Old Dominion leaving CAA for Conference USA
The mascot of the Old Dominion Monarchs cheers during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first round of the NCAA Tournament in New Orleans. (Mar. 18, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
Old Dominion became the Colonial Athletic Association's second defection this week and third school this spring to announce its departure by saying it would move to Conference USA in 2013.
Old Dominion is moving so it can play FBS football. The CAA, which houses Hofstra's athletics programs, will shrink to nine members after the 2012 season.
CAA commissioner Tom Yeager expressed "profound disappointment" over the development, which followed by two days Virginia Commonwealth's move to the Atlantic 10. Previously, Georgia State said it would depart for the Sun Belt and football-only member Rhode Island is moving to the Northeast Conference, which offers limited scholarships.
Yeager thinks the shifting has ended, saying during a conference call Thursday, "You hate to predict anything in this time and age at least in college athletics, but I believe that our remaining institutions are solidly committed to the CAA. I've had very private conversations with the decision makers at all our schools and I'm comfortable where we are right now."
The Hofstra administration said it would not add to Yeager's comments.
Hofstra men's basketball coach Mo Cassara said, "Certainly a couple of the teams that have had an incredible amount of success in the league have left, but that's happened before. Richmond, Navy at one time was the signature team in the CAA. The league has reinvented itself a couple of times, and I think it will continue to do that."
