Empire 8
FormerlyIndependent College Athletic Conference (1964โ€“1991)
Empire Athletic Association (1991โ€“1999)
AssociationNCAA
Founded1964
CommissionerChuck Mitrano (since 2001)
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 11
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams9 (12 in 2024)
HeadquartersRochester, New York
RegionNew York
Official websitewww.empire8.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

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. The E8 shares offices with the United Volleyball Conference, a separate Division III league that competes solely in men's volleyball.

History

Empire 8 Conference
Locations of Empire 8 members, 2021โ€“2022 full member affiliate member future member (joining in 2022)

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 University. 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 2011โ€“12 season. Houghton College also announced that they would join the Empire 8 in the 2012โ€“13 season as they transitioned from a school of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division III status; they became full D-III members in 2016.

The most recent changes to the conference's membership were published in the 2018โ€“19 school year. First, Stevens announced in August 2018 that it would leave the E8 at the end of the 2018โ€“19 school year to rejoin the Middle Atlantic Conferences after an absence of more than 40 years. Stevens joined the MAC's Freedom Conference.[1] In January 2019, the E8 reported that Stevens would eventually be replaced by Keuka College in 2020โ€“21,[2] and in March, The Sage Colleges merged Russell Sage College and Sage College of Albany, effectively making the former women-only Russell Sage co-educational in fall 2020.[3]

On July 15, 2020, the Empire 8 postponed all fall sports, but provided conference championships in those sports in spring 2021.[4] On August 26, 2021, Medaille posted its admission to the E8 in 2022โ€“23 from the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.[5]

In 2023, three State University of New York schools will all join the Empire 8, beginning in the 2024โ€“25 academic year: Starting with the State University of New York at Brockport (SUNY Brockport) and the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) on August 21;[6] followed by the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) on November 20.[7]

Chronological timeline

  • 1964 โ€“ The Empire 8 was founded of the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC). charter members included Alfred University, Clarkson College of Technology (now Clarkson University), Hobart College (later William Smith College followed suit when women's sports was added into the conference), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, and Union College, beginning the 1964โ€“65 academic year.
  • 1971 โ€“ Union (N.Y.) left the ICAC after the 1970โ€“71 academic year.
  • 1971 โ€“ Ithaca College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the ICAC in the 1971โ€“72 academic year.
  • 1991 โ€“ Alfred and Clarkson left the ICAC after the 1990โ€“91 academic year.
  • 1991 โ€“ The ICAC has been regrouped to become the Empire Athletic Association (EAA) in the 1991โ€“92 academic year.
  • 1991 โ€“ Hartwick College joined the EAA in the 1991โ€“92 academic year.
  • 1993 โ€“ Hobart/William Smith, Rensselaer Poly (RPI) and St. Lawrence left the EAA after the 1992โ€“93 academic year.
  • 1993 โ€“ Elmira College, Nazareth College (now Nazareth University) and Utica College (now Utica University) joined the EAA in the 1993โ€“94 academic year.
  • 1998 โ€“ St. John Fisher College joined the EAA, with Alfred re-joining alongside in the 1998โ€“99 academic year.
  • 1999 โ€“ The EAA has been rebranded as the Empire 8 Athletic Conference (Empire 8 or E8), hosting 13 sponsored sports, in the 1999โ€“2000 academic year.
  • 2006 โ€“ Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens Tech or Stevens) joined the Empire 8 as an affiliate member for field hockey in the 2006 fall season (2006-07 academic year).
  • 2007 โ€“ Stevens upgraded to join the Empire 8 for full membership in the 2007-08 academic year.
  • 2011 โ€“ Rochester Tech (RIT) left the Empire 8 for the Liberty League after the 2010-11 academic year. Salisbury U. (MD) joined for football.
  • 2012 โ€“ Houghton College joined the Empire 8 in the 2012โ€“13 academic year.
  • 2015 โ€“ Salisbury U. (MD) left to join the NJAC.
  • 2017 โ€“ Ithaca left the Empire 8 to join the Liberty League after the 2016โ€“17 academic year.
  • 2017 โ€“ Russell Sage College (then a women's college) and Sage College of Albany joined the Empire 8 in the 2017โ€“18 academic year.
  • 2019 โ€“ Stevens left the Empire 8 to re-join back to the Middle Atlantic Conferences (particularly the MAC's Freedom Conference) after the 2018โ€“19 academic year.
  • 2020 โ€“ Keuka College joined the Empire 8 in the 2020โ€“21 academic year
  • 2020 โ€“ The Sage Colleges merged Russell Sage and Sage College of Albany, making the former women-only Russell Sage co-educational, in the 2020โ€“21 academic year.
  • 2022 โ€“ Medaille University joined the Empire 8 in the 2022โ€“23 academic year.
  • 2023 โ€“ One year after joining, Medaille left the Empire 8 as the university announced that it would close at the end of the 2022โ€“23 academic year.
  • 2024 โ€“ The State University of New York at Brockport (SUNY Brockport), the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) and the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) will all join the Empire 8, beginning the 2024โ€“25 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The Empire 8 currently has nine full members, all are private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Football?
Alfred University Alfred, New York 1836 Nonsectarian 2,189 Saxons 1964,
1998[lower-alpha 1]
Yes
Elmira College Elmira, New York 1855 Nonsectarian 768 Soaring Eagles 1993 No
Hartwick College Oneonta, New York 1797 Nonsectarian 1,208 Hawks 1991 Yes
Houghton College Houghton, New York 1883 Wesleyan 927 Highlanders 2012 No
Keuka College Keuka Park, New York 1890 Baptist 1,535 Wolves 2020 No
Nazareth University Pittsford, New York 1924 Nonsectarian 2,791 Golden Flyers 1993 No
Russell Sage College Albany and Troy, New York 1916 Nonsectarian 2,389 Gators 2017 No
St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York 1948 Nonsectarian 3,610 Cardinals 1998 Yes
Utica University Utica, New York 1946 Nonsectarian 4,614 Pioneers 1993 Yes
Notes
  1. โ†‘ Alfred left the Empire 8 (then known as the ICAC) after the 1990โ€“91 school year; before re-joining back, effectively the 1998โ€“99 school year.

