The Collegiate Water Polo Association originally began as the Mid Atlantic Conference, founded by Dick Russell (Bucknell University swimming & water polo coach) in the 1970’s. Its founding membership included teams from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

The leadership and management of the organization relied on volunteer coaches until 1990, when it hired a commissioner to perform basic scheduling for the 15 member teams. Officiating assignments at the time were performed by an independent organization called the Eastern Water Polo Referees Association (EWPRA).

The next major milepost occurred in 1993, when the Southern and New England Conferences merged into the Mid Atlantic. The new structure combined all of the varsity teams in the East, along with the few sport clubs in existence at that time.

During the 1995 season, the conference received its first major challenge, as the organization experienced a strike by its officiating core. This strike ultimately resulted in the organization establishing its own officiating bureau, assuming responsibility for all of its officiating assignments. The conference hired Tere Ma as its inaugural Director of Officials and Loren Bertocci as its first Technical Director. These two individuals laid the groundwork for the Officiating Bureau that exists today.

Over the years, the Association has undergone dramatic changes. A brief overview of this evolution is provided below:

• The Mid Atlantic Conference is founded by Dick Russell.

• The conference hires a commissioner to manage the league administration.

• The New England and Southern conferences merge into the Mid Atlantic.
• The conference changes its name to the Eastern Water Polo Association.
• Thirty-nine club and varsity teams participate in the new structure.

• The Association adds women's teams to its membership.
• Total membership equals 55 teams.

• The conference ends its relationship with the Eastern Water Polo Referees Association and establishes its own officiating bureau.
• Tere Ma hired as the inaugural Director of Officials and Loren Bertocci hired as the first Technical Director.
• Men’s Midwest division is added.
• Club championships are separated by division.
• Membership increases to 82 teams.

• Women's Midwest division is added.
• Men's Southwest division is added.
• Men’s New York division separates into regions to accommodate growth.
• Eastern Water Polo Association changes its name to Collegiate Water Polo Association to reflect the geographic representation of its membership.
• Membership rises to 95 teams.

• Women’s Southwest division is added.
• Women’s Northern Division splits into New York and New England Divisions.
• Great Lakes Division is added.
• Men’s New England Division splits to New England and North Atlantic Divisions.
• Membership reaches 110 teams.

• Northwest men and women’s divisions added.
• Men’s Pacific Coast Division added.
• Membership includes 40 women’s teams and 97 men’s teams, totaling 137.

• Women’s Pacific Coast Division added.
• Midwest Women’s Division reinstated.
• Men’s Great Lakes Division changes its name to the Heartland Division.
• Men’s Great Plains Division added.
• Membership increases to 52 women’s teams and 107 men’s teams totaling 159.

• Men's Southeast Division added.
• Men’s Atlantic Division added.
• Membership increases to 54 women's teams and 121 men's teams totaling 175.

• Women’s varsity and club programs separate competitively.
• Women’s varsity teams form Northern and Southern Divisions.
• Women's Southeast Division added.
• Texas Division added for men and women.
• Membership increases to 122 men's teams and 80 women's teams totaling 202.

• Men's Florida Division added.
• Men's Great Lakes Division added.
• Men's Midwest Division renamed the Ohio Valley Division.
• Membership increases to 124 men's teams and 91 women's teams totaling 215.

• Men's New England and North Atlantic Divisions realigned.
• Men's Division II Eastern Championship established.
• Membership steadies at 120 men's teams and 95 women's teams totaling 215.
• Office moves headquarters to Bridgeport, Pennsylvania after thirteen years in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

• Women’s varsity teams realign to form Northeastern, Northern, Southern, and Western divisions.
• Men’s Florida Division teams vote to merge into Southeast Division.
• Men’s Great Plains Division splits forming Great Plains and Missouri Valley Divisions.
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee established for the conference
• Membership grows to 126 men's teams and 98 women's teams totaling 224.

• Six women’s varsity teams leave to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Remaining teams realign to form Northern, Southern, and Western divisions.
• Women’s Atlantic and North Atlantic Divisions added.
• Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship expands to 16 teams.
• Membership grows to 131 men’s and 99 women’s teams, totaling 230 teams.

• Women’s Atlantic Division merges with the Mid Atlantic Division.
• Men’s Ohio Valley Division members join Great Lakes and Missouri Valley Divisions.
• Membership grows to 138 men’s and 96 women’s teams, totaling 234 teams.