Wikipedia

Liberty League

(Redirected from Upstate Collegiate Athletic Conference)
For other uses, see Liberty League (disambiguation).

The Liberty League is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Member schools are all located in the state of New York.

Liberty League
FormerlyUpstate Collegiate Athletic Association
AssociationNCAA
Founded1995
CommissionerTracy King
Sports fielded
  • 26
    • men's: 14
    • women's: 13
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams12
HeadquartersTroy, New York
RegionUpstate New York
Official websitelibertyleagueathletics.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

History

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Map showing current full member institutions (click to enlarge)

It was founded in 1995 as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association. The conference was renamed during the summer of 2004 to the current name.

The league includes founding members Clarkson University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College, and Union College. Vassar College became a full member of the league during the 2000–01 academic year, Bard College and Rochester Institute of Technology joined for the 2011–12 academic year, and Ithaca College officially joined for the 2017–18 academic year. Founding member Hamilton College departed following the 2010–11 academic year in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).

The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Springfield College are associate members in football only.

At the beginning of the 2012–13 season, New York University became an associate member in both men's and women's golf, while Wellesley College and Mount Holyoke College became associate members in women's golf.

Accomplishments

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Offensive linesman Ali Marpet of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, drafted in the 2nd round, 61st overall, of the 2015 NFL draft, is the highest-drafted pick in the history of Division III football.[1] He was three-time All-Liberty League first team (2012, 2013, 2014), and 2014 Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year—the first offensive lineman in league history to be so honored.[2][3][4]

Chronological timeline

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  • 1995 – In 1995, the Liberty League was founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA). Charter members included Clarkson University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College and Union College, effective beginning the 1995–96 academic year.
  • 2001 – Vassar College joined the UCAA, effective in the 2000–01 academic year.
  • 2004 – On July 1, 2004, the UCAA has been rebranded as the Liberty League; effective in the 2004–05 academic year.
  • 2004 – The United States Coast Guard Academy (Coast Guard), the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) joined the Liberty League as associate members for football, effective in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year).
  • 2006 – U.S. Coast Guard left the Liberty League as an associate member for football, effective after the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year).
  • 2007 – Susquehanna University joined the Liberty League as an associate member for football, effective in the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year).
  • 2009 – U.S. Merchant Marine added men's golf to its Liberty League associate membership, effective in the 2010 spring season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2010 – Susquehanna left the Liberty League as an associate member for football, effective after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2011 – Founding member Hamilton College left the Liberty League in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), effective after the 2010–11 academic year.
  • 2011 – Bard College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the Liberty League, effective in the 2011–12 academic year.
  • 2012 – U.S. Merchant Marine left the Liberty League as an associate member for men's golf after dropping the sport, effective after the 2012 spring season (2011–12 academic year).
  • 2012 – Four institutions joined the Liberty League as associate members: Springfield College for football, New York University for both men's and women's golf, and Wellesley College and Mount Holyoke College for women's golf, all effective in the 2012–13 academic year.
  • 2013 – St. John Fisher College joined the Liberty League as an associate member for men's and women's rowing, effective in the 2013–14 academic year.
  • 2017 – Springfield, U.S. Merchant Marine and Worcester Poly (WPI) left the Liberty League as associate members for football, effective after the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year).
  • 2017 – Ithaca College joined the Liberty League, effective in the 2017–18 academic year.
  • 2019 – Buffalo State College (now Buffalo State University) joined the Liberty League as an associate member for football, effective in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2020 – Mount Holyoke left the Liberty League as an associate member for women's golf after dropping the sport, effective after the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
  • 2025 – The Liberty League announced that it entered into a scheduling agreement for non-conference football games with the Empire 8 for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. As part of this agreement, Hilbert College will join the Liberty League from the Empire 8 as an associate member for football, effective in the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year), giving both leagues 8 football-playing members.

Member schools

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Current members

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The Liberty League currently has 12 full members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Football?
Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 1860 Episcopal 1,958 Raptors 2011 No
Clarkson University Potsdam, New York 1896 Nonsectarian 2,848 Golden Knights 1995 No
Hobart College[a] Geneva, New York 1822 Episcopal 905 Statesmen 1995 Yes
Ithaca College Ithaca, New York 1892 Nonsectarian 6,769 Bombers 2017 Yes
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI) 		Troy, New York 1824 Nonsectarian 5,431 Engineers 1995 Yes
University of Rochester[b] Rochester, New York 1850 Nonsectarian 12,233 Yellowjackets 1995 Yes
Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) 		Henrietta, New York 1829 Nonsectarian 18,000 Tigers 2011 No
St. Lawrence University Canton, New York 1856 Nonsectarian 2,327 Saints 1995 Yes
Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, New York 1903 Nonsectarian 2,734 Thoroughbreds 1995 No
Union College Schenectady, New York 1795 Nonsectarian 2,197 Garnet Chargers 1995 Yes
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York 1861 Nonsectarian 2,446 Brewers 2001 No
William Smith College[a] Geneva, New York 1908 Episcopal 1,045 Herons 1995 No
Notes
  1. ^ a b Hobart (men) and William Smith (women) are together the Colleges of the Seneca and usually grouped together, but they participate separately in athletics.
  2. ^ Rochester holds both dual conference membership with the Liberty and with the University Athletic Association (UAA).

