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{{short description|U.S. college athletic conference}}{{for|the professional football league|American Patriot League}}

factoids

| font_color = #FFFFFF| logo = Patriot league conference logo.svg| logo_size = 200National Collegiate Athletic Association>NCAANCAA Division I>Division IFootball Championship Subdivision>FCS| teams = 10 full, 4 associate| sports = 24| mens = 11| womens = 13Northeastern United States>Northeast| formerly = Colonial League| headquarters = Bethlehem, Pennsylvania| commissioner = Jennifer Heppel| since = 2015patriotleague.org/|patriotleague.org}}| map = Patriot League Map.svg| map_size = 260}}(File:Patriot League football officials and referee.jpg|thumb|right|Patriot League football officials and referee)The Patriot League is a collegiate athletic conference comprising private institutions of higher education and two United States service academies based in the Northeastern United States. Except for the Ivy League, it is the most selective group of higher education institutions in NCAA Division I, and has a very high student-athlete graduation rate for both the NCAA graduation success rate and the federal graduation rate.WEB,patriotleague.org/sports/2016/6/13/school-bio-patr-school-bio-aboutpl-html.aspx, Who We Are, patriotleague.org, The Patriot League has 10 core members:WEB,www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-aboutpl.html, “Who We Are” About the Patriot League, Patriot League, July 3, 2013,www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-aboutpl.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20131030125920www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-aboutpl.html,">web.archive.org/web/20131030125920www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-aboutpl.html, October 30, 2013, dead, American University, the United States Military Academy (Army), Boston University, Bucknell University, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Loyola University Maryland, and the United States Naval Academy (Navy). All 10 core members participate in the NCAA’s Division I for all Patriot League sports that they offer. Since not all schools sponsor every available NCAA sport, most schools are affiliated with other collegiate conferences for sports such as ice hockey and wrestling.Only half of the conference’s core members compete in the Patriot League for football, as part of the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS): Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, and Lehigh. Of the five other conference members, American, Boston University, and Loyola Maryland do not sponsor football, while Army and Navy play in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision; Army has been an independent, but will join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) as a football only member in 2024, alongside Navy which will continue to compete as an associate member of the AAC.Four other private institutions are Patriot League members only for specific sports, and are referred to as associate members. Fordham University and Georgetown University are associate members in football, while MIT is an associate member in women’s rowing and the University of Richmond is an associate member in women’s golf. Starting in the 2025 season, Richmond will also be an associate member in football.

About

Patriot League members are schools with very strong academic reputations that adhere strongly to the ideal of the “scholar-athlete”, with the emphasis on “scholar”. An academic index ensures that athletes are truly representative of and integrated with the rest of the student body. Out-of-league play for Patriot League schools is often with members of the Ivy League, which follow similar philosophies regarding academics and athletics.Patriot League members have some of the oldest collegiate athletic programs in the country. In particular, “The Rivalry” between Lehigh University and Lafayette College is both the nation’s most-played and longest-uninterrupted college football series.WEB,thebrownandwhite.com/, All the Lehigh University News First, The Brown and White, The winner of the Patriot League basketball tournament receives an automatic invitation to the NCAA Division I basketball tournament every March. In recent years, Bucknell (twice) and Lehigh have both won NCAA tournament games. The Patriot League champions in a number of other sports also receive an automatic invitation to their respective NCAA tournaments.

