The illustrious Hampton University made history earlier today after news broke that the institution would join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), notably becoming the first HBCU affiliated with the D-1 athletic conference.
Hampton is joining the CAA after being a member of the Big South Conference from 2018 to 2022. Before then, the university had been a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for about 23 years.
"The move to the Colonial Athletic Association is the next step in the evolution of Hampton University Athletics," said Dr. William Harvey, President of Hampton University. "Several institutions in the CAA are located in our geographical footprint, which means that our student-athletes will continue to spend less time traveling and more time in classes on campus."
"This move continues to keep the proper focus on academics, which is our chief reason for being. The conference's geographic footprint, as well as occasional contests against institutions in the northeast, will reduce travel expenses while allowing for competition in several of the nation's top media markets," he continued.
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY TO JOIN THE COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION JULY 1, 2022 #RespectTheH
https://t.co/N1vcYBPvrf— Hampton Athletics (@HUAthletics1868) January 25, 2022
Joe D'Antonio, the CAA's commissioner, shared similarly warm sentiments. He also acknowledged two other schools joining the conference: Stony Brook University in New York and Monmouth University in New Jersey.
"We are pleased to welcome Hampton University, Monmouth University, and Stony Brook University as the newest members of the CAA," he said. "The CAA is excited for what the future holds and will continue to be focused on making decisions that ensure its membership is a competitive and sustainable model."
In addition to these three institutions, other CAA members include Northeastern, the College of William & Mary, Drexel, the College of Charleston, and UNC Wilmington.
"On behalf of the entire Hampton University Athletic Department, student/athletes, coaches and staff, we are pleased and very excited to join the community that is the Colonial Athletic Association," Eugene Marshall Jr., Hampton's Director of Athletics, added.
"Being an HBCU is a badge of honor," he continued. "I think for many years, some people associated HBCUs in an unfavorable light, but what they're finding out with all the focus on HBCUs is that we have some of the brightest students and student-athletes in this country."
The university's CAA membership will officially go into effect starting Jul. 1.
