Category:Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference History

History
In 1969, a group of innovators long associated with intercollegiate athletics met in Durham, NC to discuss the feasibility of organizing a new conference based along the Atlantic coastline. A number of representatives from different institutions joined the steering committee in a two-day discussion about the new conference. Seven of these institutions agreed to become the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference: Delaware State College, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.

The league was confirmed in 1970, kicking off its first season of competition in Football in 1971. In 1978, the MEAC selected its first full-time commissioner, Kenneth A. Free and the following year, expanded to nine schools with the admissions of Bethune-Cookman College and Florida A&M University. The MEAC operated with nine schools until 1985 when Coppin State College was admitted. The final expansion occurred in the 90’s with the inclusion of Hampton University in 1995 and Norfolk State University in 1997.

On June 8,1980, the MEAC was classified Division One by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the following month, received an automatic berth in the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship.