Little East Conference

Little East Conference

Association	NCAA
Founded	1986
Commissioner	Al Bean (since September 2, 2024)
Sports fielded	19 men's: 8 women's: 11
Division	Division III
No. of teams	9 (8 in 2027)
Headquarters	North Providence, Rhode Island
Region	New England
Website	littleeast.com
Locations

The Little East Conference (LEC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The member institutions are located in all six states of New England.

History

Little East Conference

Locations of Little East members, 2025–2026 full, departing, and associate

Recent events

On May 20, 2026, Lasell University, and Worcester State University accepted an invitation to join the Little East as associate members for women's golf, beginning the 2026-27 academic year.

On May 20, 2026, Gordon College accepted an invitation to join the Little East as associate members for men's and women's swimming & diving, beginning the 2026-27 academic year.

On October 8, 2025, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Salem State accepted an invitation to leave the Little East as associate members for men's lacrosse to join the MASCAC as full members, as the MASCAC has announced it to be a sponsored sport, beginning the 2026-27 academic year.

Chronological timeline

• 1986 – On April 28, 1986, the Little East Conference (LEC) was founded. Charter members included Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), Plymouth State College (now Plymouth State University), Rhode Island College and the University of Southern Maine; beginning the 1986–87 academic year.
• 1993 – Western Connecticut State University joined the Little East in the 1993–94 academic year.
• 1997 – Keene State College joined the Little East in the 1997–98 academic year.
• 2000 – Seven institutions joined the Little East as associate members, all effective in the 2000–01 academic year:
  • Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University for field hockey as the MASCAC division in fall
  • and Salem State for men's lacrosse in spring
• 2003 – Salem State added men's tennis into its Little East associate membership in the 2004 spring season (2003–04 academic year).
• 2004 – Two institutions added certain single sports into their Little East associate memberships, both effective in the 2005 spring season (2004–05 academic year):
  • Bridgewater State for men's and women's tennis
  • and Salem State for women's tennis
• 2010 – Three institutions added certain single sports into their Little East associate memberships, all effective in the 2010–11 academic year:
  • Worcester State for women's tennis
  • and Bridgewater State and Westfield State for women's swimming & diving
• 2014 – Bridgewater State left the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving after the 2013–14 academic year.
• 2018 – Castleton University (now Vermont State University–Castleton) joined the Little East in the 2018–19 academic year.
• 2019 – Massachusetts Maritime Academy joined the Little East as an associate member for men's lacrosse in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
• 2020:
  • Worcester State left the Little East as an associate member for women's tennis after the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
  • Western New England University joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving in the 2020–21 academic year; although due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they didn't begin to compete within conference play until 2021–22.
• 2021 – Bridgewater State added men's swimming & diving (with the return of women's swimming & diving) into its Little East associate membership in the 2021–22 academic year.
• 2022:
  • The University of New England joined the Little East as an associate member for women's swimming & diving in the 2022–23 academic year.
  • Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State left the Little East as associate members for field hockey after the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year); as the MASCAC announced to have it as a sponsored sport.
• 2024 – Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy and the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi) joined the Little East as associate members for men's and women's swimming & diving in the 2024–25 academic year.
• 2025:
  • Five institutions joined the Little East as associate members (and/or added other single sports into their associate memberships), all effective in the 2025–26 academic year:
    • Babson College for men's ice hockey
    • Husson and Westfield State for women's golf
    • and New England College and Norwich University for men's and women's ice hockey
  • SUNY Delhi left the Little East as an associate member for men's and women's swimming & diving after the 2024-25 season to join the SUNYAC.
• 2026
  • Three institutions joined the Little East as associate members (and/or added other single sports into their associate memberships), all effective in the 2026–27 academic year:
    • Lasell University and Worcester State for women's golf
    • Gordon College for men's and women's swimming & diving
  • Mass Maritime and Salem State left the Little East as associate members for men's lacrosse after the 2026 spring season (2025–26 academic year); as the MASCAC announced to have it as its 20th sponsored sport.
• 2027 – VTSU–Castleton will leave the Little East to join the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) after the 2026–27 academic year.

Member schools

Current members

The Little East currently has nine full members, all are public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Colors
Eastern Connecticut State University	Willimantic, Connecticut	1889	Public	4,355	Warriors	1986
Keene State College	Keene, New Hampshire	1909		2,848	Owls	1997
Plymouth State University	Plymouth, New Hampshire	1871		3,707	Panthers	1986
Rhode Island College	Providence, Rhode Island	1854		6,155	Anchormen & Anchorwomen	1986
University of Massachusetts Boston	Boston, Massachusetts	1964		15,575	Beacons	1986
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	Dartmouth, Massachusetts	1895		7,968	Corsairs	1986
University of Southern Maine	Gorham, Maine	1878		7,604	Huskies	1986
Vermont State University-Castleton	Castleton, Vermont	1787		5,093	Spartans	2018
Western Connecticut State University	Danbury, Connecticut	1903		4,169	Wolves	1993