Future members

Three institutions will join the Empire 8 for the 2024-25 season. Brockport has been a football only member since 2014.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Football? Current
Conference
State University of New York at Brockport Brockport 1867 Public 7,924 Golden Eagles 2024 Yes SUNYAC
State University of New York at Geneseo Geneseo 1871 4,910 Knights No
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute Marcy 1966 2,850 Wildcats No North Atlantic (NAC)

Affiliate members

The Empire 8 currently has five affiliate members; all but one are public schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Empire 8
sport
Primary
conference
State University of New York at Brockport Brockport, New York 1867 Public[lower-alpha 1] 7,592 Golden Eagles 2014 football SUNYAC
State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York 1868 6,832 Red Dragons 2015 SUNYAC
State University of New York at Morrisville Morrisville, New York 1908 2,486 Mustangs 2015 NAC
State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York 1861 7,636 Lakers 2017 men's golf SUNYAC
Notes


Future affiliate members

The Empire 8 will have two new affiliate members; which both will be private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Empire 8
sport
Primary
conference
Hilbert College Hamburg, New York 1957 Catholic
(Franciscan)
800 Hawks 2024 football Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)
Alfred State College Alfred, New York 1908 Public 3500 Pioneers 2025[8] football Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)

Former members

The Empire 8 had ten former full members, all were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Clarkson University Potsdam, New York 1896 Nonsectarian 3,539 Golden Knights 1964 1991 Liberty
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, New York 1822 (Hobart)
1908 (William Smith)
2,118 Statesmen (Hobart)
Herons (William Smith)
1964 1993 Liberty
Ithaca College Ithaca, New York 1892 4,600 Bombers 1971 2017 Liberty
Medaille University Buffalo, New York 1937 3,925 Mavericks 2022 2023 Closed in 2023
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
(RPI)
Troy, New York 1824 7,521 Engineers 1964 1993 Liberty
Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT)
Henrietta, New York 1829 17,652 Tigers 1971 2011 Liberty
The Sage Colleges
Sage College of Albany (co-ed)
Albany, New York 1949 1,600 Gators 2017 2020 N/A[lower-alpha 1]
St. Lawrence University Canton, New York 1856 2,431 Saints 1964 1993 Liberty
Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey 1870 5,260 Ducks 2007[lower-alpha 2] 2019 MAC Freedom
Union College Schenectady, New York 1795 2,194 Dutchmen (men's)
Dutchwomen (women's)
1964 1971 Liberty
Notes
  1. โ†‘ The Sage College of Albany was merged into Russell Sage College.
  2. โ†‘ Stevens competed in the Empire 8 as an associate member for field hockey during the 2006 fall season (2006โ€“07 school year).

Former affiliate members

The Empire 8 had four former affiliate members, all but one were public schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Empire 8
sport
Primary
conference
Conference
competing in
former
Empire 8
sport
Buffalo State College[lower-alpha 1] Buffalo, New York 1871 Public[lower-alpha 2] 8,339 Bengals 2012 2019 football S.U. of New York (SUNYAC) Liberty
Frostburg State University Frostburg, Maryland 1898 Public[lower-alpha 3] 6,133 Bobcats 2011 2016 Mountain East (MEC)[lower-alpha 4]
Salisbury University Salisbury, Maryland 1925 8,606 Sea Gulls 2011 2016 Coast to Coast (C2C) New Jersey (NJAC)
Springfield College[9] Springfield, Massachusetts 1885 Private 5,062 Pride 2003 2012 New England (NEWMAC)
Washington & Jefferson College Washington, Pennsylvania 1781 Nonsectarian 1,168 Presidents 2002 2022[10] field hockey Presidents' (PAC) North Coast (NCAC)
Notes
  1. โ†‘ Currently known as Buffalo State University since 2023.
  2. โ†‘ Part of the State University of New York System.
  3. โ†‘ Part of the University System of Maryland.
  4. โ†‘ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

