football
No. of teams15 (14 in 2025)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., U.S.
RegionEastern United States
Midwestern United States
Official websitewww.atlantic10.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

Although some of its members are state-funded, half of its membership is made up of private, Catholic institutions. Despite the name, there are 15 full-time members in the conference; three affiliate members participate in women's field hockey and men's lacrosse.

The conference's commissioner since 2008 is Bernadette McGlade. In fall, 2023, the A-10 moved its headquarters from Newport News, Virginia, to Washington, D.C.

History

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See also: 2010–2013 Atlantic 10 Conference realignment and 2021–2024 NCAA conference realignment
Atlantic 10 Conference
 
 
300km
200miles
 
St. Bonaventure
 
Hobart
 
High Point
 
Loyola Chicago
 
Saint Louis
 
Dayton
 
Duquesne
 
Davidson
 
George Mason
 
GWU
 
Richmond
 
VCU
 
La Salle
 
Saint Joseph's
 
Lock Haven
 
Fordham
 
URI
 
UMass
Locations of A-10 members   Full member   Associate member   Departing member

Early History

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The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 as the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League (ECBL) and began conference play in 1976. At that time, basketball was its only sport. After its first season, it added sports other than basketball and changed its name to the Eastern Athletic Association. However, despite its official names, it was popularly known as the Eastern 8, as it then had eight members (Villanova, Duquesne, Penn State, West Virginia, George Washington, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers).

After changes in membership that saw charter members Villanova and Pittsburgh leave (in 1980 and 1982, respectively) and new members St. Bonaventure (1979), Rhode Island (1980), Saint Joseph's (1982), and Temple (1982) enter, establishing the league with 10 members, the conference adopted the current Atlantic 10 name in 1982.

Expansion, Contraction, and Football

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Further membership changes saw the league expand to its maximum of 16 members. From 1997 through 2006, the league also operated a football conference; during that period, more than 20 schools were participating in A-10 competition in at least one sport. This ended when the A-10 football programs all departed to join a new football conference sponsored by the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA; now known as the Coastal Athletic Association). In 2012, Butler joined the conference after leaving the Horizon League and VCU joined after leaving the CAA.

Conference Realignments and Expanding Media Presence

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Conference realignment in 2013 saw the departure of Temple to the American Athletic Conference, Butler and Xavier to the reconfigured Big East, and Charlotte to Conference USA. George Mason joined from the CAA, and Davidson from the Southern Conference announced it would join in 2014.

The league headquarters is located in Washington, DC. In the Fall of 2023 they relocated the HQ from Newport News, Virginia where it had been located since fall 2009.[1] Prior to that, the headquarters was in Philadelphia, within a few miles of member schools Saint Joseph's and La Salle.

The conference currently has media deals with ESPN, CBS Sports Network, NBC Sports, and digital broadcasts with ESPN+.

On November 16, 2021, Loyola University Chicago announced that its athletic program - the Loyola Ramblers - would leave the Missouri Valley Conference and join the A-10 effective July 1, 2022.[2] On May 23, 2022, the addition of men's lacrosse was announced for the 2023 season. The four full members that sponsor the sport (Richmond, St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph's, UMass) were joined by new affiliate members High Point and Hobart.[3]

On December 14, 2023, the conference announced a five-year media deal with its current affiliates, ESPN, CBS, and NBC. The deal would expand basketball coverage and revenue for the schools. The first year of the new contract is the 2024-2025 season and runs through the 2028-29 season.[4]

In late February 2024, it was announced that the 2024-25 season for UMass sports will be the last season as members of the Atlantic 10. The Minutemen will rejoin the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member beginning in 2025.[5][6]

Member schools

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Current members

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Full members

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The following is a list of the full members of the conference and the year they joined:

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment
(millions) 		Nickname Colors
Davidson College Davidson, North Carolina 1837 2014 Private – Presbyterian
(PCUSA) 		1,843 $1,300 Wildcats    
University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio 1850 1995 Private – Catholic
(Marianists) 		11,241 $770 Flyers    
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1878 1976;
1993[a] 		Private – Catholic
(Spiritans) 		9,274 $472.1 Dukes    
Fordham University Bronx, New York 1841 1995 Private – Catholic
(Jesuit) 		16,515 $972 Rams    
George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia[b] 1957 2013 Public 35,047 $189.2 Patriots    
George Washington University Washington, D.C. 1821 1976 Private – Non-sectarian 28,172 $2,400 Revolutionaries    
La Salle University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1863 1995 Private – Catholic
(De La Salle Brothers) 		5,191 $80 Explorers    
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois 1870 2022 Private – Catholic
(Jesuit) 		16,437[7] $1,072 Ramblers    
University of Massachusetts Amherst[c] Amherst, Massachusetts 1863 1976 Public
(University of Massachusetts) 		30,593 $494 Minutemen and Minutewomen    
University of Rhode Island[c] Kingston, Rhode Island 1892 1980 Public 16,883 $203 Rams      
University of Richmond[c] Richmond, Virginia 1840 2001 Private – Non-sectarian 4,002 $3,100 Spiders    
St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York 1858 1979 Private – Catholic
(Franciscan) 		2,381 $92.3 Bonnies    
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1851 1982 Private – Catholic
(Jesuit) 		7,589 $378.8 Hawks    
Saint Louis University St. Louis, Missouri 1818 2005 Private – Catholic
(Jesuit) 		12,883 $1,700 Billikens    
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia 1838 2012 Public 31,076 $2,720 Rams    
Notes
  1. ^ Duquesne left the A-10 for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (now known as the Horizon League) only for the 1992–93 school year, but returned to the A-10 effective the 1993–94 school year.
  2. ^ While the main campus has a Fairfax mailing address, it is located in an area of unincorporated Fairfax County designated by the US Census Bureau as George Mason, Virginia.
  3. ^ a b c Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Richmond also played football within the A-10 from the 1997 to the 2006 fall seasons (1997–98 to 2006–07 school years) after the Yankee Conference was absorbed. However, Richmond's primary conference until the 2000-01 school year was the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Associate members

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The "joined" column indicates the calendar year in which each school became an A-10 associate, which for spring sports such as lacrosse is the year before the first season of competition.

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Primary
conference 		A-10
sport
High Point University High Point, North Carolina 1924 2022 Private
(Methodist) 		4,545 Panthers Big South Men's lacrosse
Hobart College Geneva, New York 1822 2022 Private – Nonsectarian 2,105 Statesmen Liberty[a] Men's lacrosse
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 1870 2010 Public
(PASSHE) 		3,425 Bald Eagles PSAC[b] Field hockey
Notes
  1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.
  2. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Future associate members

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Institution Location Founded Joining Type Enrollment Nickname Primary
conference 		A-10
sport
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 1743 2025[8] Public[a] 23,774[9] Blue Hens CAA
(CUSA in 2025) 		Men's lacrosse
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts 1863 Public
(University of Massachusetts) 		30,593 Minutemen and Minutewomen A-10
(MAC in 2025)
Notes
  1. ^ Delaware is officially chartered as a "privately-governed, state-assisted" institution. This status is broadly similar to that of New York State's statutory colleges, most of which are housed at Cornell University, or institutions in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

Former members

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Former full members

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None of these institutions played football in the A-10 during their tenure as full members.

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Subsequent
conference 		Current
conference
Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana 1855 Private 4,667 2012 2013 Bulldogs Big East (current)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1946 Public 26,232 2005 2013 49ers CUSA The American
Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania 1855 Public 45,351 1976;
1982 		1979;
1991 		Nittany Lions Big Ten
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1787 Public 28,766 1976 1982 Panthers Big East (original) ACC
Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey 1766 Public 58,788 1976 1995 Scarlet Knights Big East/The American[a] Big Ten
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1884 Public 38,648 1982 2013 Owls The American
Villanova University Villanova, Pennsylvania 1842 Private 10,482 1976 1980 Wildcats Big East (original) Big East (current)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia 1872 Public 31,087 1995 2000 Hokies Big East (original) ACC
West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia 1867 Public 29,707 1976 1995 Mountaineers Big East (original) Big 12
Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio 1831 Private 6,650 1995 2013 Musketeers Big East (current)
Notes
  1. ^ Rutgers spent one season in the renamed American Athletic Conference before joining the Big Ten in the 2014–15 school year.

