The Liberty League is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Member schools are all located in the state of New York.
History
It was founded in 1995 as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association. The conference was renamed during the summer of 2004 to the current name.
The league includes founding members Clarkson University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Rochester, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College, and Union College. Vassar College became a full member of the league during the 2000–01 academic year, Bard College and Rochester Institute of Technology joined for the 2011–12 academic year, and Ithaca College officially joined for the 2017–18 academic year. Founding member Hamilton College departed following the 2010–11 academic year in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
Buffalo State University and Hilbert College are associate members in football only.
Accomplishments Offensive linesman Ali Marpet of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, drafted in the 2nd round, 61st overall, of the 2015 NFL draft, is the highest-drafted pick in the history of Division III football. He was three-time All-Liberty League first team (2012, 2013, 2014), and 2014 Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year—the first offensive lineman in league history to be so honored.
Chronological timeline 1995 – In 1995, the Liberty League was founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA). Charter members included Clarkson University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the University of Rochester, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College and Union College, beginning the 1995–96 academic year. 2001 – Vassar College joined the UCAA in the 2000–01 academic year. 2004: On July 1, 2004, the UCAA was rebranded as the Liberty League; beginning the 2004–05 academic year. The United States Coast Guard Academy (Coast Guard), the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) joined the Liberty League as associate members for football in the 2004 fall season (2004–05 academic year). 2006 – U.S. Coast Guard left the Liberty League as an associate member for football after the 2005 fall season (2005–06 academic year). 2007 – Susquehanna University joined the Liberty League as an associate member for football in the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year). 2009 – U.S. Merchant Marine added men's golf to its Liberty League associate membership in the 2010 spring season (2009–10 academic year). 2010 – Susquehanna left the Liberty League as an associate member for football after the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year). 2011: Charter member Hamilton left the Liberty League in order to fully integrate its athletic programs within the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) after the 2010–11 academic year. Bard College and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) joined the Liberty League in the 2011–12 academic year. 2012: U.S. Merchant Marine left the Liberty League as an associate member for men's golf after dropping the sport after the 2012 spring season (2011–12 academic year). Four institutions joined the Liberty League as associate members, all effective in the 2012–13 academic year: Springfield College for football New York University for both men's and women's golf and Mount Holyoke College and Wellesley College for women's golf 2013 – St. John Fisher College joined the Liberty League as an associate member for men's and women's rowing in the 2013–14 academic year. 2017: Springfield, U.S. Merchant Marine and Worcester Poly (WPI) left the Liberty League as associate members for football after the 2016 fall season (2016–17 academic year). Ithaca College joined the Liberty League in the 2017–18 academic year. 2019 – Buffalo State College (now Buffalo State University) joined the Liberty League as an associate member for football in the 2019 fall season (2019–20 academic year). 2020 – Mount Holyoke left the Liberty League as an associate member for women's golf after dropping the sport after the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year). 2022: St. John Fisher left the Liberty League as an associate member for men's rowing after the 2021–22 academic year. Denison University joined the Liberty League as an associate member for men's and women's squash in the 2022–23 academic year. 2023 – Two institutions joined the Liberty League as associate members, both effective in the 2023–24 academic year: Haverford College for men's and women's squash and Mount Holyoke for women's squash 2024 – Mount Holyoke left the Liberty League as an associate member for women's squash after the 2023–24 academic year. 2025 – The Liberty League announced that it entered into a scheduling agreement for non-conference football games with the Empire 8 for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. As part of this agreement, Hilbert College joined the Liberty League from the Empire 8 as an associate member for football, beginning the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year), giving both leagues 8 football-playing members.
