
The University of Delaware's basketball team is known as the Fightin' Blue Hens, with blue and gold as their team colours. The men's basketball team has seen players such as Steve Schlachter and John Gordon, who played from 1998 to 2000 and was a national runner-up for the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year for Mid-Major. The Blue Hens have been members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) since 2001, previously competing in the America East Conference. The women's basketball team has had notable success, winning CAA championships and accumulating a 3-4 record in the NCAA Tournament. The Delaware State Hornets, representing Delaware State University, also field a basketball team as part of their intercollegiate athletics programme. They compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and have experienced success in both men's and women's basketball tournaments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| University | University of Delaware |
| Nickname | Blue Hens |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Teams | Men's and Women's Basketball |
| Former Conference | America East Conference (1991-2001) |
| Current Conference | Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) |
| Other Conferences | Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League |
| NCAA Division | Division I |
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What You'll Learn

Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens basketball history in the CAA
The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens are the athletic teams of the University of Delaware (UD) in Newark, Delaware. The Blue Hens compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of Conference USA.
The Blue Hens men's basketball team has had several notable players over the years. Steve Schlachter, an American-Israeli basketball player, and John Gordon, a Delaware native, played for the Blue Hens from 1998 to 2000. Gordon was a national runner-up for the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year for Mid-Major and was inducted into the Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Blue Hens have had success in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) since joining in 2001. They have won 22 team CAA Championships across various sports, including basketball. The women's basketball team, in particular, has had a strong showing in the CAA. During the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the team went undefeated in CAA play and won the conference championship. In the 2012 NCAA Tournament, they won their first-round game against Arkansas–Little Rock, marking the first win by a Delaware women's team in NCAA tournament history. The 2012-23 team featured three seniors who scored over 1,000 points in their careers and won two CAA championships. Overall, the Delaware women's basketball team has a cumulative NCAA tournament record of 3-4.
The men's basketball team has also had some success in the CAA. They have been conference champions four times during the regular season and six times during the tournament. However, their record in the NCAA Tournament is 0-6.
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The team's NCAA Division I and II wins
The University of Delaware's basketball team is nicknamed the Fightin' Blue Hens, with blue and gold as their colours. The team plays in Conference USA.
The Blue Hens men's basketball team has seen several notable players over the years. Steve Schlachter, an American-Israeli player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, played for the Blue Hens. John Gordon, a Delaware native who played for the team from 1998 to 2000, was a national runner-up for the Naismith Men's College Basketball Player of the Year for Mid-Major. Gordon was later inducted into the Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
While specific details of the Blue Hens' NCAA Division I and II wins are scarce, recent scores indicate a competitive program. For example, Delaware State Hornets' recent wins include a 75-68 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore and a 96-84 win against Norfolk State.
The Blue Hens program has a rich history and has produced talented players who have gone on to achieve success in the sport. The team's performance in their conference and the dedication of their players suggest a strong foundation for future success in Division I and II competitions.
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Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) membership
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is a collegiate athletic conference whose full members are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. The MEAC was classified as a Division I conference by the NCAA in 1978 and currently has automatic qualifying bids for NCAA postseason play in several sports, including men's basketball since 1981.
The MEAC was formed in 1970 through the collaboration of seven institutions: Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State College. These institutions shared academic standards and a philosophy of co-curricular activities, aiming to establish and supervise an intercollegiate athletic program.
The conference has experienced membership changes over the years. In 1979, Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) and Florida A&M University joined, while founding members Morgan State University, North Carolina Central University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore withdrew. However, all three schools eventually returned to the conference. Florida A&M University chose to leave the MEAC again in 1984.
The MEAC sponsors championship competitions in six men's and eight women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. It also has men's and women's varsity sports that are not sponsored by the conference but are played by MEAC schools. The MEAC, along with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), are the only two Division I conferences primarily comprising HBCUs. In 2015, the MEAC, SWAC, and Ivy Leagues decided not to participate in the FCS Playoffs.
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Delaware State Hornets' MEAC championship wins
The Delaware State Hornets represent Delaware State University (DSU) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as part of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Hornets have enjoyed several successful seasons and have won multiple MEAC championships.
During Bill Collick's 12-year tenure as head coach, the Hornets won 5 MEAC championships and had a remarkable overall record of 81-48. In 2006, under the leadership of head coach Al Lavan, the Hornets achieved an 8-3 overall record and a 6-2 MEAC record, marking the first time since the 1994-95 seasons that DSU posted back-to-back winning seasons. Lavan's impact was significant, as he led the team to three consecutive winning seasons and an overall record of 29-16 during his four years at DSU.
The 2007 season was a standout year for the Delaware State Hornets. They achieved a school-record 10 wins and claimed the MEAC championship, their first since 1991. This successful season also marked their first-ever appearance in the NCAA playoffs. The Hornets were ranked as high as No. 10 in the weekly SportsNetwork Football Championship Subdivision poll and concluded the season ranked No. 15 in the final poll. As a result of their outstanding performance, Delaware State was recognised as the 2007 American Sports Wire Division I Black College National Champions.
The Delaware State Hornets have continued to thrive in recent years, winning the MEAC Championship in 2024. This victory demonstrates the program's consistent excellence and competitive spirit. The Hornets have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the MEAC, and their success has brought pride to Delaware State University and its community.
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The Blue Hens' America East Conference membership
The athletic teams of the University of Delaware are called the Fightin' Blue Hens. The Blue Hens compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Blue Hens were members of the America East Conference from 1991 to 2001. During this time, the women's basketball team went undefeated in the 2000-01 season, finishing 26-5 overall and 17-1 in the America East Conference. They won the conference tournament and qualified for their first NCAA bid.
In 2001, the Blue Hens joined the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and its technically separate football league, CAA Football. The women's basketball team continued their success in the CAA, going undefeated in conference play in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons under head coach Tina Martin and star player Elena Delle Donne. They won back-to-back CAA tournaments and qualified for the NCAA tournament both years.
In recent years, the Blue Hens have expanded their athletic program. In 2023, the Blue Hens football team announced its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and its move to Conference USA (CUSA) starting in 2025. Additionally, the University of Delaware announced the addition of a new women's ice hockey team, which will join Atlantic Hockey America for its first season of varsity play in 2025-26.
The Fightin' Blue Hens have a rich athletic history and have achieved success in various sports, including basketball, football, rugby, and hockey. They have won multiple championships and produced notable athletes, such as WNBA star Elena Delle Donne and NFL quarterbacks Rich Gannon, Joe Flacco, and others. The Blue Hens' success and profitability have led to their recognition as a well-regarded academic and athletic institution.
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Frequently asked questions
The University of Delaware's basketball team, the Fightin' Blue Hens, was a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) from 2001 until 2025.
Before joining the CAA in 2001, the University of Delaware's basketball team was in the America East Conference from 1991 to 2001.
The University of Delaware's women's basketball team has had notable success, winning two CAA championships and accumulating a 3-4 record in the NCAA tournament. The 2011-12 and 2012-13 teams went undefeated in CAA play.
The University of Delaware offers various other sports, including football, lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey.
Yes, the University of Delaware has had success in several other sports. They have won three NCAA Division I national team championships and one NCAA Division II national team championship. Their football team, also known as the Fightin' Blue Hens, has won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA Division I Football Championship.







































