C-USA On TV
C-USA enjoys significant television exposure through a multi-tiered selection process that is rooted in partnerships with FOX
Sports Media Group and CBS Sports Network. By partnering with
FOX Sports Media Group and extending an existing partnership
with CBS Sports Network, the league has substantially increased
the number of national and regional appearances for football,
men’s and women’s basketball, and all other conference sports.
C-USA in the Community
The conference’s footprint is concentrated with 12 members in
nine states and a combined area population of nearly 17 million.
More than 1. 1 million living alumni represent C-USA schools
across the nation. With a renewed commitment to community
involvement, the conference has begun development of several
initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, as well as with
fans and alumni across the country. C-USA schools also place a
priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer
service with local and national organizations.
Governance
Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC,
Conference USA is one of the seven conferences having significant representation in the NCAA governance structure.
Success Off The Field
C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic
performance among student-athletes, bolstered by the fact that
student-athletes at league schools have a higher graduation rate
than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,000
student-athletes, there are champions off the playing field as
well. In 16 years, 162 student-athletes earned national ESPN The
Magazine Academic All-America honors, while 541 were named
All-District. In addition, more than 20,000 student-athletes
have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received
the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding
achievement in the classroom.
A Proud History; A Promising Future
Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly emerged as
one of the nation’s top conferences. The conference unveiled its
name, logo and commissioner on April 24, 1995 in Chicago. The
league’s charter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul,
Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern
Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven of the institutions began
athletic participation in 1995, while Houston joined competition
in the fall of 1996.
The league’s headquarters were established in Chicago and
after nine years, relocated to the current office in Irving, Texas.
Britton Banowsky was named Commissioner in October 2002,
succeeding Mike Slive, the league’s first commissioner.
C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United
States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members.
ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB
began football play in 1999. The league added TCU and ECU
(1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF
started C-USA football in 2003.
After celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2004-05
season, C-USA began a new chapter in 2005-06 when its current
membership came together to form the new look of the league.
Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong foundation, an identity and a history that reflects the league’s national
presence. Fifteen years of remarkable history has reinforced the
league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the
next decade and beyond.
