The CCLA Board
Ron Hebert Commissioner
vcdiv1@cclax.org
(248) 909-0832
Vice Commissioner Div I Owen Blank
commissioner@cclax.org
(517) 896-4494
Andy Sharp Vice Commissioner Div II
vcdiv2@cclax.org
(616) 633-0025
Secretary Anthony Stamatopoulos
secretary@cclax.org
412-926-0587
Clark Bell CCLA CAA
michlaxref@comcast.net
Treasurer Tim Gallager
treasurer@cclax.org
(810) 919-3837
Robert Heaps Past Commissioner
pastcommissioner@cclax.org
(412) 951-0146
CCLA History
The Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association was founded in 1999 when the Big Ten Lacrosse League, which had been in existence since 1972, expanded to include teams that were not at traditional Big Ten schools. As one of the original six MCLA conferences, the CCLA initially represented a vast region of the Midwest. In 2002, in response to overwhelming growth and a huge geographical spread, the southern half of the conference split off to form the GRLC.
CCLA teams established national scheduling practices well before the MCLA was born and continue that tradition throughout the MCLA era, with conference teams routinely travelling across the country to play teams from coast to coast and everywhere in-between.
In recent years the CCLA has achieved unprecedented national success. In Division 1 in 2008 Michigan became the first MCLA team to finish a season undefeated on the way to the first national championship for a CCLA team. In 2009, the Wolverines repeated the feat. In Division 2, the CCLA has placed two teams in the 12 team field each of the past two years, with both teams making the semifinals each year. In 2008 Grand Valley State reached the championship game, and in 2009 Dayton played in the championship.
The CCLA consists of 10 Division 1 teams and 15 Division 2 teams, representing six states: Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
