Little East Conference

Little East Conference

Association	NCAA
Founded	1986
Commissioner	Al Bean (since September 2, 2024)
Sports fielded	19 men's: 8 women's: 11
Division	Division III
No. of teams	9
Headquarters	North Providence, Rhode Island
Region	New England
Official website	littleeast.com
Locations

The Little East Conference (LEC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The member institutions are located in all six states of New England.

History

Little East Conference

50km
31miles

ECSU

Norwich

New England College

Babson

SUNY Delhi

Maine Maritime

Husson

UNE

WNE

Salem State

Mass Maritime

Bridgewater State

Westfield State

Castleton

UMass Dartmouth

UMass Boston

Southern Maine

WCSU

R.I. College

Plymouth State

Keene State

   

Locations of Little East members, 2025–2026 full and associate

Recent events

On June 16, 2022, the University of New England accepted an invitation to join the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving, beginning the 2022–23 academic year. ^[1]

On August 24, 2022, the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) members (Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State) announced that they would leave the Little East and be its own separate conference (as in, the MASCAC to have it as a sponsored sport), beginning in the fall season of the 2023–24 academic year. ^[2]

Chronological timeline

• 1986 – On April 28, 1986, the Little East Conference (LEC) was founded. Charter members included Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University), Rhode Island College and the University of Southern Maine; beginning the 1986–87 academic year.
• 1993 – Western Connecticut State University joined the Little East in the 1993–94 academic year.
• 1997 – Keene State College joined the Little East in the 1997–98 academic year.
• 2000 – Seven institutions joined the Little East as associate members, all effective in the 2000–01 academic year:
  • Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University for field hockey as the MASCAC division in fall
  • and Salem State for men's lacrosse in spring
• 2003 – Salem State added men's tennis into its Little East associate membership in the 2004 spring season (2003–04 academic year).
• 2004 – Two institutions added certain single sports into their Little East associate memberships, both effective in the 2005 spring season (2004–05 academic year):
  • Bridgewater State for men's and women's tennis
  • and Salem State for women's tennis
• 2010 – Three institutions added certain single sports into their Little East associate memberships, all effective in the 2010–11 academic year:
  • Worcester State for women's tennis
  • and Bridgewater State and Westfield State for women's swimming & diving
• 2014 – Bridgewater State left the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving after the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2018 – Castleton University (now Vermont State University–Castleton) joined the Little East in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2019 – Massachusetts Maritime Academy joined the Little East as an associate member for men's lacrosse in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
• 2020:
  • Worcester State left the Little East as an associate member for women's tennis after the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
  • Western New England University joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving in the 2020–21 academic year; although due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they didn't begin to compete within conference play until 2021–22.
• 2021 – Bridgewater State added men's swimming & diving (with the return of women's swimming & diving) into its Little East associate membership in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2022:
  • The University of New England joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving in the 2022–23 academic year.
  • Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State left the Little East as associate members for field hockey after the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year); as the MASCAC announced to have it as a sponsored sport.
• 2024 – Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy and the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi) joined the Little East as associate members for men's and women's swimming & diving in the 2024–25 academic year. ^[3]
• 2025 – Five institutions joined the Little East as associate members (and/or added other single sports into their associate memberships), all effective in the 2025–26 academic year:
  • Babson College for men's ice hockey ^[4]
  • Husson and Westfield State for women's golf ^[5]
  • and New England College ^[6] and Norwich University ^[7] for men's and women's ice hockey

