STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook University has accepted an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) as a full-time member, it was announced by President Maurie McInnis and Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron. The move to the CAA elevates the university's profile and enhances the student-athlete experience. 

"I'm very excited to announce that Stony Brook University will join the Colonial Athletic Association. This invitation is a historic step for our institution and a testament to our tremendous growth – both in academics and athletics – over the last two decades," said President Maurie McInnis. "Today would not be possible without the dedication of our student-athletes and coaches, who have paved the way for this moment. Our future is bright, and we look forward to competing for CAA Championships for years to come!"
 
All 18 Stony Brook athletic programs will compete in the CAA, marking the first time in the university's Division I era that every sport will be a member of the same conference. Stony Brook's football team has competed in the CAA since 2013. Decisions regarding scheduling formats and championship field sizes are ongoing and will be determined over the coming months.

"Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of Stony Brook Athletics as we announce our transition to the Colonial Athletic Association. The decision to move to the CAA is synchronous with the aspirational nature of our university as well as our department's vision to positively transform the life of each student-athlete. We took an extremely deliberate approach to this process and believe that the outcome encapsulates the best interests of our entire Stony Brook community," said Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron. 
 
The Seawolves enter the CAA alongside Hampton University, Monmouth University, and North Carolina A&T who also accepted invitations to join the league. Current CAA members include the College of Charleston, University of Delaware, Drexel University, Elon University, Hofstra University, Northeastern University, Towson University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and the College of William & Mary.

"We are pleased to welcome Hampton University, Monmouth University, and Stony Brook University as the newest members of the CAA. All three institutions fit perfectly into the framework of the Conference's vision that calls for our membership to work together to advance nationally competitive athletic programs – coupled with outstanding academic programs – that empower student-athletes as whole persons to strive at the highest level in every aspect of their lives. The CAA is excited for what the future holds and will continue to be focused on making decisions that ensure its membership a competitive and sustainable model," said CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio. 

The CAA encompasses many of the nation's largest metropolitan areas with a geographic footprint that stretches from Boston to Charleston, S.C. The conference has produced 18 national team champions in five different sports, 33 individual national champions, 15 national players of the year, 15 national coaches of the year, and 13 Honda Award winners. Just as impressive, however, are the honors accumulated away from competition, which includes five Rhodes Scholars and 25 NCAA post-graduate scholars. 

In 2020-21, more than 2,800 of the league's student-athletes received the Commissioner's Academic Award after posting at least a 3.0 grade point average while lettering in a varsity sport. The conference had 42 teams in 17 different sports receive NCAA Public Recognition Awards based on the latest Academic Progress Report released in 2020. 
 
A department rich with tradition, Stony Brook achieved Division III prominence in its early years, which was highlighted by the men's basketball team advancing to the NCAA Final Four in 1977-78. The then-Patriots evolved into the renowned Seawolves during a transition to the NCAA Division II level with the jump to Division I on the horizon.  
 
Stony Brook has been a proud member of the America East Conference since the 2001-02 academic year following a two-year stint as an independent after ascending to the NCAA Division I level in 1999. Over its Division I history, Stony Brook has collected 40 regular season championships and 51 conference championships. The Seawolves were twice recognized as the strongest athletic program in the America East by claiming the Commissioner's Cup in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
 
Over the course of the last two decades, Stony Brook has emerged on the national scene. In March 2012, Lucy Van Dalen became the Seawolves' first NCAA individual national champion after winning the mile at the indoor track & field championship. In June 2012, the baseball team Shocked the World as they advanced to the College World Series for the first time in program history, knocking off LSU in the Super Regional.
 
On the hardwood, the men's basketball team cut down the nets for the first time in program history in 2015-16 and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The women's basketball team has won back-to-back conference championships and notched a bid into the 2021 NCAA Tournament, its first in program history.
 
As a member of the CAA football league, Stony Brook has earned a pair of NCAA FCS Playoff berths in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2017, the team posted a 10-3 record and defeated Lehigh in the first round of the FCS Playoffs.  
 
The Seawolves' women's lacrosse program has become a national power and won a conference record eight consecutive America East championships from 2013-2021. In 2018, Stony Brook earned a No. 1 overall ranking in all major lacrosse polls for the majority of the season; its first No. 1 ranking in program history. The program has advanced to three NCAA Tournament quarterfinals since 2017.
 
The men's lacrosse program has been a top-tier team in the America East and collected three conference championships. In 2010, the Seawolves earned a first round win over Denver in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
 
Academic excellence has been at the forefront for the department. During the 2020-21 academic year, 10 Stony Brook athletic programs posted a perfect NCAA APR score of 1,000. Every Stony Brook program scored over 960, which was well above the NCAA standard of 930. APR measures eligibility, graduation, and retention each semester of the academic term and provides a clear picture of academic performance for each team.
 
Stony Brook is home to world-class athletic facilities. In 2014, Island Federal Arena, the 4,000-seat home of the men's and women's basketball teams opened. In the summer of 2017, LaValle Stadium, the home of the football, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, and women's soccer teams expanded to its current capacity of 12,300.

In 2012, the Dubin Family Athletic Performance Center was officially opened. The strength and conditioning facility features cutting-edge equipment to aid student-athlete high performance. Right outside of the Athletic Performance Center is the Seawolves' fueling station which was created to help student-athletes refuel throughout the day. 
 
Most recently, Stony Brook opened its state-of-the-art indoor practice facility in 2020. The indoor practice facility features an indoor multi-purpose synthetic turf practice field and was designed for multi-use allowing all athletic programs to have a place to practice and train all year round.
 
About Stony Brook University:
Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, is going far beyond the expectations of today's public universities. With nearly 27,000 students, 2,800 faculty members, more than 200,000 alumni, an academic medical center and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, it is one of only four University Center campuses in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and has been ranked among the top 25 public universities in the nation by Forbes. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook's membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 66 research institutions in North America. The university's distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/) and Twitter (@stonybrooku).
 
About Stony Brook Athletics:
Stony Brook University's Athletics Department sponsors 18 Division I varsity intercollegiate athletic programs that compete at the NCAA Division I level. Their world-class facilities include the 12,300-seat Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium, and a sports complex housing the 4,000-seat Island Federal Arena, which opened in the Fall of 2014. All of Stony Brook's men's and women's programs offer athletic scholarships. For more information about the Stony Brook Seawolves, visit stonybrookathletics.com.
 
About the Colonial Athletic Association: 
One of the nation's top collegiate conferences both academically and athletically for more than three decades, the CAA will have 12 full members and six football associate members beginning July 1, 2022. The conference has produced 18 national team champions in five different sports, 33 individual national champions, 15 national players of the year, 15 national coaches of the year, and 13 winners of the Honda Award. For more information, visit CAASports.com.