Monmouth Joins
the CAA

“The invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association has presented our University with an opportunity to compete alongside some of the finest institutions in the nation,” President Patrick F. Leahy said. “Those strong academic associations, coupled with the on-field national recognition of the CAA teams, will enhance the Monmouth brand and increase our exposure at the regional and national levels. I am very excited to give our student-athletes and coaching staff the opportunity to elevate our programs to a new level.”

Beginning this fall, 23 of Monmouth’s 24 Division I athletic programs are competing in the CAA, one of the top mid-major conferences in the country. Women’s bowling, a sport not sponsored by the CAA, still competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Prior to the move, most Hawks teams competed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), while football competed in the Big South Conference and field hockey competed in the America East Conference. Consolidating as many programs as possible under one conference banner “is something that we have been working toward for the past 10 years,” Monmouth Director of Athletics Jeff Stapleton said.

The CAA encompasses many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, with a geographic footprint that stretches from New Hampshire to South Carolina. Competing in the conference enables Monmouth “to tap major media markets up and down the East Coast,” Leahy said.

“This gives us an important opportunity to extend the Monmouth brand and to shine a spotlight on the incredible work that happens day in and day out in our classrooms, labs, and learning spaces,” Leahy added.

Increasing exposure for the University at the regional and national levels directly aligns with one of the core objectives of Monmouth’s Strategic Plan, which was approved in 2021. The increased brand recognition will also be a valuable asset for recruiting students in today’s increasingly competitive enrollment landscape.

At the same time, Monmouth will be able to build new regional rivalries that will reenergize the campus community and alumni. “We are competing at the highest level, but we are doing so in a fiscally responsible way, which is very important,” Leahy said.

The CAA’s member institutions constitute some of the most competitive and highly ranked colleges and universities in the country (see map), and Monmouth will benefit greatly from these academic associations.

“We are thrilled to expand our association with institutions that share a demonstrated commitment both to academic integrity and to athletic excellence,” Leahy said.

As a member of the CAA, Monmouth is part of the Colonial Academic Alliance. The Alliance facilitates collaboration and communication across member institutions, leveraging the strengths of each to advance initiatives that no one college or university could undertake on its own. Monmouth students, faculty, and staff are now able to engage in meaningful initiatives that challenge the status quo, enrich the academic environment, and advance student success.