Member schools

Current members

The Little East currently has nine full members, all are public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Endowment (millions)	Nickname	Joined [a]	Colors
Eastern Connecticut State University	Willimantic, Connecticut	1889	Public [b]	4,989	$16.3	Warriors	1986
Keene State College	Keene, New Hampshire	1909	Public [c]	3,213	$14.0 [d]	Owls	1997
Plymouth State University	Plymouth, New Hampshire	1871	Public [c]	4,491	$28.9	Panthers	1986
Rhode Island College	Providence, Rhode Island	1854	Public [e]	7,523	$16.4	Anchormen & Anchorwomen	1986
University of Massachusetts Boston	Boston, Massachusetts	1852	Public [f]	16,259	$92.0	Beacons	1986
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	Dartmouth, Massachusetts	1895	Public [f]	8,513	$59.0	Corsairs	1986
University of Southern Maine	Gorham, Maine [g]	1878	Public [h]	8,022	$38.5	Huskies	1986
Vermont State University-Castleton	Castleton, Vermont	1787	Public [i]	2,399	$7.86	Spartans	2018
Western Connecticut State University	Danbury, Connecticut	1903	Public [b]	5,246	$12.8	Wolves	1993

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Part of the Connecticut State University System.
3. Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
4. Actual amount in endowment is $13,996,219.
5. Part of the Rhode Island Board of Education.
6. Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
7. The University of Southern Maine's main campus is located at Gorham; with other campuses at Lewiston and Portland.
8. Part of the University of Maine System.
9. Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.

Associate members

The Little East currently has 12 associate members, all but six are public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [a]	LEC sport(s)	Primary conference
Babson College	Wellesley, Massachusetts	1919	Nonsectarian	2,350	Beavers	2025	men's ice hockey	NEWMAC
Bridgewater State University [b]	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	1840	Public [c]	10,651	Bears	2004m.ten.	men's tennis	MASCAC
						2004w.ten.	women's tennis
						2021m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving
						2021w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving [d]
Husson University	Bangor, Maine	1898	Nonsectarian	3,065	Eagles	2024m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	NAC
						2024w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
						2025w.gf.	women's golf
Maine Maritime Academy	Castine, Maine	1941	Public	979	Mariners	2024m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	NAC
						2024w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts	1891	Public [c]	1,637	Buccaneers	2019	men's lacrosse	MASCAC
New England College	Henniker, New Hampshire	1946	Nonsectarian	4,327	Pilgrims	2025m.i.h.	men's ice hockey	GNAC
						2025w.i.h.	women's ice hockey
University of New England	Biddeford, Maine	1831	Nonsectarian	7,208	Nor'easters	2022	women's swimming & diving	CNE
Norwich University	Northfield, Vermont	1819	U.S. SMC	2,300	Cadets	2025m.i.h.	men's ice hockey	GNAC
						2025w.i.h.	women's ice hockey
Salem State University	Salem, Massachusetts	1854	Public [c]	7,242	Vikings	2000m.lax.	men's lacrosse [e]	MASCAC
						2003m.ten.	men's tennis
						2004w.ten.	women's tennis
State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi)	Delhi, New York	1913	Public	3,291	Broncos	2024m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	NAC
						2024w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
Western New England University	Springfield, Massachusetts	1919	Nonsectarian	3,702	Golden Bears	2020 [f]	women's swimming & diving [8]	CNE
Westfield State University	Westfield, Massachusetts	1838	Public [c]	5,400	Owls	2010w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving	MASCAC
						2025w.gf.	women's golf

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Bridgewater State competed in the Little East as an associate member for field hockey from the 2000 to 2022 fall seasons (2000–01 to 2022–23 school years).
3. Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.
4. Bridgewater State previously competed in the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving from the 2010–11 to 2013–14 school years.
5. Salem State didn't compete from the 2004 to 2008 spring seasons (2003–04 to 2007–08 school years).
6. Western New England joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving during the 2020–21 school year. However, since it was during the pandemic, the Golden Bears didn't began to compete within conference play until 2021–22.

Former associate members

The Little East had six former associate members, all of which were also public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined [a]	Left [b]	LEC sport(s)	Primary conference
Bridgewater State University [c]	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	1840	Public [d]	10,651	Bears	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Fitchburg State University	Fitchburg, Massachusetts	1894	Public [d]	4,659	Falcons	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Framingham State University	Framingham, Massachusetts	1839	Public [d]	4,111	Rams	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Salem State University	Salem, Massachusetts	1854	Public [d]	7,242	Vikings	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Westfield State University	Westfield, Massachusetts	1838	Public [d]	5,400	Owls	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Worcester State University	Worcester, Massachusetts	1874	Public [d]	6,434	Lancers	2000f.h.	2023f.h.	field hockey	MASCAC
						2010w.ten.	2020w.ten.	women's tennis

Notes

1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
3. Bridgewater State remains in the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving since 2021–22; which they previously competed from 2010–11 to 2013–14.
4. Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.