Membership timeline

Hilbert CollegeAlfred State CollegeState University of New York Polytechnic InstituteState University of New York at GeneseoMedaille CollegeKeuka CollegeSage College of AlbanyRussell Sage CollegeState University of New York at MorrisvilleState University of New York at CortlandState University of New York at BrockportBuffalo State CollegeHoughton CollegeSalisbury UniversityFrostburg State UniversityStevens Institute of TechnologySpringfield College (Massachusetts)Norwich UniversitySt. John Fisher CollegeUtica CollegeNazareth College (New York)Elmira CollegeHartwick CollegeRochester Institute of TechnologyIthaca CollegeUnion CollegeSt. Lawrence UniversityRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteHobart and William Smith CollegesClarkson UniversityAlfred University

Championships

Sports

The Empire 8 sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
BaseballGreen tick
BasketballGreen tickGreen tick
Cross CountryGreen tickGreen tick
Field hockeyGreen tick
FootballGreen tick
GolfGreen tick
LacrosseGreen tickGreen tick
SoccerGreen tickGreen tick
SoftballGreen tick
Swimming & DivingGreen tickGreen tick
TennisGreen tickGreen tick
Track and field (indoor)Green tickGreen tick
Track and field (outdoor)Green tickGreen tick
VolleyballGreen tickGreen tick

Men's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBaseballBasketballCross CountryFootballGolfLacrosseSoccerSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)
Track & Field
(Outdoor)
VolleyballTotal Empire 8 Sports
AlfredRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed X9
ElmiraGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick5
HartwickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed X8
HoughtonGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed X[lower-alpha 1]7
KeukaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed XRed X6
NazarethRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
Russell SageGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
St. John FisherGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick11
UticaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed X11
Totals6984+3[lower-alpha 2]6+1[lower-alpha 3]794577480
  1. โ†‘ Houghton added men's volleyball in 2023โ€“24, but is not participating in the Empire 8. It is playing as an independent before moving that sport to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in 2024โ€“25.
  2. โ†‘ Affiliate members Brockport, Cortland, and SUNY Morrisville.
  3. โ†‘ Affiliate member Oswego.

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Empire 8

School Alpine skiingEquestrianIce HockeyWrestling
AlfredIndependentIndependentNoNo
ElmiraNoNoNEHCIndependent
NazarethNoIndependentUCHCNo
St. John FisherNoNoNoEmpire Collegiate Wrestling Conference
UticaNoNoUCHCIndependent

Women's sponsored sports by school

SchoolBasketballCross CountryField HockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
(Indoor)
Track & Field
(Outdoor)
VolleyballTotal Empire 8 Sports
AlfredGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
ElmiraGreen tickRed XGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick5
HartwickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
HoughtonGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick9
KeukaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XRed XRed XRed XGreen tick7
NazarethGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick11
Russell SageGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
St. John FisherGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickRed XGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick10
UticaGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tickGreen tick11
Totals988+1[lower-alpha 1]7984777984
  1. โ†‘ Affiliate member Washington & Jefferson.

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Empire 8

SchoolAlpine skiingBowlingEquestrianGolfGymnasticsIce HockeyRowingRugbyWater PoloWrestling
AlfredIndependentNoIndependentNoNoNoNoIndependentNoNo
ElmiraNoNoNoNoNoNEHCNoNoNoIndependent
HartwickNoNoIndependentNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
KeukaNoNoNoIndependentNoNoNoNoNoNo
NazarethNoNoIndependentIndependentNoUCHCIndependentNoNoNo
Russell SageNoNoNoIndependentNoNoNoNoNoNo
St. John FisherNoNoNoIndependentNoNoLiberty LeagueNoNoNo
UticaNoNoNoIndependentIndependentUCHCNoNoCWPAIndependent

References

  1. โ†‘ "MAC Welcomes Stevens Institute of Technology Back in 2019โ€“20" (Press release). Middle Atlantic Conferences. August 15, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  2. โ†‘ "Keuka College to Join the Empire 8 Conference Beginning in the Fall of 2020" (Press release). Empire 8 Conference. January 30, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  3. โ†‘ De Sacio, Mike (March 8, 2019). "Sage Colleges will become one co-ed college with campuses in Troy and Albany". Albany Business Review. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  4. โ†‘ "Empire 8 Conference Announces Postponement of Fall Sports". July 15, 2020.
  5. โ†‘ "Medaille College to Join Empire 8 NCAA Division III Conference as Tenth Member in Fall 2022". Medaille College Office of Communications. August 26, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. โ†‘ "SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo to Join Empire 8; 2024-25 Start Date Anticipated". empire8.com. 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  7. โ†‘ "SUNY Polytechnic Institute to Join Empire 8 as 12th Full Member in Fall of 2024". empire8.com. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  8. โ†‘ https://empire8.com/news/2023/10/10/alfred-state-college-to-join-empire-8-as-football-affiliate-member-in-2025.aspx
  9. โ†‘ "Springfield College To Join The Liberty League As Associate Member in Football". Springfield College Pride. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010.
  10. โ†‘ "W&J Field Hockey joins North Coast as affiliate member, set to begin NCAC play in 2023". Washington & Jefferson College Athletics. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
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