Former associate members

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Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Primary
conference 		A-10
sport
Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania 1847 Private - Catholic
(Franciscan) 		2,449 2013-14 2019-20 Red Flash NEC Field hockey
West Chester University West Chester, Pennsylvania 1880 Public
(PASSHE) 		13,271 (full-time)
2,576 (part-time) 		1996–97 2010–11 Golden Rams PSAC[a] field hockey
Notes
  1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Former football-only members

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After expansion in the Colonial Athletic Association brought that conference to 6 football-playing schools, it was agreed that the CAA would take over management of the Atlantic 10's football conference starting in the 2007–08 school year as the legally separate entity of CAA Football. All the schools on this list (except Boston U. and Connecticut) were in the A-10 football conference when it became CAA Football, but Hofstra and Northeastern discontinued their football programs after the 2009–10 school year. Membership dates include time in the Yankee Conference (which was an all-sports conference from the 1947–48 to 1975–76 seasons, and a football-only conference after that) which merged into the A-10 in the 1997–98 school year.

Institution Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Left Nickname Primary
conference
Boston University Boston, Massachusetts 1839 Private 29,978 1973–74 1997–98[a] Terriers Independent (1975–76 to 1978–79)
America East (1979–80 to 2012–13)
Patriot League (2013–14 to present)
University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut 1881 Public 25,583 1947–48 1999–2000[b] Huskies Independent (1975–76 to 1978–79)
Big East (1979–80 to 2012–13)
The American (2013–14 to 2019–20)
Big East (2020–21 to present)
University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 1743 Public 19,391 1986–87 2006–07 Fightin' Blue Hens East Coast (1986–87 to 1990–91)
America East (1991–92 to 2000–01)
CAA (2001–02 to present)
Hofstra University Hempstead, New York 1935 Private 12,400 2001–02 2006–07[c] Pride CAA (2001–02 to present)
James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia 1908 Public 19,927 1993–94 2006–07 Dukes CAA (1979–80 to 2021–22)
SBC (2022–23 to present)
University of Maine Orono, Maine 1865 Public 10,901 1947–48 2006–07 Black Bears Independent (1975–76 to 1978–79)
America East (1979–80 to present)
University of New Hampshire Durham, New Hampshire 1866 Public 11,942 1947–48 2006–07 Wildcats Independent (1975–76 to 1978–79)
America East (1979–80 to present)
Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts 1898 Private 12,913 1993–94 2006–07[d] Huskies America East (1979–80 to 2004–05)
CAA (2005–06 to present)
Towson University Towson, Maryland 1866 Public 21,950 2004–05 2006–07 Tigers CAA (1979–80 to 1980–81; 2001–02 to present)
Villanova University[e] Villanova, Pennsylvania 1842 Private 10,482 1988–89 2006–07 Wildcats Big East (1980–81 to 2012–13)
Big East (2013–14 to present)
The College of William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 1693 Public 8,258 1993–94 2006–07 Tribe CAA (1979–80 to present)
Notes
  1. ^ Boston University dropped football after the 1997 fall season (1997–98 school year).
  2. ^ UConn moved to FBS after the 1999 fall season (1999–2000 school year), and eventually joined the Big East for that sport in the 2004–05 season.
  3. ^ Hofstra dropped football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 school year).
  4. ^ Northeastern dropped football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 school year).
  5. ^ Villanova was originally a charter and full member of the A-10 from 1976–77 to 1979–80 in all sports except football.

Membership timeline

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Loyola University ChicagoDavidson CollegeGeorge Mason UniversityVirginia Commonwealth UniversityBig East ConferenceButler UniversitySaint Louis UniversityAmerican Athletic ConferenceConference USAUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceTowson UniversityCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceHofstra UniversityUniversity of RichmondCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceCollege of William & MaryCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceNortheastern UniversityCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceUniversity of New HampshireCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceUniversity of MaineSun Belt ConferenceCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceJames Madison UniversityCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceUniversity of DelawareAmerican Athletic ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)University of ConnecticutBoston UniversityLa Salle UniversityFordham UniversityUniversity of DaytonBig East ConferenceXavier UniversityAtlantic Coast ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)Virginia TechSaint Joseph's UniversityAmerican Athletic ConferenceTemple UniversityUniversity of Rhode IslandSt. Bonaventure UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityHorizon LeagueDuquesne UniversityMid-American ConferenceUniversity of Massachusetts AmherstBig 12 ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)West Virginia UniversityBig Ten ConferenceAmerican Athletic ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)Rutgers UniversityBig Ten ConferencePennsylvania State UniversityAtlantic Coast ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)University of PittsburghBig East ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)Villanova University

Full members Full members (non-football) Associate members (football only) Assoc. member (list sports)
Notes
* - Virginia Tech did not participate in wrestling.

