Patriot League History
1986 - Colonial League is founded and begins full round-robin play in football only; Lafayette College associate professor Alan Childs is named the Executive Director.
1989 - Carl Ulrich is appointed as the first full-time Executive Director.
1990 - Colonial League changes its name to Patriot League.
1990-91 - Patriot League becomes an all-sport conference, sponsoring 22 sports, 11 for women and 11 for men. Membership includes Bucknell University, Colgate University, Fordham University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University and the United States Military Academy.
1991 - The United States Naval Academy joins the League as a full member.
1993 - Constance (Connie) H. Hurlbut is named Executive Director of the League, becoming the first woman and youngest person to be selected as the leader of an NCAA Division I conference.
1995 - Fordham University resigns its full membership but remains in the League as an associate member in football.
1996 - Change in League policy adopted to allow basketball scholarships beginning with the class entering in the fall of 1998; Fairfield University and Ursinus College begin League play as associate members in field hockey.
1997 - Creation of League basketball television package, which grows to 12 games on DIRECTV and ESPN, beginning with the 2002-03 season; Towson University begins League play as an associate member in football.
1999 - Carolyn Schlie Femovich is selected as the fourth Executive Director of the League; Villanova University begins League play as an associate member in women's lacrosse and Hobart College as an associate member in men's lacrosse.
2000-01 - League celebrates its 10th Anniversary; League policy regarding merit aid expanded to include all sports except football, beginning with the class entering in the fall of 2001.
2001 - American University joins the League as a full member; Georgetown University joins as an associate member in football.
2003 - U.S. Naval Academy increases participation from 12 sports to 18 by joining PL in men's lacrosse, men's swimming & diving and all cross country and track & field programs.
2004 - Women's rowing is added as the Patriot League's 23rd sport.
2005 - Patriot League celebrates 20th anniversary for the sport of football.
2007 - Patriot League unveils broadband package for men and women's basketball. Nearly 100 regular-season and a dozen Patriot League Tournament games are streamed. A two-year agreement for basketball TV package with ESPNU begins. Patriot League men's basketball 'Game of the Week' package on SIRIUS Satellite Radio debuts, which included 11 regular-season games and all seven Tournament games.
History of Patriot League Executive Directors
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Carolyn Schlie Femovich 1999 - Present |
Connie Hurlbut 1993 - 1999 |
Mr. Carl Ulrich 1989 - 1993 |
Dr. Alan Childs 1986 - 1989 |
Patriot League Logos
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Membership History
| Institution | Current Affiliation | Year Joined | Years Competed |
| American University | Full Member | 2001 | 2001-present |
| Bucknell University * | Full Member | 1986 | 1986-present |
| Colgate University * | Full Member | 1986 | 1986-present |
| Davidson College | None | 1987 | 1987-1988 (Football) |
| Fairfield University | None | 1996 | 1996-2003 (Field Hockey) |
| Fordham University | Associate Member | 1990 | 1990-1994 (Full Member); 1990-present (Football) |
| Georgetown University | Associate Member | 2001 | 2001-present (Football) |
| Hobart College | None | 2000 | 2000-2004 (Men's Lacrosse) |
| College of the Holy Cross* | Full Member | 1986 | 1986-present |
| Lafayette College * | Full Member | 1986 | 1986-present |
| Lehigh University * | Full Member | 1986 | 1986-present |
| Towson University | None | 1997 | 1997-2003 (Football) |
| Ursinus College | None | 1996 | 1996-2001 (Field Hockey) |
| U.S. Military Academy | Full Member | 1990 | 1990-present |
| U.S. Naval Academy | Full Member | 1991 | 1991-present |
| Villanova University | None | 1999 | 1999-2006 (Women's Lacrosse) |
* - Patriot League charter member
