Little East Conference
 | |
| Association | NCAA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Commissioner | Pamela S. Samuelson, PhD (since June 7, 2019) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| Division | Division III |
| No. of teams | 9 |
| Headquarters | North Providence, Rhode Island |
| Region | New England |
| Official website | www |
| Locations | |
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The Little East Conference (LEC) is an NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic conference. The member institutions are located in all six states of New England.
History
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 Darthmouth), 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: 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, all effective in the 2000–01 academic year.
- 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 sports into their Little East associate memberships: Bridgewater State with men's and women's tennis, and Salem State with women's tennis, both effective the 2005 spring season (2004-05 academic year).
- 2009 - Three institutions added certain sports into their Little East associate memberships: Worcester State with women's tennis, and Bridgewater State and Westfield State with women's swimming & diving, all effective in the 2009–10 academic year.
- 2015 - Bridgewater State left the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving after the 2014–15 academic year.
- 2018 - Castleton University (later Vermont State University–Castleton) joined the Little East in the 2018–19 academic year.
- 2019 - Two institutions joined the Little East as associate members: Western New England University for women's swimming & diving, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy for men's lacrosse, both effective in the 2019–20 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.[1]
- The MASCAC field hockey division of the Little East (Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State) will leave the Little East and be its own separate conference (as in, the MASCAC to have it as a sponsored sport) beginning in the 2023 fall season (2023–24 academic year).[2]
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 | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, Connecticut | 1889 | Public[a] | 4,989 | $16.3 | Warriors | 1986 | |
| Keene State College | Keene, New Hampshire | 1909 | Public[b] | 3,213 | $14.0[c] | Owls | 1997 | |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth, New Hampshire | 1871 | Public[b] | 4,491 | $28.9 | Panthers | 1986 | |
| Rhode Island College | Providence, Rhode Island | 1854 | Public[d] | 7,523 | $16.4 | Anchormen & Anchorwomen | 1986 | |
| University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, Massachusetts | 1852 | Public[e] | 16,259 | $92.0 | Beacons | 1986 | |
| University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | Dartmouth, Massachusetts | 1895 | Public[e] | 8,513 | $59.0 | Corsairs | 1986 | |
| University of Southern Maine | Gorham, Maine[f] | 1878 | Public[g] | 8,022 | $38.5 | Huskies | 1986 | |
| Vermont State University–Castleton | Castleton, Vermont | 1787 | Public[h] | 2,399 | $7.86 | Spartans | 2018 | |
| Western Connecticut State University | Danbury, Connecticut | 1903 | Public[a] | 5,246 | $12.8 | Wolves | 1993 |
- Notes
- ^ a b Part of the Connecticut State University System.
- ^ a b Part of the University System of New Hampshire.
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $13,996,219.
- ^ Part of the Rhode Island Board of Education.
- ^ a b Part of the University of Massachusetts System.
- ^ The University of Southern Maine's main campus is located at Gorham; with other campuses at Lewiston and Portland.
- ^ Part of the University of Maine System.
- ^ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.
Associate members
The Little East currently has six associate members, all but two are public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment (millions) | Nickname | Joined | Colors | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public[a] | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2004–05m.ten. 2004–05w.ten. | MASCAC | men's tennis women's tennis | |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | 1891 | Public[a] | 1,637 | $13.05[b] | Buccaneers | 2019–20 | MASCAC | men's lacrosse | |
| University of New England | Biddeford, Maine | 1831 | Nonsectarian | 7,208 | $39.2 | Nor'easters | 2022–23 | CCC | women's swimming & diving | |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public[a] | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01m.lax. 2003–04m.ten. 2004–05w.ten. | MASCAC | men's lacrosse men's tennis women's tennis | |
| Western New England University | Springfield, Massachusetts | 1919 | Nonsectarian | 3,702 | $55.9 | Golden Bears | 2019–20 | CCC | women's swimming & diving[3] | |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public[a] | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2009–10 | MASCAC | women's swimming & diving |
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $13,051,554.
Former associate members
The Little East had six former associate members, all of which were also public schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Endowment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Colors | Primary conference | LEC sport(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | 1840 | Public[a] | 10,651 | $54.0 | Bears | 2000–01f.h. 2009–10w.s.d. | 2022–23f.h. 2014–15w.s.d. | MASCAC | field hockey women's swimming & diving | |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | 1894 | Public[a] | 4,659 | $19.9 | Falcons | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Framingham State University | Framingham, Massachusetts | 1839 | Public[a] | 4,111 | $35.4[b] | Rams | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Salem State University | Salem, Massachusetts | 1854 | Public[a] | 7,242 | $25.3 | Vikings | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Westfield State University | Westfield, Massachusetts | 1838 | Public[a] | 5,400 | $6.2 | Owls | 2000–01 | 2022–23 | MASCAC | field hockey | |
| Worcester State University | Worcester, Massachusetts | 1874 | Public[a] | 6,434 | $34.5 | Lancers | 2000–01f.h. 2009–10w.ten. | 2022–23f.h. 2020–21w.ten. | MASCAC | field hockey women's tennis |
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Part of the Massachusetts State Universities System.
- ^ Actual amount in endowment is $35,385,907.
Membership timeline
Sports
Little East Conference
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50km
30miles
30miles
ECSU
UNE
WNE
Salem State
Mass Maritime
Bridgewater State
Worcester State
Westfield State
Fitchburg State
Framingham State
Castleton
UMass Dartmouth
UMass Boston
Southern Maine
WCSU
R.I. College
Plymouth State
Keene State
Locations of Little East members, 2022-2023 
full and 
associate
full and 
associateThe LEC 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 and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.
In 2023, the Little East announced the addition of men's and women's ice hockey to begin play in 2025.[4]
Men's sports
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross Country | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton |  Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |  N | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Eastern Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 9 |
| Keene State | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 8 |
| Plymouth State | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 8 |
| Rhode Island College | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| Southern Maine | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| UMass–Boston | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 8 |
| UMass–Darthmouth | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 6 |
| Western Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | 7 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 73 |
| Associate Members | |||||||||||
| Bridgewater State | Y | Y | 2 | ||||||||
| Massachusetts Maritime | Y | 1 | |||||||||
| Salem State | Y | Y | 2 | ||||||||
Women's sports
| School | Basketball | Cross Country | Field Hockey | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming & Diving | Tennis | Track & Field (Indoor) | Track & Field (Outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Eastern Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Keene State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Plymouth State | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Rhode Island College | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Southern Maine | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| UMass–Boston | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 |
| UMass–Darthmouth | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Western Connecticut | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | 9 |
| Totals | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 89 |
| Associate Members | ||||||||||||
| Bridgewater State | Y | 1 | ||||||||||
| U. of New England | Y | 1 | ||||||||||
| Salem State | Y | 1 | ||||||||||
| Western New England | Y | 1 | ||||||||||
| Westfield State | Y | 1 | ||||||||||
Notes
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Little East Field Hockey Preseason Poll Released". 2022-08-24.
- ^ "Affiliate Members". littleeast.com. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ^ "LEC Announces Men's Ice Hockey as Conference's 22nd Championship Sport". Little East Conference. July 24, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
External links
- Official website
- v
- t
- e
Little East Conference
- Bridgewater State Bears (field hockey, men's and women's tennis, and women's swimming & diving)
- Fitchburg State Falcons (field hockey)
- Framingham State Rams (field hockey)
- Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers (men's lacrosse)
- Salem State Vikings (field hockey, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis)
- Western New England Golden Bears (women's swimming & diving)
- Westfield State Owls (field hockey and women's swimming & diving)
- Worcester State Lancers (field hockey and women's tennis)