Atlantic 10 rivalries

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There are a number of intense rivalries within the Atlantic 10,[under discussion] with rivalries that carry over from the Big 5 which includes Saint Joseph's, La Salle, and Temple (now in the American Athletic Conference). URI and UMass also have a long-standing rivalry. St. Bonaventure and Duquesne also maintain a rivalry that predates their affiliation with the conference. UMass and Temple also had a basketball rivalry while John Chaney was coaching Temple but it has died down a bit since, and even more so now that Temple has left the conference. Due to both teams sharing the Ram mascot, the Fordham - URI rivalry has increased in recent years as the competitions are heralded as "The Battle of the Rams." The long-standing crosstown rivalry between Richmond and VCU, now known as the Capital City Classic, became a conference rivalry with VCU's arrival in the A10. Rivals St. Louis and Dayton play each year in basketball for the Arch-Baron Cup. George Washington and George Mason compete annually in the Revolutionary Rivalry across all sports.

Sports

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In the 2021–22 academic year, the Atlantic 10 Conference sponsors championship competition in ten men's and thirteen women's NCAA sanctioned sports, with lacrosse becoming the 10th sponsored men's sport in 2022–23 and women's golf becoming the 13th sponsored women's sport in 2024–25.[10] In addition to the 15 full members, two Pennsylvania schools, Lock Haven and Saint Francis, are affiliate members in field hockey. High Point and Hobart became men's lacrosse affiliates in July 2022.

A-10 Conference teams
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
12
–
Basketball
15
15
Cross Country
15
15
Field Hockey
–
8
Golf
11
6
Lacrosse
6
10
Rowing
–
9
Soccer
14
15
Softball
–
10
Swimming & Diving
8
11
Tennis
10
13
Track and Field (Indoor)
10
14
Track and Field (Outdoor)
13
15
Volleyball
–
10

Men's sponsored sports by school

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School Baseball Basketball Cross
Country		 Golf Lacrosse Soccer Swimming
& Diving		 Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Total
A-10 Sports
Davidson Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Dayton Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No 6
Duquesne No Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes 5
Fordham Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
George Mason Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
George Washington Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes 7
La Salle No[a] Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes 7
Loyola Chicago No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes 6
Massachusetts Yes Yes Yes No Yes[b] Yes Yes No Yes Yes 8
Rhode Island Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes 7
Richmond Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No 6
St. Bonaventure Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[c] 9
Saint Joseph's Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 9
Saint Louis Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8
VCU Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8
Associate Members
High Point Yes 1
Hobart Yes 1
Totals 12 15 15 11 4+2 14 8 10 10 12.5[c] 113+2
Notes
  1. ^ La Salle will reinstate baseball beginning in the 2026 season (2025-26 academic year)[11]
  2. ^ UMass will remain as an A-10 associate in men's lacrosse after its departure for the MAC in 2025.[8]
  3. ^ a b St. Bonaventure sponsors an outdoor distance track program but does not participate in short distance or field events.[12]
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference which are played by A-10 schools
School Football Ice hockey Rowing[a] Sailing[b] Squash[c] Volleyball Water polo Wrestling
Davidson Pioneer No No No No No No SoCon
Dayton Pioneer No No No No No No No
Duquesne Northeast No No No No No No No
Fordham Patriot No No IRA MAISA No CWPA N No
George Mason No No No No No EIVA No MAC
George Washington No No No No No No CWPA SE No
La Salle No No IRA No No No No No
Loyola Chicago No No No No No MIVA No No
Massachusetts FBS Independent Hockey East No No No No No No
Rhode Island CAA Football No No NEISA No No No No
Richmond CAA Football[d] No No No No No No No
St. Bonaventure No No No No No No No No
Saint Joseph's No No IRA No No No No No
Notes
  1. ^ Men's rowing is sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Rowing Association, not by the NCAA.
  2. ^ Intercollegiate sailing is sanctioned by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association, not by the NCAA.
  3. ^ Squash is sanctioned by the College Squash Association (CSA), not by the NCAA.
  4. ^ Richmond will move their football program to the Patriot League in 2025.

