The Howard C. Smith Cup is named in honor of former Massachusetts State College Trustee Smith, who in 1970, urged the athletic directors of the eight State Colleges to hold a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of forming an intercollegiate conference. In June of 1971, Smith’s dream became a reality as an affirmative agreement was reached and the MASCAC was created.
During the MASCAC’s first year of existence, the eight member Colleges voted to award a Cup annually to the one institution which excelled in the league’s eight championship sports. Thus, the Howard C. Smith Cup was established.
The Smith Cup, which was updated in the summer of 2007, is awarded to the MASCAC institution which compiles the most points based on the placement of each of its programs competing in the 15 league championships.
Since it was first awarded in 1972, Bridgewater State and Westfield State have now won outright or shared the Smith Cup 18 times, respectively. Salem State has won or shared 19 of the 42 Smith Cups.
Howard C. Smith Cup History
| 2023-24 | Westfield State |
| 2022-23 | Westfield State |
| 2021-22 | Westfield State |
| 2020-21 | Due to COVID, member institutions did not meet the sport sponsorship threshold to award the Howard C. Smith Cup. |
| 2019-20 | Westfield State |
| 2018-19 | Bridgewater State |
| 2017-18 | Westfield State |
| 2016-17 | Westfield State |
| 2015-16 | Westfield State |
| 2014-15 | Westfield State |
| 2013-14 | Bridgewater State |
| 2012-13 | Bridgewater State |
| 2011-12 | Bridgewater State |
| 2010-11 | Westfield State |
| 2009-10 | Westfield State |
| 2008-09 | Bridgewater State |
| 2007-08 | Westfield State |
| 2006-07 | Westfield State |
| 2005-06 | Bridgewater State |
| 2004-05 | Bridgewater State, Worcester State |
| 2003-04 | Bridgewater State |
| 2002-03 | Bridgewater State |
| 2001-02 | Westfield State |
| 2000-01 | Bridgewater State |
| 1999-00 | Bridgewater State |
| 1998-99 | Salem State |
| 1997-98 | Bridgewater State,Westfield State |
| 1996-97 | Salem State |
| 1995-96 | Bridgewater State,Salem State |
| 1994-95 | Bridgewater State |
| 1993-94 | Salem State |
| 1992-93 | Salem State |
| 1991-92 | Salem State |
| 1990-91 | Salem State |
| 1989-90 | Salem State |
| 1988-89 | Salem State |
| 1987-88 | Salem State |
| 1986-87 | North Adams State |
| 1985-86 | Bridgewater State |
| 1984-85 | Salem State |
| 1983-84 | Salem State |
| 1982-83 | Salem State |
| 1981-82 | Salem State |
| 1980-81 | Salem State |
| 1979-80 | Salem State |
| 1978-79 | Salem State |
| 1977-78 | Westfield State |
| 1976-77 | Westfield State |
| 1975-76 | Salem State |
| 1974-75 | Westfield State |
| 1973-74 | Salem State |
| 1972-73 | Westfield State |