The 2017–18 school year marks the dawn of a new era of Ithaca College athletics. The Bombers will compete in the Liberty League for the first time this year. The Liberty League’s full-time members include Bard College, Clarkson University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Lawrence University, Skidmore College, Union College, and Vassar College.

“The Liberty League is an impressive association of academic institutions with a common commitment to the educational benefits created through participation in intercollegiate competition,” said athletic director Susan Bassett ’79. “Ithaca College embraces the philosophical tenets of the league and the commitment to the scholar–athlete ideal upon which it was founded. Our coaches and student–athletes look forward to the opportunity to compete in the Liberty League.” Ithaca will compete in 24 of the league’s 26 championship sports.

The Bombers had previously been members of the Empire 8 conference and won 10 consecutive Commissioner’s Cups starting in 2006–7.