Drexel University Athletics
Drexel and CAA Welcomes Fairfield University As Its 14th Full Member In 2027-28
6/26/2026 6:42:00 PM | Drexel Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. (June 26, 2026) – The Coastal Athletic Association announced on Friday that Fairfield University has accepted an invitation to join the conference as a full member on July 1, 2027.
"It's an exciting day for the CAA as we welcome Fairfield University as the 14th member of the conference," CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio said. "Athletically, Fairfield's sports sponsorship fits perfectly with what is offered by the CAA and the institution has certainly shown its commitment to being successful in basketball and its other Olympic sports. Fairfield University is an outstanding academic institution and adds to the list of the prestigious CAA membership."
The addition of Fairfield brings the CAA's membership to 14 for the 2027-28 academic year. They join Campbell University (Buies Creek, N.C.), College of Charleston (Charleston, S.C.), Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pa.), Elon University (Elon, N.C.), Hampton University (Hampton, Va.), Hofstra University (Hempstead, N.Y.), Monmouth University (West Long Branch, N.J.), North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, N.C.), University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, N.C.), Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.), Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, N.Y.), Towson University (Towson, Md.) and William & Mary (Williamsburg, Va.).
Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, Fairfield University is a private Jesuit Catholic University with an undergraduate enrollment of over 5,400. Fairfield has been an associate member of the CAA in men's lacrosse since 2015 and its field hockey program will participate in the conference for the first time this Fall. Beginning in 2027-28, 19 of Fairfield's athletic teams will compete in the CAA, marking the first time in Fairfield Athletics history that every NCAA-sponsored varsity program will compete under the same conference banner.
"Fairfield University proudly accepts this opportunity to join the Coastal Athletic Association. Thank you to Commissioner Joe D'Antonio, the CAA Presidents, and Athletics Directors, for their confidence in the value of our profile to their membership," said Vice President for Athletics Paul Schlickmann. "This decision is indicative of the upward trajectory of Fairfield University as an elite academic institution of national prominence and reflects our continued aspirations to achieve comprehensive competitive excellence in the modern Division I landscape. We are excited to write the next chapter in our University and Athletics history and look forward to being an optimal partner and steward of the CAA brand."
Fairfield Athletics has won the MAAC Commissioner's Cup in each of the last three academic years as well as the last five MAAC Commissioner's Cups for Women's Sports. The Stags have had six programs earn national rankings – Baseball, Women's Basketball, Field Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, and Women's Soccer – since 2021. Over the last five years, Fairfield has garnered 23 conference tournament championships, 25 regular season championships, and 23 NCAA postseason berths, including the first-ever at-large bids in program and MAAC history in Baseball and Women's Lacrosse.
Fairfield University is the fifth most selective Catholic university in the nation with an admit rate of 21% for the incoming Class of 2030 – selected out of the largest applicant pool in university history – which boasts an average weighted GPA of 3.9 and middle 50% SAT range of 1320-142. Fairfield is tied for #139 in the National Universities category in the U.S. News & World Report's best College Rankings, slotting among the top 75 private national universities.
Fairfield joins all 13 current CAA member institutions in the National Universities category in U.S. News & World Report.
"As Fairfield continues to rise as a Jesuit Catholic university of national prominence, we are thrilled to be joining the CAA at a time when our applications and enrollment have grown exceptionally in all areas of the country, especially along the Eastern seaboard, and student outcomes are at an all-time high," said Mark R. Nemec, PhD, president of Fairfield University. "We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the CAA both academically and competitively and look forward to advancing through a spirit of continuing innovation."
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 include five Rhodes Scholars and 25 NCAA post-graduate scholars. In 2025-26, more than 3,800 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 CAA conducts championships in 24 sports. Male athletes compete for championships in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis and indoor and outdoor track & field. Female athletes battle for conference titles in basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball.
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