Eastern College Athletic Conference

The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) was founded in 1938 as the Central Office for Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics. One of the most significant events in ECAC history occurred in 1983 with the consolidation of the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) into the ECAC infrastructure. With the addition of women�s sports, the ECAC doubled its number of championships and greatly increased its member base. The ECAC administers 111 preseason and postseason events for its member institutions, including the EARC, EAWRC, CCRA and IRA rowing, men's IC4A cross-country and track & field, IFA fencing, EIWA wrestling and men's EIGL gymnastics championships. In 1997, the ECAC was awarded USOC grant money to fund conference championships in Olympic sports considered endangered (men's gymnastics, men's water polo) or emerging (women's synchronized swimming, women's water polo). Additional grants were awarded to the ECAC in wrestling and men's and women's fencing in 1998.