Membership timeline

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

Sports

See also: Little East Conference men's basketball tournament

Conference Sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Field Hockey		Y
Golf	Y	Y
Ice Hockey	Y	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming & Diving	Y	Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

Men's sports

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Ice Hockey	Lacrosse	Soccer	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field	Total LEC Sports
Castleton	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
Eastern Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y [a]	N	Y	8
Keene State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	9
Plymouth State	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y [a]	N	Y	8
Rhode Island College	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	7
Southern Maine	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
UMass Boston	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	8
UMass Dartmouth	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	Y	6
Western Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
Totals	9	9	9	6	7+3	7+2	9	3+4	5+2	9	73+11
Associate Members
Babson					Y						1
Bridgewater State								Y	Y		2
Husson								Y			1
Maine Maritime								Y			1
Massachusetts Maritime						Y					1
New England College					Y						1
Norwich					Y						1
Salem State						Y			Y		2
SUNY Delhi								Y			1

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Little East Conference that are played by Little East schools

School	Alpine Skiing	Football	Wrestling
Castleton	USCSA	NJAC	NEWA
Plymouth State	EISA	MASCAC	NEWA
Rhode Island College			NEWA
Southern Maine			NEWA
UMass Dartmouth		MASCAC
Western Connecticut		Landmark

Women's sports

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Field Hockey	Golf	Ice Hockey	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field	Volleyball	Total LEC Sports
Castleton	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
Eastern Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y [a]	N	Y	Y	10
Keene State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	11
Plymouth State	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y [a]	Y	Y	Y	11
Rhode Island College	Y	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y [a]	Y	Y	Y	10
Southern Maine	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	11
UMass Boston	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
UMass Dartmouth	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	10
Western Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	N [b]	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
Totals	9	9	8	5+2	5+2	9	9	9	5+7	7+2	9	9	93+13
Associate Members
Bridgewater State									Y	Y			2
Husson				Y					Y				2
Maine Maritime									Y				1
New England College					Y								1
U. of New England									Y				1
Norwich					Y								1
Salem State										Y			1
SUNY Delhi									Y				1
Western New England									Y				1
Westfield State				Y					Y [a]				2

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Little East Conference that are played by Little East schools

School	Alpine Skiing	Gymnastics	Rugby
Castleton	USCSA		Y
Plymouth State	EISA
Rhode Island College		NCGA

Notes

1. Swimming only
2. 2026-27

References

1. "University of New England Women's Swimming to Join LEC as Affiliate Member in 2022-23" (Press release). Little East Conference. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
2. "Little East Field Hockey Preseason Poll Released". 2022-08-24.
3. https://littleeast.com/news/2024/7/5/mens-swimming-diving-lec-welcomes-husson-maine-maritime-and-suny-delhi-as-swimming-diving-affiliates-for-2024-25.aspx
4. https://littleeast.com/news/2024/3/5/lec-announces-addition-of-babson-and-norwich-as-mens-ice-hockey-affiliates-for-2025-26.aspx
5. https://littleeast.com/news/2025/7/7/lec-announces-womens-golf-as-24th-championship-sport-husson-and-westfield-state-as-affiliate-members.aspx
6. https://littleeast.com/news/2024/2/8/lec-announces-new-england-college-as-mens-and-womens-ice-hockey-affiliate-womens-ice-hockey-as-conferences-23rd-championship-sport.aspx
7. https://littleeast.com/news/2024/3/5/lec-announces-addition-of-babson-and-norwich-as-mens-ice-hockey-affiliates-for-2025-26.aspx
8. "Affiliate Members". littleeast.com. Retrieved 2021-10-22.

External links

• Official website