ATLANTA – Atlantic Sun Conference Commissioner Jeff Bacon announced Wednesday that the University of Delaware is joining the Atlantic Sun Conference as an affiliate member in the sports of Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving beginning with the 2025-26 seasons.
"We are pleased to welcome the University of Delaware Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving coaches and student-athletes to the Atlantic Sun Conference,” ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon said. “Our membership prides itself on delivering a first-class championship experience and we believe that the addition of a high-quality program such as Delaware will only elevate that experience. Thank you to Director of Athletics, Chrissi Rawak for her commitment to the ASUN."
Both of the Blue Hens' Men’s and Women’s programs have seen significant growth and success over the past few seasons. This past season, both the Men’s and Women’s programs finished second at the CAA Championships. It was the Women’s best team finish since 2001, while the Men’s claimed second for the third year in a row. The two programs combined for 35 top three finishes, including five first place finishes on both sides this past season.
“I’m incredibly excited for our Swimming and Diving programs to be joining the ASUN,” University of Delaware Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. “This move will allow our student-athletes to continue to compete at a high level. I cannot thank Commissioner Jeff Bacon and the athletic directors enough for affording us this opportunity.”
Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving became sponsored by the Atlantic Sun Conference last year with the ASUN absorbing the championship records and history of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA). The first championship held under the ASUN banner took place in February of 2024 with SMU winning the Men's crown and Liberty claiming the Women's title. This season's championship event returns to the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
About the Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), founded in 1978, is an NCAA Division I conference sponsoring twenty-two (22) sports and championships. Composed of twelve (12) destination-based institutions spread throughout the southeastern United States, ASUN members include Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, Tenn.), Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.), the University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Ky.), Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, Fla.), Jacksonville University (Fla.), Lipscomb University (Nashville, Tenn.), the University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.), the University of North Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.), Stetson University (DeLand, Fla.), and the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.).