The Binghamton Bearcats are an NCAA Division I athletics program at SUNY Binghamton, and are one of four Division I programs in the SUNY system. Binghamton has competed in the NCAA since joining the SUNY system in 1950, and during the 1946-1950 era, there were no particular affiliations or mascotts. When they joined SUNY and adopted the new name Harpur College, the school also adopted their first mascot, a donkey named Harpo. In transitioning to SUNY Binghamton, they also developed their athletics program further, adopting the new school mascot, The red white and blue Colonials.
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In 2001, Binghamton would step into Division I athletics, and hire Joel Thirer as the new athletic director to bring the Division III school into Division I, which they completed faster than any other school in history. They became a member of the America East Conference. More recently, the university has hosted a number of conference championships, including the 2005, 2006 and soon 2008 men's basketball championships.
The Binghamton Men's Basketball team has experienced many ups and downs throughout their Div. I history. Incidentally the 2006-2007 season was the program's worst finish in the America East conference, and following a loss to Boston University in the first round of the 2007 America East Championships, head coach Al Walker, which is the only coach Binghamton has had in their Div. I history, was forced to step down. As of March 26th, Kevin Broadus, assistant coach for Georgetown University was announced to fill Walker's position.