History

(File:PatriotLeagueLocations.png|left|thumb|250px|Locations of current Patriot League full member institutions.)The origins of the Patriot League began after the eight Ivy League schools expanded their football schedules to ten games starting in 1980. Needing opponents with a similar competitive level on a regular basis for each team’s three nonconference games, the league contacted two university presidents, the Reverend John E. Brooks, S.J., of Holy Cross, and Peter Likins of Lehigh, about forming a new conference that also prohibited athletic scholarships.BOOK, Feinstein, John, John Feinstein, The Last Amateurs, Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 2000, 0-316-27842-4, The result was the Colonial League, a football-only circuit that began competition in 1986.WEB,www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-history.html, Patriot League History, Patriot League, July 3, 2013,www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-history.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20110727165720www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-history.html,">web.archive.org/web/20110727165720www.patriotleague.org/school-bio/patr-school-bio-history.html, July 27, 2011, dead, Its six charter members were Holy Cross, Lehigh, Bucknell, Colgate, Lafayette, and Davidson. Davidson dropped out after the 1988 season for reasons related to geography, lack of competitiveness, and a reluctance to relinquish its basketball scholarships in case the conference expanded into other sports.WEB,grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2011PLFootballMediaGuide.pdf, Patriot League 2011 Football Media Guide., File:CFU USNA 1971.jpg|thumb|180px|Carl F. UllrichCarl F. UllrichIn 1990, the league changed its name to the Patriot League at the suggestion of Carl F. Ullrich, who would go on to become the conference’s first full-time administrator. At the start of the 1990–91 academic year, the league became an all-sport conference, with 22 sports (11 for men and 11 for women), and now had seven full members, including Fordham and the United States Military Academy (Army) as new members. In 1991, the league gained an eighth full member, the United States Naval Academy (Navy).In 1993, the league hired Constance (Connie) H. Hurlbut as executive director. She was the first woman and youngest person to be the leader of an NCAA Division I conference.In 1995, Fordham resigned its full membership (leaving the league with seven full members) but continued as an associate member in football. In 1996, Fairfield and Ursinus joined as associate members in field hockey. (Fairfield left after the 2003 fall season and is now an associate member of the Northeast Conference. Ursinus left after the 2001 fall season and is now a full member of the Division III Centennial Conference.WEB,www.centennial.org/fhockey/index.html, 2009 Field Hockey, Centennial Conference, March 2, 2010, dead,www.centennial.org/fhockey/index.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20101007194337www.centennial.org/fhockey/index.html,">web.archive.org/web/20101007194337www.centennial.org/fhockey/index.html, October 7, 2010, ) In 1997, Towson joined as an associate member in football. (Towson left after the 2003 fall season to join the Atlantic 10 Conference, whose football conference would be absorbed by the Colonial Athletic Association in 2007.) In 1999, Hobart joined as an associate member in men’s lacrosse and Villanova joined as an associate member in women’s lacrosse. (Hobart left after the 2004 spring season, to join the ECAC Lacrosse League, while Villanova left after the 2006 spring season.) In 2001, American University joined as the eighth full member and Georgetown University joined as an associate member in football. Two schools announced in summer 2012 that they would join the league for the 2013–14 academic year, with Boston University making its announcement on June 15,PRESS RELEASE,grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/genrel/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/PatriotLeagueBostonUrelease.pdf, Boston University accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting in 2013–14, Patriot League, June 15, 2012, July 3, 2013, and Loyola University Maryland doing so on August 29.PRESS RELEASE,www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html, Loyola University Maryland accepts invitation to join Patriot League starting with 2013–14 season, Patriot League, August 29, 2012, August 30, 2012,www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20120830114515www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html,">web.archive.org/web/20120830114515www.patriotleague.org/genrel/082912aaa.html, August 30, 2012, dead, In May 2024, the University of Richmond, who was already an associate member of the league for women’s golf, announced that they would also move their football program to the Patriot League for the 2025 season, becoming the Patriot League’s first new football-playing member in over 20 years.PRESS RELEASE,richmondspiders.com/news/2024/5/14/richmond-football-to-move-to-patriot-league-following-2024-season.aspx, Richmond Football to Move to Patriot League Following 2024 Season, Richmond Spiders Athletics, May 14, 2024, May 14, 2024,

Athletic scholarships

While Patriot League colleges have always offered need-based financial aid, league members have only been allowed to give athletic scholarships in recent years. Basketball scholarships were first allowed beginning with freshmen entering the league in the fall of 1998.In 2001, when the league admitted American, which gave scholarships in all its sports (AU does not play football), the league began allowing all schools to do so in sports other than football. Lafayette, the last holdout with no athletic scholarships, began granting full rides in basketball and other sports with freshmen entering the school in the fall of 2006. Most Patriot League schools do not give athletic scholarships in a number of sports, and Bucknell only granted them in basketball prior to the addition of football scholarships in 2013.In the spring of 2009, Fordham University announced that it would start offering football scholarships in the fall of 2010. This action made Fordham ineligible for the league championship in that sport, but it also prompted a league-wide discussion on football scholarships. On February 13, 2012, the Patriot League announced its members could begin offering football scholarships starting with the 2013–14 academic year. Since then, each school has been allowed no more than the equivalent of 15 scholarships to incoming football players. Presidents from six of the seven football schools indicated they would award scholarships in the fall of 2012. Georgetown University did not commit to offering scholarships.WEB, February 13, 2012, Comments from Patriot League Presidents on Football Financial Aid Announcement,grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/PLpresidentCommentsFootballFA.pdf, dead,grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/PLpresidentCommentsFootballFA.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20160304110111grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/PLpresidentCommentsFootballFA.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20160304110111grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/PLpresidentCommentsFootballFA.pdf, Mar 4, 2016, Patriot League, Since the transition to scholarship football was completed for the 2016–17 academic year, each football member has been allowed up to 60 scholarship equivalents per season,NEWS,webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-13/patriot-league-to-offer-football-scholarships-for-first-time-starting-2013.html, Bloomberg, Eben, Novy-Williams, Patriot League to Offer Football Scholarships Starting in 2013, February 13, 2012, subscription, dead,web.archive.org/web/20171001213802/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-02-13/patriot-league-to-offer-football-scholarships-for-first-time-starting-2013, Oct 1, 2017, a total only slightly lower than the NCAA limit of 63 scholarship equivalents for FCS programs.

