Coast to Coast Athletic Conference

Last updated
Coast to Coast Athletic Conference
Coast to Coast Conference Logo.png
FormerlyCapital Athletic Conference (CAC)
Association NCAA
Founded1989
CommissionerChris Roekle (since 2020)
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 9
Division Division III
No. of teams7
Official website www.c2csports.com
Locations
Coast to Coast Member Map.png

The Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (C2C; officially stylized as Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference), formerly named Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. Member institutions are located throughout the United States in the states of California, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

Contents

History

USA Maryland relief location map.svg
Capital Athletic Conference Charter Members locations
Blue pog.svg – charter members

Formed in 1989 as Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), the charter members were The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, the University of Mary Washington, Marymount University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, and York College of Pennsylvania.

On May 6, 2011, Hood and Stevenson departed the CAC for the Middle Atlantic Conferences, effective June 1, 2012. Both Hood and Stevenson would also compete on some sports within the multi-conference umbrella as part of the MAC's Commonwealth Conference. [1]

On July 26, 2012, Christopher Newport University, Penn State Harrisburg and Southern Virginia University joined the CAC for all sports in the 2013–14 academic year, effective on June 1, 2013. [2]

On March 1, 2018, Marymount and Wesley departed the CAC for the newly-formed Atlantic East Conference (AEC) following the end the 2017–18 academic year. [3]

On July 5, 2018, Frostburg State began the transition to the Division II for the 2019–20 academic year, thus departed the CAC to join the Mountain East Conference, effective after the 2018–19 academic year. [4]

On July 8, 2018, Penn State Harrisburg departed the CAC to return to the NEAC following the end of the 2018–19 academic year. [5]

On April 2, 2019, York departed the CAC to join the MAC, effective after the 2019–20 season. [6]

On December 11, 2019, Southern Virginia departed the C2C to join the USA South Athletic Conference, effective after the 2020–21 academic year. [7]

On December 12, 2019, St. Mary's departed the C2C to join the United East Conference, effective after the 2020–21 academic year. [8]

On May 26, 2020, it was announced that the Capital Athletic Conference would expand to 11 teams as they offered memberships to all schools in the American Collegiate Athletic Association. [9] .All full ACAA members and an associate member joined the CAC in the 2020–21 school year; the announcement also stated that the expanded CAC planned to adopt a new name. The post-merger conference does not conduct regular-season competition in any sports; members establish their own schedules, with NCAA championship bids handed out in conference tournaments or championship meets, depending on the sport. Therefore, all full members, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Finlandia University, Mills College (women's sports only), Mount Mary University (women's sports only), Pine Manor College, and Pratt Institute, and associate member, the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, of the ACAA joined in their respective memberships. [10] [11]

On November 18, 2020, the Capital Athletic Conference announced its rebranding as the "Coast to Coast Athletic Conference". [12]

On March 17, 2021, Mills announced that it would end conferment degrees to become a research institution after the 2022–23 school year, thus dissolving their athletic programs. This was later revised to be acquired by Northeastern University to become Northeastern University at Mills College. Through this merger, Mills transitioned to a co-ed university and would discontinue athletics after the 2021–22 season. [13] [14] [15]

On August 4, 2021, St. Mary's rejoined the C2C as an associate member in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field. [16]

On January 11, 2022, the University of Wisconsin–Platteville joined the C2C as an associate member for men's soccer, starting in the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year). [17] [18]

On July 26, 2022, the C2C announced that it would form the Coastal Lacrosse Conference, a single sport, men's lacrosse conference, with the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The members would include Christopher Newport University, Salisbury University, and University of Mary Washington from the C2C and Kean University, Montclair State University, and Stockton University from the NJAC. Play began in the 2022–23 season. [19]

On July 27, 2022, the C2C announced the addition of Warren Wilson College as a full member starting in the 2022–23 season. [20]

On March 2, 2023, Finlandia University announced that it would close following the 2022–23 school year, thus departing the conference. [21]

Chronological timeline

Usa edcp relief location map.png
Current Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Member locations
Blue pog.svg – Full member

Member schools

Current members

The C2C currently has seven full members, four are public schools and three are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a]
Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia 1961Public5,186 Captains 2013
Johnson & Wales University–Charlotte Charlotte, North Carolina 1914 [b] Nonsectarian1,681 Wildcats 2025
University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, Virginia 1908Public4,862 Eagles 1989
Regent University Virginia Beach, Virginia 1977 Interdenominational
(Evangelical)
10,365 Royals 2025
Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland 1925Public [c] 7,383 Sea Gulls 1993
University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California 1965Public [d] 19,700 Banana Slugs 2020
Warren Wilson College Swannanoa, North Carolina 1894 Presbyterian
(PCUSA)
650 Owls 2022
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Johnson & Wales University has been in operation since 1914, but its Charlotte campus has only been active since 2004.
  3. Part of the University System of Maryland.
  4. Part of the University of California System.