Women's sponsored sports by school

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School Basketball Cross
Country		 Field
Hockey		 Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming
& Diving		 Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Volleyball Total
A-10 Sports
Davidson Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
Dayton Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
Duquesne Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
Fordham Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
George Mason Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
George Washington Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
La Salle Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes No 10
Loyola Chicago Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes 7
Massachusetts Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No 11
Rhode Island Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 11
Richmond Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No 10
St. Bonaventure Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[a] No 8
Saint Joseph's Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No 11
Saint Louis Yes Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 10
VCU Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes 9
Associate Members
Lock Haven Yes 1
Totals 15 15 7+1 6 11 9 15 10 11 13 14 14.5[a] 10 149+1
Notes
  1. ^ a b St. Bonaventure sponsors an outdoor distance track program but does not participate in short distance or field events.
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Atlantic 10 Conference which are played by A-10 schools
School Acrobatics & tumbling[a] Bowling Gymnastics Rugby[a] Sailing[b] Squash[c] Triathlon[a] Water polo
Duquesne Independent Northeast No No No No Independent No
Fordham No No No No MAISA No No No
George Washington No No EAGL No MAISA CSA No No
La Salle [d] No No [d] No No [d] MAAC
Notes
  1. ^ a b c Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
  2. ^ Intercollegiate sailing is sanctioned by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association, not by the NCAA.
  3. ^ Squash is sanctioned by the College Squash Association (CSA), not by the NCAA.
  4. ^ a b c La Salle will add acrobatics & tumbling, rugby, and triathlon in 2025–26.

Current tournament champions

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Main articles: Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament and Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament

The Atlantic 10 Conference sponsors championship competition in 10 men's and 12 women's NCAA sanctioned sport.[13]

Regular-season champions are indicated with "(RS)" and tournament champions with "(T)".

Season Sport Men's
champion		 Women's
champion
Fall 2023 Cross Country Loyola Loyola
Field Hockey   Saint Joseph's (RS & T)
Soccer VCU (RS)
Dayton (T)		 Saint Louis (RS & T)
Volleyball   Dayton (RS & T)
Winter 2023–24 Basketball Loyola & Richmond (RS)
Duquesne (T)		 Richmond (RS & T)
Swimming & Diving George Washington George Washington
Track & field (Indoor) Rhode Island VCU
Spring 2024 Golf VCU  
Tennis VCU UMass
Lacrosse Saint Joseph's (RS & T) UMass (RS)
Richmond (T)
Baseball Saint Louis (RS)
VCU (T)		  
Softball   Dayton (RS & T)
Rowing   George Washington (2023)
Track & field (Outdoor) Rhode Island VCU

Football (1997–2006)

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Origin

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The A-10 began sponsoring football in 1997 when it absorbed the Yankee Conference, a Division I-AA (now known as Division I FCS) football-only conference. The move was triggered by a change in NCAA rules that reduced the influence of single-sport conferences over NCAA legislation. The following teams were in the Yankee Conference at the time of its demise:

Boston University dropped football after the first season of A-10 football. After the 1999 season, UConn started a transition from Division I-AA to Division I-A football (now Division I FBS) that was completed in 2002. In 2004, UConn, already a member of the Big East for other sports, became a football member of that conference. The other schools all remained in the A-10 football conference until the management change after the 2006 season.

Football champions

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Season Regular Season Champion
1997 Villanova
1998 Richmond
1999 James Madison, Massachusetts
2000 Delaware, Richmond
2001 Hofstra, Maine, Villanova, William & Mary
2002 Maine, Northeastern
2003 Delaware, Massachusetts
2004 Delaware, James Madison, William & Mary
2005 New Hampshire, Richmond
2006 Massachusetts

Demise/"Rename"

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The 2005 move of Northeastern University, a football-only member of the A-10, to the Colonial Athletic Association for basketball and Olympic sports began a chain of events that would lead to the demise of the A-10 football conference, at least under the A-10 banner.

At that time, the CAA did not sponsor football, but five of its members in the 2004–05 academic year (Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Towson, and William & Mary) were football members of the A-10. The addition of Northeastern gave the CAA six schools with football programs, which under NCAA rules allows a conference to sponsor football. Northeastern agreed to join any future CAA football conference, which meant that the A-10 football conference would drop to six members once CAA football began operation.

With six football members in place, the CAA decided to start a football conference in 2007. The league then invited Richmond, a member of the CAA from 1983 to 2001, to rejoin for football only, because of UR's long-standing in-state rivalries with William & Mary and James Madison. UR accepted the invitation, taking the A-10 football conference below the NCAA minimum of six. Shortly after this, the A-10 football conference opted to disband, with all of its members becoming charter members of the CAA football conference. This league continues to operate under the administration of the multi-sports CAA, now known as the Coastal Athletic Association, as the legally separate entity of CAA Football (in full, the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference).