Executive directors{| class“wikitable”

!Name!Years!Current|Alan Childs|1986–1989WEBSITE=LAFAYETTE COLLEGE ATHLETICS URL-STATUS=LIVE ARCHIVE-DATE= MAY 23, 2023, |Carl F. Ullrich1989–1993}}|League’s first full-time Executive Director; retired|Connie Hurlbut|1993–1999Western Athletic Conference Deputy Commissioner and SWAHTTPS://WWW.WACSPORTS.COM/LANDING/INDEXWEBSITE=WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE, |Carolyn Schlie Femovich|1999–2015|Jennifer Heppel|2015–Big Ten Conference Associate Commissioner for GovernanceHTTP://WWW.PATRIOTLEAGUE.ORG/STAFF.ASPX?STAFF=1WEBSITE=WWW.PATRIOTLEAGUE.ORG,

Member schools

Full members

There are ten “full” member schools:WEB,www.patriotleague.org/sports/2016/6/13/school-bio-patr-school-bio-aboutpl-html.aspx?, “Who We Are” About the Patriot League, Patriot League, 1 November 2016, {|class=“wikitable sortable” style="text-align:center;“! Institution! Location! Founded! Type! Undergraduateenrollment! Endowment! Nickname! Joined! class=“unsortable” | ColorsAmerican University{{efn>group=fullAmerican University Eagles, Boston University Terriers>Boston University, and Loyola Greyhounds do not play football. As of the 2024 season, Army Black Knights football>Army and Navy Midshipmen football participate in the NCAA NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision>Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) as football-only members of the American Athletic Conference. Fordham Rams and Georgetown Hoyas>Georgetown replace them in the Patriot League for football only.}}| Washington, D.C.| 1893United Methodist Church>United Methodist| 8,463| $708,000,000American Eagles>Eagles| 2001American Eagles}}West Point, New York| 1802(Military)}}| 4,594| N/AArmy Black Knights>Black Knights| 1990Army Black Knights|order=134}}Boston University{{efn>group=full|name=football}}Boston>Boston, Massachusetts| 1839| Nonsectarian| 18,229| $3,350,000,000Boston University Terriers>Terriers| 2013Boston University Terriers}}| Bucknell University| Lewisburg, Pennsylvania| 1846| Nonsectarian| 3,724| $801,000,000Bucknell Bison>Bison| 1986Bucknell Bison}}| Colgate UniversityHamilton (village), New York>Hamilton, New York| 1819| Nonsectarian| 3,164| $908,000,000Colgate Raiders>Raiders| 1986Colgate Raiders}}Worcester, Massachusetts| 1843Catholic Church>Catholic{{smallSociety of Jesus>Jesuit)}}| 3,138| $1,230,000,000Holy Cross Crusaders>Crusaders| 1986Holy Cross Crusaders}}| Lafayette College| Easton, Pennsylvania| 1826| Nonsectarian| 2,725| $693,700,000Lafayette Leopards>Leopards| 1986Lafayette Leopards}}| Lehigh University| Bethlehem, Pennsylvania| 1865| Nonsectarian| 5,451| $1,400,000,000Lehigh Mountain Hawks>Mountain Hawks| 1986Lehigh Mountain Hawks}}Loyola University Maryland{{efn>group=full|name=football}}| Baltimore, Maryland| 1852(Jesuit)}}| 3,787| $308,000,000Loyola Greyhounds>Greyhounds| 2013Loyola Greyhounds}}Annapolis, Maryland| 1845(Military)}}| 4,528| N/ANavy Midshipmen>Midshipmen| 1991Navy Midshipmen}}

