Oct. 19, 2009

CAPE COD, Mass. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was recently announced as a new member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference by Commissioner Rudy Keeling and President Dan Mara.

The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only multi-divisional conference in the country with approximately 300 Division I, II, and III college and universities. The ECAC membership covers 16 states and stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois.

"We are excited we are still expanding, and that colleges and universities see the value of our services," said Commissioner Keeling. "The ECAC continues to deliver an enormous return to its members - providing championship opportunities, officiating services, and award recognition through our player of the week and all-star programs."

Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization, sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. It also administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing leagues.

UMES joins Geneva College, Lyndon State College, Pennsylvania State University at Abington, Salem International University and Virginia Commonwealth University as new members for the 2009-2010 academic year.

The institutions were all voted in by the ECAC Board of Directors. With the addition of these six schools, the ECAC's membership increases to 297 colleges. The conference has 90 members in Division I, 18 members in Division II, and 189 members in Division III.