Associate members

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The Liberty League currently has four associate members, all but one are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference 		Liberty
sport
Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York 1871 Public 8,339 Bengals 2019–20 New York State (SUNYAC) football
New York University New York City 1832 Private 22,280 Violets 2012–13m.gf.;
2012–13w.gf. 		University (UAA) men's golf;
women's golf
St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York 1948 Private 4,000 Cardinals 2013–14 Empire 8 men's rowing
women's rowing
Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1870 Nonsectarian 2,300 Blue 2012–13 New England (NEWMAC) women's golf

Future associate members

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Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Primary
conference 		Liberty
sport
Hilbert College Hamburg, New York 1957 Catholic
(Franciscan) 		800 Hawks 2025 Allegheny Mountain (AMCC) football

Former members

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The Liberty League had one former full member, which was also a private school:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Hamilton College[a] Clinton, New York 1793 Nonsectarian 1,864 Continentals 1995–96 2010–11 New England (NESCAC)
Notes
  1. ^ Hamilton left the Liberty League after the 2010–11 school year in order to fully align with the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), of which it has been a charter member since 1971. The school previously held dual membership with both the Liberty and NESCAC conferences.

Former associate members

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The Liberty League had six former associate members, all but two were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
in former
Liberty sport 		Current
primary
conference 		Liberty
sport
United States Coast Guard Academy
(Coast Guard) 		New London, Connecticut 1876 Federal 1,045 Bears 2004–05 2005–06 New England (NEWMAC)[a] football
United States Merchant Marine Academy
(Merchant Marine) 		Kings Point, New York 1942 910 Mariners 2004–05fb.;
2009–10m.gf. 		2016–17fb.;
2011–12m.gf. 		NEWMACfb.;
N/Am.gf.[b] 		Skyline football;[5]
men's golf
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, Massachusetts 1837 Nonsectarian 2,100 Lyons 2012–13 2019–20 N/A[c] NEWMAC women's golf
Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts 1885 Nonsectarian 5,062 Pride 2012–13 2016–17 New England (NEWMAC) football[7]
Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 1858 Lutheran ECLA 2,200 River Hawks 2007–08 2009–10 Centennial[d] Landmark football
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(WPI) 		Worcester, Massachusetts 1865 Nonsectarian 5,071 Engineers 2004–05 2016–17 New England (NEWMAC) football
Liberty League other members
 
 
100km
62miles
 
St. John Fisher
 
Susquehanna
 
Merchant Marine
 
Mount Holyoke
 
WPI
 
Springfield
 
Coast Guard
 
Hamilton
 
Buffalo State
 
Wellesley
 
NYU
Locations of Liberty League other members, 2021–2022   Current associate   Former full   Former associate
Notes
  1. ^ Coast Guard was a football-only associate member in the 2004 and 2005 seasons after its previous conference, the Freedom Football Conference, disbanded (it competed in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in most other sports, where it remains). After two seasons it moved to the New England Football Conference (since rebranded as Commonwealth Coast Football), where it remained through the 2016 season. Coast Guard football joined its other sports in the NEWMAC in 2017, when that league began sponsoring football.
  2. ^ Merchant Marine discontinued men's golf after the 2011–12 school year.
  3. ^ Mount Holyoke discontinued women's golf after the 2019–20 school year.[6]
  4. ^ Susquehanna was a football-only associate member in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons after leaving its previous football conference, the Middle Atlantic Conferences (it then competed in the Landmark Conference in most other sports, where it remains). After three seasons it moved to the Centennial Conference.

Membership timeline

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Hilbert CollegeBuffalo State UniversityIthaca CollegeSt. John Fisher CollegeSpringfield College (Massachusetts)Wellesley CollegeNew York UniversityMount Holyoke CollegeRochester Institute of TechnologyBard CollegeSusquehanna UniversityWorcester Polytechnic InstituteUnited States Merchant Marine AcademyUnited States Coast Guard AcademyVassar CollegeHobart and William Smith CollegesUnion CollegeSt. Lawrence UniversitySkidmore CollegeUniversity of RochesterRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteHobart and William Smith CollegesHamilton College (New York)Clarkson University

Sports

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The Liberty League sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's crew, 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 squash, 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.

Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
 Y
Basketball
 Y
 Y
Cross Country
 Y
 Y
Field hockey
 Y
Football
 Y
Golf
 Y
 Y
Lacrosse
 Y
 Y
Rowing
 Y
 Y
Soccer
 Y
 Y
Softball
 Y
Squash
 Y
 Y
Swimming & Diving
 Y
 Y
Tennis
 Y
 Y
Track and field (indoor)
 Y
 Y
Track and field (outdoor)
 Y
 Y
Volleyball
 Y

[8]

Men's sponsored sports by school

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School Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Squash Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Total Liberty League Sports
Bard[9]  Y  Y  Y  N  N  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 9
Clarkson[10]  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  N  Y  N  Y  N  N  N 7
Hobart[11]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N 11
Ithaca[12]  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
RPI[13]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Rochester[14]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
RIT[15]  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 10
St. Lawrence[16]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 13
Skidmore[17]  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  N  N 8
Union[18]  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  N  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y 10
Vassar[19]  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
Totals 11 11 10 6+1[a] 6+1[b] 9 6+1[c] 11 5 11 10 8 8 115

[8]

  1. ^ Affiliate member Buffalo State.
  2. ^ Affiliate member NYU.
  3. ^ Affiliate member St. John Fisher.

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Liberty League

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School Alpine Skiing Crew Fencing Ice Hockey Nordic Skiing Riding Rugby Sailing Volleyball Wrestling
Bard[9] No No No No No No No No NECC No
Clarkson[10] Independent No No ECAC Hockey Independent No No No No No
Hobart[11] Independent No No NEHC No No No Independent Independent No
Ithaca[12] No No No No No No No No No Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference
RPI[13] No No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No
RIT[15] No No No AHA No No No No No Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference
St. Lawrence[16] Independent No No ECAC Hockey Independent Independent No No No No
Skidmore[17] No No No NEHC No No No No No No
Union[18] No Independent No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No
Vassar[19] No No Northeast Fencing Conference No No No Independent No UVC No

Women's sponsored sports by school

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School Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Squash Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field
(Indoor)		 Track & Field
(Outdoor)		 Volleyball Total Liberty League Sports
Bard[9]  Y  Y  N  N  Y  N  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 10
Clarkson[10]  Y  Y  N  N  Y  N  Y  Y  N  Y  N  N  N  Y 7
Ithaca[12]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 13
RPI[13]  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  N  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N 10
Rochester[14]  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 12
RIT[15]  Y  Y  N  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 11
St. Lawrence[16]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 14
Skidmore[17]  Y  N  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  N  N  Y 9
Union[18]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 12
Vassar[19]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y 13
William Smith[11]  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  N  Y  Y  Y  N  N  Y 11
Totals 11 10 8 5+2[a] 11 7+1[b] 11 8 4 11 10 8 8 10 125

[8]

  1. ^ Affiliate members NYU and Wellesley.
  2. ^ Affiliate member St. John Fisher.

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Liberty League

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School Alpine Skiing Bowling Crew Fencing Gymnastics Ice Hockey Nordic Skiing Riding Rugby Sailing Sculling
Clarkson[10] Independent No No No No ECAC Hockey Independent No No No No
Ithaca[12] No No No No Independent No No No No No Independent
RPI[13] No No No No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No
RIT[15] No No No No No AHA No No No No No
St. Lawrence[16] Independent No No No No ECAC Hockey Independent Independent No No No
Skidmore[17] No No No No No No No Independent No No No
Union[18] No No Independent No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No
Vassar[19] No No No Northeast Fencing Conference No No No No Independent No No
William Smith[11] Independent Independent No No No NEHC No No No Independent No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kevin McGuire (May 2, 2015). "Ali Marpet puts D3 Hobart on the NFL Draft scoreboard – College Football Talk". NBC Sports.
  2. ^ "Liberty League Athletics – Liberty League announces 2014 Football Award Recipients". Liberty League.
  3. ^ "Press Release: News: Senior Bowl". seniorbowl.com.
  4. ^ "AFCA Announces 2014 Division III Coaches All-America Team". afca.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27.
  5. ^ Liberty League Archived 2006-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Mount Holyoke College Discontinues Varsity Golf Program". Mount Holyoke College. 2020-09-10.
  7. ^ "Springfield College to Join the Liberty League as Associate Member in Football". Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
  8. ^ a b c "Liberty League". libertyleagueathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  9. ^ a b c "Bard College Athletics". bardathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  10. ^ a b c d "Clarkson University Athletics". clarksonathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  11. ^ a b c d "Hobart and William Smith College Athletics". hwsathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  12. ^ a b c d "Ithaca College Athletics". athletics.ithaca.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  13. ^ a b c d "Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics". rpiathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  14. ^ a b "University of Rochester Athletics". uofrathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  15. ^ a b c d "Rochester Institute of Technology Athletics". ritathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  16. ^ a b c d "St. Lawrence University Athletics". saintsathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  17. ^ a b c d "Skidmore College Athletics". skidmoreathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  18. ^ a b c d "Union College Athletics". unionathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  19. ^ a b c d "Vassar College Athletics". vassarathletics.com. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
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