A-10 schools in DI-A/FBS

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A-10 charter members Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, and Villanova played I-A football as independents while members of the A-10 in other sports. Villanova became a member of the Big East in 1980 with Pittsburgh following in 1982. Temple joined the A-10 that year. Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1991 (effectively in 1993), and three A-10 members joined the Big East as football-only members: Rutgers, West Virginia, and Temple (only Rutgers and West Virginia would later join the Big East as full members in 1995).

Virginia Tech joined the A-10 in 1995 as a result of the merger that created Conference USA. They would then join the Big East as full members in 2000, following the football program which was already a member of the league. Temple remained a football-only member of the Big East until 2004; they would join the MAC for football in 2007 until 2012, and re-joined the Big East in football for the 2012 season. Temple planned to move the rest of its sports into the Big East in 2013, but the conference realigned into the football-sponsoring American Athletic Conference and a new non-football Big East. Temple joined The American. Massachusetts joined them in FBS football with membership in the MAC beginning in the 2012 season and as an FBS independent beginning in 2016. Charlotte, which started a football program in 2013, left for Conference USA and eventually joined The American in 2023.

A-10 schools in DI-A/FBS
Schools Currently in the A-10 Schools formerly in the A-10
Massachusetts Penn State
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Temple
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Charlotte

Facilities

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School Basketball arena Capacity Baseball stadium Capacity Soccer stadium Capacity
Davidson John M. Belk Arena 5,223 T. Henry Wilson, Jr. Field 700 1992 Team Field at Alumni Stadium 2,000
Dayton University of Dayton Arena 13,435 Woerner Field 500 Baujan Field 2,000
Duquesne UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse 3,500 Non-baseball school Rooney Field 2,200
Fordham Rose Hill Gymnasium 3,200 Houlihan Park 500 Coffey Field 7,000
George Mason EagleBank Arena 10,000 Spuhler Field 900 George Mason Stadium 5,000
George Washington Smith Center 4,338 Barcroft Park 1,000 Mount Vernon Athletic Fields —
La Salle Tom Gola Arena 3,400 Non-baseball school McCarthy Stadium 7,500
Loyola Chicago Joseph J. Gentile Arena 4,963 Non-baseball school Loyola Soccer Park 1,000
UMass Mullins Center 9,493 Earl Lorden Field — Rudd Field 2,000
Rhode Island Ryan Center 8,000 Bill Beck Field 1,000 URI Soccer Complex 1,547
Richmond Robins Center 7,201 Malcolm U. Pitt Field 600 Presidents Field 500
St. Bonaventure Reilly Center 5,480 Fred Handler Park — McGraw-Jennings Field —
Saint Joseph's Hagan Arena 4,200 Smithson Field 400 Sweeney Field 3,000
Saint Louis Chaifetz Arena 10,600 Billiken Sports Center 500 Hermann Stadium 6,050
VCU Stuart C. Siegel Center 7,617 The Diamond 9,560 Sports Backers Stadium 3,250

References

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  1. ^ "Atlantic 10 to relocate to Washington, DC". Atlantic 10. Atlantic 10 news story.
  2. ^ Mikula, Jeremy. "Loyola is moving to the Atlantic 10 Conference in July after nearly a decade in the Missouri Valley". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  3. ^ "Atlantic 10 Conference Adds Men's Lacrosse as 22nd Championship Sport" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference. May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  4. ^ "Atlantic 10 Announces Media Rights Agreements with CBS Sports, ESPN, and NBC Sports".
  5. ^ Withers, Tom (February 27, 2024). "UMass will join Mid-American Conference as a full sports member in 2025, MAC commissioner says". Associated Press. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Hernandez, Victoria (February 26, 2024). "UMass to join MAC conference, including previously independent football, per reports". USA Today. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Loyola University Chicago | Loyola at a Glance Loyola at a Glance". Luc.edu. Archived from the original on October 14, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "A-10 Concludes 2024 Annual Business Meetings" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference. May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024. In Olympic Sports, the directors approved affiliate members in men's lacrosse, (Massachusetts & Delaware) beginning with the 2026 season.
  9. ^ "Facts & Figures | University of Delaware". www.udel.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  10. ^ Atlantic 10 Conference Official Athletic Site. Atlantic10.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-21.
  11. ^ "La Salle University Announces Addition of Four Varsity Sport Programs" (Press release). La Salle Explorers Athletics. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bona adds track program - Sports - the Buffalo News". Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  13. ^ "Atlantic 10 Conference Official Athletic Site". www.atlantic10.com.
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