History of the Colonial States Athletic Conference

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The Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) – formerly known as the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) – was formed to meet the needs of small, private, four-year colleges in eastern Pennsylvania. As the institutions' athletic programs continued to grow, it became increasingly necessary to address individual and collective concerns about intercollegiate athletics.
 
In November 1991, ten charter member institutions with similar philosophies aligned to provide athletic competition for student-athletes from institutions with similar philosophies. The conference was formed to collectively recognize the importance of intercollegiate athletics in an educational setting and to increase institutional support without compromising academic integrity. These charter members voted unanimously to name the new conference the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC), and to have its official colors be red, white and blue.
 
On February 3, 1992, a press conference was held at Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium to officially announce the formation of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC), with competition to begin in the 1992-1993 academic year. The first Constitution was drafted in June 1992 and in April 1993, the conference was granted Affiliate Membership in the NCAA.
 
From the start it was a collective effort, with administrators from all member institutions contributing to the overall management of the conference. In 2000, following several years of growth and success for its members, the conference hired its first full time Commissioner. In 2005, the a second Commissioner took over the helm and, in 2006, the conference was awarded the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant, allowing for the hiring of the first full-time Assistant Commissioner/Sports Publicist.
 
In its inaugural year, the conference sponsored 12 championships; today, the CSAC sponsors championships in 17 sports. The conference qualifies and maintains Automatic Qualifiers (AQs) in 13 sports, sending the conference champion to NCAA Championships in Field Hockey, Men's and Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Baseball, Men's Golf, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Softball and Men's and Women's Tennis.
 
Members of the CSAC wholly embrace the NCAA Division III "student first" philosophy by ensuring that institutions place the overall educational experience and successful completion of academic programs above all else. For this reason, student-athletes are treated no differently than any member of the student population. CSAC members embrace gender equity among student-athletes and are committed to providing athletics programs that are equitable for both genders.
 
Timeline: 
  • May 29, 1990 --- Cabrini College Athletics Department sends a letter to Athletics Directors in eastern Pennsylvania, announcing a meeting to explore the creation of a new athletics conference.
  • June 28, 1990 --- Fifteen institutions attend the initial interest meeting held at Cabrini College.
  • February 28, 1991 --- Position paper explaining the rationale for forming a new conference and establishing membership criteria is circulated to Directors of Athletics in eastern Pennsylvania.
  • November 4, 1991 --- Ten schools officially declare membership in the new conference: Alvernia College, Beaver College (now Arcadia University), Cabrini College (now Cabrini University), Cedar Crest College, Eastern University, Gwynedd-Mercy College (now Gwynedd Mercy University), Immaculata University, Marywood University, College Misericordia (now Misericordia University) and Rosemont College.
  • December 9, 1991 --- Charter members vote unanimously to accept Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) as the name of the new conference and establish red, white and blue, as the conference colors.
  • February 3, 1992 --- Press conference to officially announce the formation of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference held at the Stadium Restaurant in Philadelphia's Veteran's Stadium.
  • June 11, 1992 --- The first Constitution is drafted.
  • July 29, 1992 --- Neumann College (now Neumann University) applies and is accepted for full membership beginning in September 1992. The PAC now has 11 member institutions.
  • Fall 1992 --- Inaugural year fall champions named in five sports: Men's Soccer (Eastern), Field Hockey (Marywood), Men's Cross Country (Cabrini), Women's Cross Country (Cabrini), Women's Tennis (Marywood) and Women's Volleyball (Misericordia).
  • Winter 1992-1993 --- Cabrini claimed the inaugural championship titles in both Men's and Women's Basketball.
  • April 28, 1993 --- Pennsylvania Athletic Conference is granted Affiliate Membership in the NCAA.
  • Spring 1993 --- Inaugural year spring champions named in four sports: Baseball (Alvernia), Softball (Beaver; now Arcadia), Women's Lacrosse (Eastern) and Golf (Alvernia).
  • July 29, 1993 – First Constitutional Amendment requiring conference members be full NCAA Division III members by 1995 is approved.
  • July 29, 1993 --- Allentown College (now DeSales) applies for PAC membership and is approved as a full member beginning in September 1993, bringing total membership to 12 institutions.
  • January 1994 --- Alvernia, Eastern, Gwynedd Mercy and Neumann are granted NCAA Division III membership.
  • Spring 1994 --- Cabrini wins inaugural Men's Tennis Championship
  • Fall 1994 --- Cabrini wins inaugural Women's Soccer Championship.
  • January 8, 1995 --- The PAC Executive Committee attends its first NCAA Convention in San Diego, Calif.
  • April 28, 1997 --- Wesley College applies for PAC membership and is approved for full conference membership beginning in September 1997.
  • November 12, 1997 --- The conference seeks incorporation as a non-profit corporation.
  • August 4, 1998 – The PAC is incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • Spring 1999 --- Wesley wins inaugural Men's Lacrosse Championship.
  • March 24, 2000 --- Neumann agrees to host the PAC office.
  • May 12, 2000 --- The PAC hires its first full-time commissioner.
  • September 15, 2000 – The PAC's first website -- thepaconline.org – is launched.
  • June 28, 2001 --- Shenandoah University and Villa Julie College added as associate members in men's lacrosse beginning in Spring 2002.

  • February 17, 2002 --- The first PAC/SAAC meeting takes place at Neumann.
  • July 15, 2005 --- The PAC hires its second full-time commissioner.
  • March 3, 2006 --- PAC is named as a recipient of the NCAA Strategic Alliance Matching Grant to fund a second conference office position.
  • May 31, 2006 --- New Governance structure ratified.
     
  • July 1, 2006 – Villa Julie discontinues its associate membership with the PAC.
     
  • July 17, 2006 – The PAC hires its first full-time Assistant Commissioner/Sports Publicist.
     
  • August 1, 2006 --- The PAC pledges to the DIII Fan Sportsmanship Agreement.
  • November 2, 2006 --- The PAC live-streams its first event over the internet (Volleyball semifinals: Gwynedd Mercy vs. Neumann)
  • May 22, 2007 --- Board of Directors ratifies the revised Bylaws and Statement of Policy.
  • May 28, 2007 --- The PAC enacts its first Strategic Action Plan, entitled "Game Plan 2010."
  • July 1, 2007 --- Centenary College (now Centenary University) and College of Notre Dame (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) begin full membership in the PAC.
  • September 2007 --- The PAC begins its 15 Anniversary Year-of-Service.
  • December 2007 – March 2008 --- The conference Live Streams all conference men's and women's basketball games.
  • January 17, 2008 --- The PAC hires its second Assistant Commissioner/Sports Publicist.
  • April 8, 2008 --- The Board of Directors approves the new name of the conference beginning July 1, 2008, as the Colonial States Athletic Conference.
  • June 25, 2008 --- The new Colonial States Athletic Conference logo is approved.
  • July 1, 2008 --- As part of a massive rebranding effort, the conference officially changes its name to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).
  • July 1, 2008 --- Baptist Bible College (now Clarks Summit University), Keystone College and Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University), become full members of the CSAC.
  • July 23, 2008 --- The amended Articles of Incorporation for the conference are approved changing the name of the nonprofit corporation to the Colonial States Athletic Conference and registering the conference office at One Neumann Dr., Aston, PA.
  • August 18, 2008 --- The new CSAC website – www.csacsports.org -- goes live.
     
  • November 7, 2009 --- CSAC Sponsors Fall Championship Festival.
     
  • May 25, 2011 --- CSAC approves Game Plan 2014.
     
  • March, 2012 --- Jennifer Dubow is named Commissioner.
     
  • July 1, 2012 --- Shenandoah discontinues its associate membership with the CSAC in men's lacrosse.
     
  • July, 2013 --- Adrienne Mullikin is named Assistant Commissioner.
     
  • June, 2015 --- CSAC approves Game Plan 2018.
     
  • August, 2015 --- Men's and women's outdoor track and field become the 16th and 17th sports, respectively, in the conference. Penn State University Behrend and Franciscan University are added as associate members in men's and women's outdoor track and field.
     
  • March 28, 2016 -- Adrienne Mullikin is named Commissioner.
     
  • June 23, 2016 -- James Wagner is named Assistant Commissioner.
     
  • June 29, 2018 -- CSAC recognizes 25th Anniversary Teams in all sports.
     
  • July 1, 2018 -- Bryn Athyn College and Wilson College are accepted as core members.
     
  • July 1, 2018 -- Kean University, Montclair State University and Stockton University are accepted as associate members in men's lacrosse beginning competition in Spring 2019.
     
  • July 16, 2018 -- University of Valley Forge is accepted as an associate member in baseball beginning competition in Spring 2019.
     
  • October 11, 2018 -- CSAC approved Game Plan 2021.
     
  • December 4, 2018 -- Alfred State College is accepted as an associate member in outdoor track and field beginning competition in Spring 2019.
     
  • July 1, 2019 -- The College of Saint Elizabeth is accepted as a core member; Franciscan discontinues its associate membership in men's and women's outdoor track and field.
     
  • July 1, 2019 -- Lancaster Bible College is accepted as an associate member in field hockey beginning competition in Fall 2019.
     
  • July 1, 2020 -- University of Valley Forge is accepted as a core member.
     
  • July 1, 2020 - Gallaudet University is accepted as an associate member in outdoor track and field beginning competition in Spring 2021.
     
  • July 1, 2020 - The College of Saint Elizabeth changes its name to Saint Elizabeth University.