Hood College and Stevenson University announced today that they will resign as full members of the Capital Athletic Conference to join the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation.

"On behalf of the Presidents of all of the Capital Athletic Conference institutions, we will miss the high quality of competition that Hood and Stevenson provided," said Frostburg State University President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter.  "Their student-athletes have been outstanding in the classroom and on the playing field, and they will be missed.  We wish them the very best of luck in their new conference.  The CAC will continue to grow and evolve and be competitive at the regional and national levels."

Hood and Stevenson will compete in the CAC for regular-season and post-season championshps during the 2011-12 academic year, then change affiliation prior to the 2012-13 academic year. Stevenson is already a member of the MAC for football and women's golf, championship sports not sponsored by the CAC.

"Hood and Stevenson have been excellent members of the Capital Athletic Conference," said CAC Commissioner Tom Byrnes. "We thank each institution for their respective contributions in strengthening the conference, and wish them the best in the future."

Hood first began competing in the CAC during the 2006-07 academic year, followed a year later by Stevenson. Hood won the 2006-07 regular-season men's basketball championship but lost to Catholic by 10 points in the school's only playoff tournament championship game appearance. Stevenson has won three CAC championships, including women's soccer and men's golf during the 2010-11 academic year.

"The CAC will continue to be a highly-competitive conference on the regional and national levels," Byrnes said. "The conference leadership will review and evaluate its options to best serve the membership for the futue."