Former members

The C2C had 17 former full members, all but three were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
The Catholic University of America Washington, D.C. 1887 Catholic
(Pontifical)
6,705 Cardinals 19892007 Landmark
Finlandia University Hancock, Michigan 1896 Lutheran
(ELCA)
507 Lions 20202023Closed in 2023
Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland 1898Public [c] 5,215 Bobcats 20102019 Mountain East (MEC) [d]
Gallaudet University Washington, D.C. 1864Quasigovernmental2,340 Bison 19892010 United East (UEC)
Goucher College Towson, Maryland 1885Nonsectarian2,375 Gophers 19892007 Landmark
Hood College Frederick, Maryland 1893 United Church
of Christ
3,856 Blazers 2007 [e] 2012 MAC Commonwealth
Marymount University Arlington, Virginia 1950 Catholic
(RSHM)
3,684 Saints 19892018 Atlantic East (AEC)
Mills College [f] Oakland, California 1852Nonsectarian1,345 Cyclones 20202022N/A [g]
Mount Mary University [f] Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1913 Catholic
(SSND)
1,209 Blue Angels 20202025 Chicagoland (CCAC) [h]
Penn State Harrisburg Lower Swatara, Pennsylvania 1966Public3,441 Lions 20132019 United East (UEC)
Pine Manor College Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 1911Nonsectarian419 Gators 20202021N/A [i]
Pratt Institute Brooklyn, New York 1877Nonsectarian4,829 Cannoneers 20202024 Atlantic East (AEC)
St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City, Maryland 1840Public1,950 Seahawks 19892021 United East (UEC)
Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, Virginia 1867 LDS Church 1,106 Knights 20132021 USA South
Stevenson University Stevenson, Maryland 1947Nonsectarian3,929 Mustangs 2007 [j] 2012 MAC Commonwealth
Wesley College Dover, Delaware 1873 United
Methodist
2,400 Wolverines 20072018N/A [k]
York College of Pennsylvania York, Pennsylvania 1787Nonsectarian5,367 Spartans 19892020 MAC Commonwealth
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Part of the University System of Maryland.
  4. Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  5. Hood joined the CAC as an associate member for certain sports during the 2006-07 school year. The sports that competed were the following: men's sports included basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field, and women's sports included cross country, swimming, tennis and track & field (while the rest of its other women's sports were still competing in the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference (AWCC) at that time.
  6. 1 2 This institution was a women's college, therefore it did not compete in men's sports.
  7. Mills was acquired by Northeastern University in 2023, becoming part of that university's extended operations in the San Francisco Bay Area. In advance of this, Mills dropped athletics after the 2021–22 school year.
  8. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  9. Pine Manor was acquired by Boston College in 2021.
  10. Stevenson joined the CAC as an associate member for certain sports during the 2006-07 school year. The sports that competed were the following: men's sports included lacrosse, and women's sports included field hockey and lacrosse (while the rest of its other men's and women's sports were still competing in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) at that time.
  11. Wesley was acquired by Delaware State University in 2021.

