The American Athletic Conference is the new name for the former Big East Conference.

The conference announced the decision Wednesday after university presidents approved the new moniker earlier in the day.

"Versions that included the word 'American' led every list," commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement. "American Athletic Conference represents a strong, durable and aspirational name for our re-invented Conference."

In the Big East's final season in its current makeup, the league is going out with a flourish. Louisville upset Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and five teams reached the men's and women's Final Fours, the most from one conference in NCAA history.

Last month, sources told ESPN that Aresco favored America 12 Conference as the league's new name. However, the schools' presidents rejected it because they didn't want a number included. The renamed league will have 10 teams in 2013; 11 in 2014; and 12 in 2015.

The old Big East needed a new conference name because the Catholic 7 schools -- DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's and Villanova -- kept the Big East name when they announced they were splitting and forming their new league.