Member schools Current members The Liberty League currently has 12 full members, all are private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Colors Joined Football? Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson 1860 Episcopal 1,958 Raptors 2011 No Clarkson University Potsdam 1896 Nonsectarian 2,848 Golden Knights 1995 No Hobart College Geneva 1822 Episcopal 905 Statesmen 1995 Yes Ithaca College Ithaca 1892 Nonsectarian 6,769 Bombers 2017 Yes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(RPI) Troy 1824 Nonsectarian 5,431 Engineers 1995 Yes Rochester 1850 Nonsectarian 12,233 Yellowjackets 1995 Yes Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT) Henrietta 1829 Nonsectarian 18,000 Tigers 2011 No Canton 1856 Nonsectarian 2,327 Saints 1995 Yes Skidmore College Saratoga Springs 1903 Nonsectarian 2,734 Thoroughbreds 1995 No Union College Schenectady 1795 Nonsectarian 2,197 Garnet Chargers 1995 Yes Vassar College Poughkeepsie 1861 Nonsectarian 2,446 Brewers 2001 No William Smith College Geneva 1908 Episcopal 1,045 Herons 1995 No
Notes
Associate members The Liberty League currently has seven associate members, all but one are private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Libertysport Primaryconference Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York 1871 Public 8,339 Bengals 2019 Football S.U. New York (SUNYAC) Denison University Granville, Ohio 1831 Nonsectarian 2,100 Big Red 2022 Men's squash North Coast (NCAC) 2022 Women's squash Haverford College Haverford, Pennsylvania 1833 Nonsectarian 1,268 Fords 2023 Men's squash Centennial 2023 Women's squash Hilbert College Hamburg, New York 1957 Catholic 800 Hawks 2025 Football Allegheny Mountain (AMCC) New York University New York City 1832 Nonsectarian 22,280 Violets 2012 Men's golf University Athletic (UAA) 2012 Women's golf St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York 1948 Catholic 4,000 Cardinals 2013 Women's rowing Empire 8 (E8) Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1870 Nonsectarian 2,300 Blue 2012 Women's golf New England (NEWMAC)
Notes
Former full members The Liberty League had one former full member, which was also a private school:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Currentconference Hamilton College Clinton 1793 Nonsectarian 1,864 Continentals 1995 2011 New England (NESCAC)
Notes
Former associate members The Liberty League had seven former associate members, all but two were private schools:
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Libertysport Currentprimaryconference (Coast Guard) New London, Connecticut 1876 Federal 1,045 Bears 2004 2006 Football New England (NEWMAC) (Merchant Marine) Kings Point, New York 1942 910 Mariners 2004 2017 FootballLiberty League Skyline 2009 2012 Men's golf Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, Massachusetts 1837 Nonsectarian 2,100 Lyons 2012 2020 Women's golf New England (NEWMAC) 2023 2024 Women's squash St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York 1948 Catholic 4,000 Cardinals 2013 2022 Men's rowing Empire 8 (E8) Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts 1885 Nonsectarian 5,062 Pride 2012 2017 Football New England (NEWMAC) Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 1858 Lutheran (ELCA) 2,200 River Hawks 2007 2011 Football Landmark Worcester Polytechnic Institute(WPI) Worcester, Massachusetts 1865 Nonsectarian 5,071 Engineers 2004 2017 Football New England (NEWMAC)
Notes
Membership timeline
Sports The Liberty League sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's football, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's squash, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball.
+ Conference sports Sport Men's Women's Baseball Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Football Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Squash Swimming & Diving Tennis Track & Field (Indoor) Track & Field (Outdoor) Volleyball
Men's sponsored sports by school School Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Squash Swimming& Diving Tennis Track & Field(Indoor) Track & Field(Outdoor) Total LibertyLeague Sports Bard 9 Clarkson 7 Hobart A10 10 Ithaca 11 RIT 10 Rochester UAA UAA UAA UAA UAA 6 RPI 11 Skidmore 8 St. Lawrence 13 Union 10 Vassar 11Totals 11 10 9 6+2 6+1 8 6+1 10 5+2 10 9 8 8 106+5
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Liberty League School AlpineSkiing Crew Fencing Ice Hockey NordicSkiing Riding Rugby Sailing Volleyball Wrestling Bard No No No No No No No No CNE No Clarkson Independent No No ECAC Hockey Independent No No No No No Hobart Independent No No SUNYAC No No No Independent AMCC No Ithaca No No No No No No No No No SUNYAC RIT No No No AHA No No No No No SUNYAC RPI No No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No Skidmore No No No SUNYAC No IHSA No No No No St. Lawrence Independent No No ECAC Hockey Independent IHSA No No No No Union No Independent No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No Vassar No No NFC No No No Independent No NEWMAC No
Women's sponsored sports by school School Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Squash Swimming& Diving Tennis Track & Field(Indoor) Track & Field(Outdoor) Volleyball Total LibertyLeague Sports Bard 10 Clarkson 7 Ithaca 13 RIT 11 Rochester UAA UAA UAA UAA UAA UAA 6 RPI 10 Skidmore 9 St. Lawrence 14 Union 12 Vassar 13 William Smith 11Totals 10 9 8 5+2 11 7+1 10 8 4+2 10 9 8 8 9 116+5
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Liberty League School AlpineSkiing Bowling Crew Fencing Gymnastics Ice Hockey NordicSkiing Riding Rugby Sailing Sculling Wrestling Clarkson Independent No No No No ECAC Hockey Independent No No No No No Ithaca No No No No NCGA No No No No No Independent Independent RIT No No No No No AHA No No No No No No RPI No No No No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No Skidmore No No No No No No No IHSA No No No No St. Lawrence Independent No No No No ECAC Hockey Independent IHSA No No No No Union No No Independent No No ECAC Hockey No No No No No No Vassar No No No NFC No No No No Independent No No No William Smith Independent Independent No No No SUNYAC No No No Independent No No
See also
Patriot League References
External links