Patriot League History

1986 - Colonial League is founded and begins full round-robin play in football only; Lafayette College associate professor Alan Childs is named the Executive Director.

1989 - Carl Ulrich is appointed as the first full-time Executive Director.

1990 - Colonial League changes its name to Patriot League.

1990-91 - Patriot League becomes an all-sport conference, sponsoring 22 sports, 11 for women and 11 for men. Membership includes Bucknell University, Colgate University, Fordham University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University and the United States Military Academy.

1991 - The United States Naval Academy joins the League as a full member.

1993 - Constance (Connie) H. Hurlbut is named Executive Director of the League, becoming the first woman and youngest person to be selected as the leader of an NCAA Division I conference.

1995 - Fordham University resigns its full membership but remains in the League as an associate member in football.

1996 - Change in League policy adopted to allow basketball scholarships beginning with the class entering in the fall of 1998; Fairfield University and Ursinus College begin League play as associate members in field hockey.

1997 - Creation of League basketball television package, which grows to 12 games on DIRECTV and ESPN, beginning with the 2002-03 season; Towson University begins League play as an associate member in football.

1999 - Carolyn Schlie Femovich is selected as the fourth Executive Director of the League; Villanova University begins League play as an associate member in women's lacrosse and Hobart College as an associate member in men's lacrosse.

2000-01 - League celebrates its 10th Anniversary; League policy regarding merit aid expanded to include all sports except football, beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2001.

2001 - American University joins the League as a full member; Georgetown University joins as an associate member in football.

2003 - U.S. Naval Academy increases participation from 12 sports to 18 by joining Patriot League in men's lacrosse, men's swimming & diving and all cross country and track & field programs.

2004 - Women's rowing is added as the Patriot League's 23rd sport.

2005 - Patriot League celebrates 20th anniversary for the sport of football.

2007 - Patriot League unveils broadband package for men and women's basketball. Nearly 100 regular-season and a dozen Patriot League Tournament games are streamed. A two-year agreement for basketball TV package with ESPNU begins. Patriot League men's basketball 'Game of the Week' package on SIRIUS Satellite Radio debuts, which included 11 regular-season games and all seven Tournament games.

History of Patriot League Executive Directors

Dr. Alan Childs 1986 - 1989	Mr. Carl Ulrich 1989 - 1993	Connie Hurlbut 1993 - 1999	Carolyn Schlie Femovich 1999 - Present

Patriot League Logos

Membership History

Institution	Current Affiliation	Year Joined	Years Competed
American University	Full Member	2001	2001-present
Bucknell University *	Full Member	1986	1986-present
Colgate University *	Full Member	1986	1986-present
Davidson College	None	1987	1987-1988 (Football)
Fairfield University	None	1996	1996-2003 (Field Hockey)
Fordham University	Associate Member	1990	1990-1994 (Full Member); 1990-present (Football)
Georgetown University	Associate Member	2001	2001-present (Football)
Hobart College	None	2000	2000-2004 (Men's Lacrosse)
College of the Holy Cross*	Full Member	1986	1986-present
Lafayette College *	Full Member	1986	1986-present
Lehigh University *	Full Member	1986	1986-present
Towson University	None	1997	1997-2003 (Football)
Ursinus College	None	1996	1996-2001 (Field Hockey)
U.S. Military Academy	Full Member	1990	1990-present
U.S. Naval Academy	Full Member	1991	1991-present
Villanova University	None	1999	1999-2006 (Women's Lacrosse)

* - Patriot League charter member