Notes:

{{notelist|group=full}}

Associate members

There are four associate-member schools:{|class=“wikitable sortable” style="text-align:center;“! Institution! Location! Founded! Type! Undergraduateenrollment! Nickname! Joined! class=“unsortable” | Colors! Patriotsport! PrimaryconferenceFordham University{{efn>group=aff|Fordham was also a full member of the Patriot League from 1990–91 until 1994–95, when it moved all sports except football to the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).}}| The Bronx, New York| 1841Catholic Church>Catholic{{smallSociety of Jesus>Jesuit)}}| 9,904Fordham Rams>Rams| 1995Fordham Rams}}| footballAtlantic 10 Conference>Atlantic 10 (A-10)| Georgetown University| Washington, D.C.| 1789(Jesuit)}}| 7,598Georgetown Hoyas>Hoyas| 2001Georgetown Hoyas}}| football,women’s rowingBig East Conference>Big East| Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT)| Cambridge, Massachusetts| 1861| Nonsectarian| 4,638MIT Engineers>Engineers| 2009MIT Engineers}}| women’s rowingNew England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference>New England (NEWMAC){{efnname=D3|Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.}}| University of Richmond| Richmond, Virginia| 1830| Nonsectarian| 3,164Richmond Spiders>Spiders| 2014Richmond Spiders}}| women’s golf, football (2025)Atlantic 10 Conference>Atlantic 10 (A-10)

Notes:

{{notelist|group=aff}}

Former full members{|class“wikitable sortable” style@text-align:center;”

! Institution! Location! Founded! Type! Undergraduateenrollment! Nickname! Joined! Left! CurrentconferenceFordham University{{efn>group=former|Fordham remains as an associate member of the Patriot League for football.}}The Bronx>Bronx, New York| 1841Catholic Church>Catholic{{smallSociety of Jesus>Jesuit)}}| 8,220Fordham Rams>Rams| 1990| 1995Atlantic 10 Conference>Atlantic 10 (A-10)

Notes:

{{notelist|group=former}}

Former associate members{|class“wikitable sortable” style@text-align:center;”

! Institution! Location! Founded! Type! Nickname! Joined! Left! class=“unsortable” | Colors! Patriotsport! Primaryconference! Currentconferencein formerPL sport| Davidson College| Davidson, North Carolina| 1837(PCUSA)}}Davidson Wildcats football>Wildcats| 1986| 1989Davidson Wildcats}}| footballAtlantic 10 Conference>Atlantic 10 (A-10)Pioneer Football League>Pioneer (PFL)| Fairfield University| Fairfield, Connecticut| 1942Catholic Church>Catholic{{smallJesuits>Jesuit)}}Fairfield Stags>Stags| 1996| 2004Fairfield Stags}}| field hockey Metro Atlantic (MAAC)Hobart and William Smith Colleges>Hobart CollegeGeneva (city), New York>Geneva, New York| 1822| NonsectarianHobart Statesmen men’s lacrosse>Statesmen| 1999| 2004Hobart Statesmen}}| men’s lacrosseLiberty League>Liberty{{efnname=D3|Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.}}Atlantic 10 Conference>Atlantic 10 (A-10)| Towson University| Towson, Maryland| 1866| PublicTowson Tigers>Tigers| 1997| 2004Towson Tigers}}| footballCoastal Athletic Association>Coastal (CAA)Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference>CAA Football{{efnCAA Football is technically a separate entity from the multi-sports CAA.}}| Ursinus College| Collegeville, Pennsylvania| 1869| NonsectarianUrsinus Bears>Bears| 1996| 2002#990000}} {{color box#000000}}HTTPS://WWW.URSINUS.EDU/ABOUT/JUST-THE-FACTS/>TITLE=JUST THE FACTSACCESS-DATE=19 NOVEMBER 2019, | field hockey Centennial Conference{{efn>group=faff|name=D3}}| Villanova University| Villanova, Pennsylvania| 1842Catholic Church>Catholic{{smallOrder of Saint Augustine>Augustinian)}}Villanova Wildcats>Wildcats| 1998| 2006Villanova Wildcats}}| women’s lacrosse Big East

Notes:

{{notelist|group=faff}}

Membership timeline

PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use “left:20” to suppress the count, use “left:20”