Empire 8

Empire 8 (E8)
Established	1964
Association	NCAA
Division	Division III
Members	12 (9 full, 3 associate)
Sports fielded	22 (men's: 11; women's: 11)
Region	New York, New Jersey
Former names	Independent College Athletic Conference (1964–1991) Empire Athletic Association (1991–1999)
Headquarters	Rochester, New York
Commissioner	Chuck Mitrano (since 2001)
Website	www.empire8.com
Locations

The Empire 8 (E8) is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III. The E8 sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's football, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women’s soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.

About the Empire 8

The Empire 8 can trace its beginnings back to 1964 with the founding of the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). At this time, the conference was made up of Alfred University, Clarkson University, Hobart College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, and Union College. After Union left the league, Ithaca College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the ICAC.

In 1991, the ICAC regrouped to become the Empire Athletic Association (EAA), with Clarkson leaving and Hartwick College joining to replace the spot. Hobart/William Smith, RPI, and St. Lawrence left in 1993, to be replaced by Elmira College, Nazareth College, and Utica College. Alfred re-joined and St. John Fisher College joined the league in 1998.

The EAA became the Empire 8 Athletic Conference in 1999, hosting 13 sports.

Stevens Institute of Technology joined as a field hockey member beginning in 2006 and became a full member in 2007. RIT announced on June 5, 2009 that it planned to leave the Empire 8 for the Liberty League beginning in the fall of the 2011–12 season. Houghton College announced that they will join the Empire 8 in the 2012–13 season as they transition from a NAIA school to NCAA Division III status, though they will be ineligible for the postseason until they become full D-III members in 2016.

Member schools

Current members

Full member institutions include:

Institution	Location	Nickname	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Football?
Alfred University	Alfred, New York	Saxons	1836	Private	2,055	1964, 1998	Yes
Elmira College	Elmira, New York	Soaring Eagles	1855	Private	1,170	1993	No
Hartwick College	Oneonta, New York	Hawks	1797	Private	1,600	1991	Yes
Houghton College	Houghton, New York	Highlanders	1883	Private	1,415	2012	No
Ithaca College	Ithaca, New York	Bombers	1892	Private	6,800	1971	Yes
Nazareth College	Pittsford, New York	Golden Flyers	1924	Private	3,140	1993	No
St. John Fisher College	Pittsford, New York	Cardinals	1948	Private	4,008	1998	Yes
Stevens Institute of Technology	Hoboken, New Jersey	Ducks	1870	Private	5,260	2007	No
Utica College	Utica, New York	Pioneers	1946	Private	3,105	1993	Yes

Affiliate members

Institution	Location	Nickname	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Primary Conference	Empire 8 Sport
Buffalo State College	Buffalo, New York	Bengals	1871	Public	11,659	2012-13	SUNYAC	football
State University of New York at Brockport	Brockport, New York	Golden Eagles	1867	Public	8,275	2014-15	SUNYAC	football
State University of New York at Cortland1	Cortland, New York	Red Dragons	1868	Public	6,199	2015-16	SUNYAC	football
Morrisville State College1	Morrisville, New York	Mustangs	1908	Public	3,356	2015-16	NEAC	football
Washington & Jefferson College	Washington, Pennsylvania	Presidents	1781	Private	1,519	2002-03	Presidents'	field hockey

Notes

1. - Cortland and Morrisville State will join the E8 from the NJAC as affiliate members in football starting with the 2015 season.

Former members

Institution	Location	Nickname	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Clarkson University	Potsdam, New York	Golden Knights	1896	Private	3,539	1964	1991	Liberty
Hobart and William Smith Colleges	Geneva, New York	Statesmen (Hobart) Herons (William Smith)	1822 (Hobart) 1908 (William Smith)	Private	2,118	1964	1993	Liberty
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, New York	Engineers	1824	Private	7,521	1964	1993	Liberty
Rochester Institute of Technology	Henrietta, New York	Tigers	1829	Private	17,652	1971	2011	Liberty
St. Lawrence University	Canton, New York	Saints	1856	Private	2,431	1964	1993	Liberty
Union College	Schenectady, New York	Dutchmen (men's) Dutchwomen (women's)	1795	Private	2,194	1964	1971	Liberty

Former affiliate members

Institution	Location	Nickname	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Joined	Left	Primary Conference	Empire 8 Sport
Frostburg State University	Frostburg, Maryland	Bobcats	1898	Public	6,133	2011-12	2015-16	Capital	football
Salisbury University	Salisbury, Maryland	Sea Gulls	1925	Public	8,606	2011-12	2015-16	Capital	football
Springfield College	Springfield, Massachusetts	Pride	1885	Private	5,062	2002-03	2011-12	NEWMAC	football

Membership timeline

Championships

Main article: List of Empire 8 Athletic Conference champions

External links

• Official website