Eastern College Athletic Conference

The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports (17 men's and 18 women's). It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois. Most or all members belong to at least one other athletic conference.

The ECAC was founded as the Central Office for Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics in 1938, largely thanks to the efforts of James Lynah of Cornell University. In 1983, the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) was consolidated into the ECAC. Most member schools are in other conferences as well, but through the ECAC are able to participate in sports that their other conference does not offer. Its headquarters are located in Centerville, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod.

Mission statement
The mission of the ECAC shall be to initiate, stimulate and improve intercollegiate athletics programs for student-athletes, and to promote and develop educational leadership, athletics excellence and athletics participation.

The ECAC shall:

1. Understand, respect and support programs and philosophies of each member; 2. Assist and involve all constituents in developing and maintaining consistent, equitable competitive opportunities; 3. Develop and implement the best possible programs and services (championships, officiating, public relations, etc.) for the membership; and  4. Promote college athletics in general, and specifically, highlight stories about its membership, student-athletes, coaches and administrators.

The ECAC shall be a leader, either as a primary or secondary provider, of services to its member conferences and institutions to achieve the mission.

Division I
As of March 2010, there are 88 Division I members.

Division II
As of March 2010, there are 17 Division II members.

Division III
As of March 2010, there are 186 Division III members.

Affiliates
The ECAC is also affiliated with various single-sport leagues:
 * Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges
 * Eastern Association of Women's Rowing Colleges
 * Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League
 * Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association
 * Intercollegiate Fencing Association
 * Intercollegiate Rowing Association
 * Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes in America

In general
The ECAC consists of 21 different collegiate sports: cross country (Men's & Women's), field hockey (W), football (M), golf (M&W), soccer (M&W), tennis (M&W), volleyball (M&W), water polo (M&W), basketball (M&W), bowling (W), fencing (M&W), gymnastics (M&W), ice hockey (M&W), swimming and diving (M&W), synchronized swimming (W), indoor track and field (M&W), wrestling (M), baseball (M), lacrosse (M&W), softball (W), and outdoor track and field (M&W).

Swimming and diving

 * See footnote

In 2010, the swimming and diving championships included 21 men's teams and 24 women's teams.

Awards

 * See footnotes


 * Robbins Scholar-Athletes
 * Award of Merit (for student-athletes)
 * Award of Valor (for student-athletes)
 * ECAC Rowing Trophy