Coppin State began play in 1985. They currently compete in the NCAA Division I in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They won the MEAC Tournament, beating Delaware State, South Carolina State, and North Carolina A&T. In 2005, they won both the regular season and tournament title while beating Norfolk State in the MEAC final to win their first tournament title in twelve years and go to their first ever NCAA Tournament. They won the regular season and tournament title the following year (2006), going to their second straight NCAA Tournament. They went to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years after beating North Carolina A&T in the tournament final.