Former associate members

The C2C had nine former associate members, five were public schools and four were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] C2C
sport
Primary
conference
Babson College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1919Nonsectarian3,120 Beavers 20182020men's golf New England (NEWMAC)
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1900Nonsectarian14,800 Tartans 20192020men's golf [c] University (UAA)
The Catholic University of America [d] Washington, D.C. 1887 Catholic
(Pontifical)
6,705 Cardinals 20072008women's outdoor track & field Landmark
Goucher College [e] Towson, Maryland 1885Nonsectarian2,375 Gophers 20072008women's outdoor track & field Landmark
New Jersey City University Jersey City, New Jersey 1929Public7,300 Gothic Knights 20132020men's golf New Jersey (NJAC)
St. Mary's College of Maryland [f] St. Mary's City, Maryland 1840Public1,950 Seahawks 20212023men's indoor track & field United East (UEC)
men's outdoor track & field
women's indoor track & field
women's outdoor track & field
William Paterson University Wayne, New Jersey 1855Public10,970 Pioneers 20132016men's golf New Jersey (NJAC)
University of Wisconsin–Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin 1866Public [g] 8,134 Pioneers 20222024men's soccer Wisconsin (WIAC)
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin 1868Public [g] 11,020 Warhawks 20202024men's soccer Wisconsin (WIAC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Carnegie Mellon joined as an associate member in the 2019–20 school year, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then men's golf was dropped as a conference sport after the 2019–20 school year, therefore Carnegie Mellon never participated in a conference championship.
  4. Catholic (D.C.) was a full member of the C2C (back then, the CAC) from 1989–90 to 2006–07.
  5. Goucher was a full member of the C2C (back then, the CAC) from 1989–90 to 2006–07.
  6. St. Mary's (Md.) was a full member of the C2C (back then, the CAC) from 1989–90 to 2020–21.
  7. 1 2 Part of the University of Wisconsin System.

Membership timeline

Regent UniversityJohnson & Wales UniversityWarren Wilson CollegeNCAA Division III independent schoolsAtlantic East ConferencePratt InstituteAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationUnited States Collegiate Athletic AssociationPine Manor CollegeAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationChicagoland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceMount Mary UniversityAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsMills CollegeAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationFinlandia UniversityAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationUniversity of California, Santa CruzAmerican Collegiate Athletic AssociationNCAA Division III independent schoolsUSA South Athletic ConferenceSouthern Virginia UniversityUnited East ConferencePenn State HarrisburgChristopher Newport UniversityMountain East ConferenceFrostburg State UniversityAtlantic East ConferenceWesley College (Delaware)MAC Commonwealth ConferenceStevenson UniversityMAC Commonwealth ConferenceHood CollegeSalisbury UniversityLandmark ConferenceGoucher CollegeMAC Commonwealth ConferenceYork College of PennsylvaniaUnited East ConferenceUnited East ConferenceSt. Mary's College of MarylandAtlantic East ConferenceMarymount UniversityUniversity of Mary WashingtonUnited East ConferenceGallaudet UniversityLandmark ConferenceThe Catholic University of AmericaCoast to Coast Athletic Conference

 Full member (all sports)  Full member (non-football)  Associate member (football)  Associate member (sport) 

Sports

The C2C sponsors championships in the following sports:

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Green check.svgY
Basketball
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Cross Country
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Lacrosse
[a]
Green check.svgY
Soccer
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Softball
Green check.svgY
Tennis
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Track and field (indoor)
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Track and field (outdoor)
Green check.svgY
Green check.svgY
Volleyball
Green check.svgY

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
country
SoccerTennisTrack
& field
(indoor)
Track
& field
(outdoor)
Total
C2C
Sports
UC Santa CruzRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
Christopher NewportGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Johnson & Wales–CharlotteGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svg5
Mary WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
RegentGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
SalisburyGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Warren WilsonRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg5
Totals577756643

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the C2C that are played by C2C schools

SchoolCyclingEquestrianFootballGolfLacrosseRugbySailingSwimming
& Diving
Volleyball
UC Santa CruzPCSCIndependent
Christopher Newport NJAC Independent CLC MAISA
Johnson & Wales–CharlotteIndependent
Mary Washington IHSA [A] CLC CCRC NJAC
RegentIndependent
Salisbury NJAC CLC NJAC
Warren WilsonHC CLC IndependentIndependent
Notes
  1. Mary Washington's equestrian programs are not sponsored by the NCAA but through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross
country
Lacrosse [A] SoccerSoftballTennisTrack
& field
(indoor)
Track
& field
(outdoor)
VolleyballTotal
C2C
Sports
UC Santa CruzGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Christopher NewportGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Johnson & Wales–CharlotteGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg8
Mary WashingtonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
RegentGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg6
SalisburyGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg9
Warren WilsonGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgRed x.svgRed x.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svgGreen check.svg7
Totals77474577755
Notes
  1. Women's lacrosse will be in danger of not being eligible for NCAA championship bids in the 2023–24 season if new members teams do not join C2C in those sports. According to the NCAA rules for a conference sport to be considered for NCAA championship bids there must be five or more teams competing in that sport, which all of the sports listed had four teams or less fielding that sport after the 2020–21 season.