Notes

Associate members

The Little East currently has 15 associate members, all but seven are private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	LEC sport(s)	Primary conference
Babson College	Wellesley, Massachusetts	1919	Nonsectarian	3,932	Beavers	2025	men's ice hockey	NEWMAC
Bridgewater State University	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	1840	Public	9,727	Bears	2004m.ten.	men's tennis	MASCAC
						2004w.ten.	women's tennis
						2021m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving
						2021w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
Gordon College	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Evangelical	1,816	Fighting Scots	2026m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	CNE
						2026w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
Husson University	Bangor, Maine	1898	Nonsectarian	3,367	Eagles	2024m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	NAC
						2024w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
						2025w.gf.	women's golf
Lasell University	Newton, Massachusetts	1851	Nonsectarian	2,200	Lasers	2026	women's golf	GNAC
Maine Maritime Academy	Castine, Maine	1941	Public	971	Mariners	2024m.s.d.	men's swimming & diving	NAC
						2024w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving
New England College	Henniker, New Hampshire	1946	Nonsectarian	3,275	Pilgrims	2025m.i.h.	men's ice hockey	GNAC
						2025w.i.h.	women's ice hockey
University of New England	Biddeford, Maine	1831	Nonsectarian	6,573	Nor'easters	2022	women's swimming & diving	CNE
Norwich University	Northfield, Vermont	1819	U.S. SMC	3,149	Cadets	2025m.i.h.	men's ice hockey	GNAC
						2025w.i.h.	women's ice hockey
Salem State University	Salem, Massachusetts	1854	Public	6,230	Vikings	2003m.ten.	men's tennis	MASCAC
						2004w.ten.	women's tennis
Western New England University	Springfield, Massachusetts	1919	Nonsectarian	3,674	Golden Bears	2020	women's swimming & diving	CNE
Westfield State University	Westfield, Massachusetts	1838	Public	4,588	Owls	2010w.s.d.	women's swimming & diving	MASCAC
						2025w.gf.	women's golf
Worcester State University	Worcester	1874	Public	5,611	Lancers	2026	women's golf	MASCAC

Notes

Future associate members

The Little East will have one new associate members, a private schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joining	LEC sport(s)	Primary conference
Saint Anselm College	Goffstown, New Hampshire	1889	Catholic (Benedictines)	2,094	Hawks	2027m.gf.	men's golf	Northeast-10 (NE-10) (NEWMAC in 2027.)
						2027w.gf.	women's golf
						2027m.i.h.	men's ice hockey
						2027w.i.h.	women's ice hockey

Notes

Former associate members

The Little East had six former associate members, all of which were also public schools:

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Nickname	Joined	Left	LEC sport(s)	Primary conference
Bridgewater State University	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	1840	Public	Bears	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Fitchburg State University	Fitchburg, Massachusetts	1894	Public	Falcons	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Framingham State University	Framingham, Massachusetts	1839	Public	Rams	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts	1891	Public	Buccaneers	2019	2026	men's lacrosse	MASCAC
Salem State University	Salem, Massachusetts	1854	Public	Vikings	2000f.h.	2023f.h.	field hockey	MASCAC
					2000m.lax.	2026m.lax.	men's lacrosse
State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi)	Delhi, New York	1913	Public	Broncos	2024	2025	men's swimming & diving	SUNYAC
							women's swimming & diving
Westfield State University	Westfield, Massachusetts	1838	Public	Owls	2000	2023	field hockey	MASCAC
Worcester State University	Worcester, Massachusetts	1874	Public	Lancers	2000f.h.	2023f.h.	field hockey	MASCAC
					2010w.ten.	2020w.ten.	women's tennis

Notes

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

See also: Little East Conference men's basketball tournament

Conference Sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Field Hockey		Y
Golf	Y	Y
Ice Hockey	Y	Y
Lacrosse	Y	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming & Diving	Y	Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field (Indoor)	Y	Y
Track & Field (Outdoor)	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

Men's sports

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Golf	Ice Hockey	Lacrosse	Soccer	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Total LEC Sports
Castleton	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
Eastern Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
Keene State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	10
Plymouth State	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
Rhode Island College	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	8
Southern Maine	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
UMass Boston	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	9
UMass Dartmouth	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	9
Western Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	10
Totals	9	9	9	6	7+3	8	9	4+4	5+2	9	9	84+9
Associate Members
Babson					Y							1
Bridgewater State								Y	Y			2
Gordon								Y				1
Husson								Y				1
Maine Maritime								Y				1
New England College					Y							1
Norwich					Y							1
Salem State									Y			1

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Little East Conference that are played by Little East schools

School	Alpine Skiing	Football	Volleyball	Wrestling
Castleton	USCSA	NJAC		NEWA
Plymouth State	EISA	MASCAC		NEWA
Rhode Island College			GNAC	NEWA
Southern Maine				NEWA
UMass Dartmouth		MASCAC
Western Connecticut		Landmark

Women's sports

School	Basketball	Cross Country	Field Hockey	Golf	Ice Hockey	Lacrosse	Soccer	Softball	Swimming & Diving	Tennis	Track & Field (Indoor)	Track & Field (Outdoor)	Volleyball	Total LEC Sports
Castleton	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Eastern Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	11
Keene State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	12
Plymouth State	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Rhode Island College	Y	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Southern Maine	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
UMass Boston	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
UMass Dartmouth	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	11
Western Connecticut	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	12
Totals	9	9	8	5+4	6+2	9	9	9	5+7	7+2	9	9	9	103+15
Associate Members
Bridgewater State									Y	Y				2
Husson				Y					Y					2
Lasell				Y										1
Maine Maritime									Y					1
New England College					Y									1
U. of New England									Y					1
Norwich					Y									1
Salem State										Y				1
Western New England									Y					1
Westfield State				Y					Y					2
Worcester State				Y										1

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Little East Conference that are played by Little East schools

School	Alpine Skiing	Flag Football	Gymnastics	Rugby
Castleton	USCSA			Y
Eastern Connecticut		Y
Plymouth State	EISA
Rhode Island College			NCGA
UMass Dartmouth		2027-28

External links

• Official website