Swimming and Diving

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference along with the Atlantic Sun, Big South and Southern Conferences announced the formation of a new Division I swimming and diving conference - named the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA) - beginning competition this fall.

 The CCSA was established through the cooperative efforts of the coaches, administrators and commissioners of the four member conferences and has received approval from the NCAA for membership as a Division I conference.

The CCSA has 12 total members - 12 women's swimming & diving teams and six men's swimming and diving programs.  The charter members of the CCSA in women's swimming are Campbell (A-Sun), College of Charleston (SoCon), Davidson (SoCon), Florida A&M (MEAC), Florida Gulf Coast (A-Sun), Gardner-Webb (A-Sun), Georgia Southern (SoCon), Howard (MEAC), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), North Florida (A-Sun), Radford (Big South) and VMI (Big South).  The six schools that comprise the CCSA men's swimming members are College of Charleston, Davidson, Florida A&M, Gardner-Webb, Howard and VMI.  The CCSA will host its inaugural Conference Championship on Feb. 21-23, 2008.

"The process of building this new conference has been an extremely cooperative effort among all of the coaches and administrators, and we look forward to our inaugural championship meet this coming year," said Atlantic Sun Commissioner Ted Gumbart, Executive Director of the CCSA.  "The main focus in establishing the CCSA has been the student-athletes, and we are excited that the swimmers and divers in each of our leagues now have a conference home and honors for which to compete."

CCSA administrative duties will be divided among the four Leagues.  Also planned are the selection of a senior woman administrator and the formation of a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.  The CCSA's official website is under development and will be launched when completed.