The expansion of the Colonial Athletic Association to 10 teams starting in 2003 will enhance the league's academic and athletic standards, President James V. Koch said at a campus news conference Dec. 13.

CAA officials announced earlier in the day that the University of Delaware (Newark, Del.), Drexel University (Philadelphia), Hofstra University (Long Island, N.Y.) and Towson University (Towson, Md.) will join the conference starting in July 2003. The four newcomers, which are all currently members of the America East Conference, will join George Mason, James Madison, UNC-Wilmington, Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth and William and Mary to form a 10-team conference that will conduct championships in 20 sports.

With their arrival, women's softball and men's lacrosse championships will be established, with the possibility of other championships being added in the future.

"The conference has experienced considerable growth since 1985 and we expect the new alignment to be a catalyst for even greater success in the years ahead," CAA Commissioner Thomas Yeager said.

Koch agreed. "The expansion will bring CAA sports into more than nine million households from North Carolina to New York City," he said.

Additionally, the new teams will bring Old Dominion sports to strong alumni markets. Old Dominion has approximately 7,000 alumni in Baltimore/Washington, 1,500 in the New York City area and 1,200 in Philadelphia/Wilmington, said John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement.

Jim Jarrett, Old Dominion athletic director, noted that the additions will enhance conference goals of strengthening men's basketball, providing long-term protection for automatic qualification in conference sports and continuing the CAA emphasis on high academic standards.