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by C2C that are played by C2C schools

SchoolBeach VolleyballCheerleadingCyclingDanceEquestrian [b] Field HockeyGolfTriathlonRugby [b] SailingSwimming
& diving
UC Santa Cruz ASC PCSC
Christopher NewportNCANCAIndependentIndependentMAISA
Johnson & Wales–CharlotteIndependent
Mary Washington IHSA [c] CFHC CRU NJAC
Mount MaryIndependent
RegentIndependent
Salisbury SUNYAC NJAC
Warren WilsonHCIndependent NIRA Independent
Notes
  1. In 2022, C2C and NJAC announced the creation of the Coastal Lacrosse Conference, an NCAA Division III single-sport men's lacrosse conference between members from the two conferences. [22]
  2. 1 2 Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
  3. While equestrian is recognized by the NCAA as one of its "Emerging Sports for Women", the NCAA does not sponsor a championship in that sport. Championships are organized by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

Current champions

The table below shows the current list of champions for the C2C/CAC championships.

SeasonSportWomen's ChampionMen's Champion
Fall 2021Cross Country UC Santa Cruz UC Santa Cruz
Field Hockey Salisbury
Soccer Christopher Newport Christopher Newport
VolleyballChristopher Newport
Winter 2021-22BasketballChristopher NewportChristopher Newport
Indoor Track & FieldChristopher NewportChristopher Newport
Spring 2022BaseballSalisbury
LacrosseSalisburySalisbury
SoftballChristopher Newport
Tennis Mary Washington Mary Washington
Outdoor Track and FieldChristopher NewportChristopher Newport

    References

    1. "Stevenson and Hood to Join MAC". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
    2. "Capital Athletic Conference Adds Penn State-Harrisburg; The Lions Join CNU & SVU As New Full Members In 2013-14" (Press release). Capital Athletic Conference. July 26, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
    3. "Atlantic East has name, formal announcement". D3sports.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
    4. "Frostburg State Set To Join Mountain East Conference" (Press release). Bridgeport, West Virginia: Mountain East Conference. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
    5. "NEAC Welcomes Penn State Harrisburg for 2019-20" (Press release). North Eastern Athletic Conference. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
    6. "MAC to Add York (Pa.) as 18th Member Beginning in 2020-21" (Press release). Middle Atlantic Conferences. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
    7. "Southern Virginia Set to Join USA South" (Press release). Southern Virginia University Athletics. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
    8. "St. Mary's College of Maryland to Join North Eastern Athletic Conference in 2021" (Press release). North Eastern Athletic Conference. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
    9. "CAC Announces Conference Expansion; Adds Six Member Institutions" (Press release).
    10. "ACAA and Capital Athletic Conference Join Forces" (Press release). American Collegiate Athletic Association. May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
    11. "CAC Announces Conference Expansion; Adds Six Member Institutions" (Press release). Capital Athletic Conference. May 26, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
    12. "CAC Evolves Into Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference" (Press release). Capital Athletic Conference. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
    13. "Mills College announces plan to close, triggering debate about other schools' futures". EdSource. March 17, 2021.
    14. Graff, Amy (March 17, 2021). "Mills College in Oakland is closing to become an institute". SFGate. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
    15. Ross, Martha (March 18, 2021). "COVID-19 casualty: Mills College in Oakland will end as 4-year school in 2023". The Mercury News (published March 17, 2021). Retrieved April 18, 2021.
    16. "St. Mary's to Rejoin C2C as Associate Member in Track and Field" (Press release). Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
    17. Wisconsin-Platteville to Join C2C as Men's Soccer Associate Member - Coast to Coast Athletic Conference
    18. Men's Soccer to join Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference - Wisc.-Platteville
    19. "C2C & NJAC Announce Formation of Coastal Lacrosse Conference". C2C. July 26, 2022.
    20. "C2C Welcomes Warren Wilson College as Newest Member" (Press release). Coast to Coast Athletic Conference. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
    21. TV6 News Team (March 2, 2023). "Finlandia University to End Operations, not Enroll Students for the 2023–2024 Academic Year". Upper Michigan's Source. Negaunee, Michigan: WLUC-TV . Retrieved March 2, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    22. "NJAC & C2C Announce Formation of Coastal Lacrosse Conference" (Press release). New Jersey Athletic Conference. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.