Apr 8, 2010 8:41:56 AM

Nine of the 14 members of The Commonwealth Coast Conference plan to establish a new athletics conference to begin competition in 2011-12, according to an announcement from one of the schools.

The nine institutions "share a focus on student-athlete success and commitment to standards for competitive play," according to the announcement Wednesday by Dorothy J. Millhofer, director of communications at Nichols.

The other schools involved in the new conference will be Curry, Endicott, Gordon, Roger Williams, Salve Regina, University of New England, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Western New England.

Plans call for leaders of the schools to meet during the coming weeks to establish bylaws for the conference, which has not yet been named.

The schools will continue TCCC competition during 2010-11. The league's other members are Anna Maria, Colby-Sawyer, Eastern Nazarene, New England College and Regis (Massachusetts).

Three of the nine schools making the move – Curry, Salve Regina and Wentworth -- are charter TCCC members. The league was formed for men's basketball in 1984 and began adding sports in 1985. Roger Williams joined in 1985, Gordon in 1986, Nichols in 1994 and Endicott and the University of New England in 1999. Western New England is the league's newest member, joining in 2007.