Northeast Conference
AssociationNCAA
Founded1981
CommissionerNoreen Morris (since 2010)
Sports fielded
  • 24 (25 in 2024)
    • men's: 11 (12 in 2024)
    • women's: 13
DivisionDivision I
SubdivisionFCS
No. of teams9 (8 in 2024)
HeadquartersSomerset, New Jersey
RegionNortheast
Official websitenortheastconference.org
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The Northeast Conference (NEC) is a collegiate athletic conference whose schools are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Teams in the NEC compete in Division I for all sports; football competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Participating schools are located principally in the Northeastern United States, from which the conference derives its name.

History

Northeast Conference
🌍
Locations of NEC members, 2022–23: full, departing, and associate, future full. Not pictured: Chicago State (future full member) and North Carolina Central (golf associate).

The conference was named the ECAC Metro Conference when it was established in 1981. The original eleven member schools were Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University (whose athletic program has now merged with that of LIU's Post campus into a single athletic program), Loyola College in Maryland (left in 1989), Marist College (left in 1997), Robert Morris University (left in 2020), St. Francis College (NY) (left in 2023), Saint Francis College (PA), Siena College (left in 1984), Towson State University (left in 1982), the University of Baltimore (left in 1983) and Wagner College.[1]

The conference's name was changed to its present form on August 1, 1988.[2] Other names considered were Big North, Great North, North Shore, Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Eastern Private Intercollegiate.[3]

The Northeast Conference has admitted new members ten times since 1981. The expansions and additions from the original charter members were in 1985 (Monmouth University, which left in 2013), 1989 (Mount St. Mary's University, which left in 2022), 1992 (Rider University, which left in 1997), 1997 (Central Connecticut State University), 1998 (Quinnipiac University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County which respectively left in 2013 and 2003), 1999 (Sacred Heart University, which is leaving in 2024), 2008 (Bryant University, which also left in 2022), 2019 (Merrimack College, which is also leaving in 2024), 2022 (Stonehill College), 2023 (Le Moyne College), and 2024 (Chicago State University). The Northeast Conference's full membership was largest at 12 in 2008 with the addition of Bryant University.[4] It then dropped to 10 in 2013 with the departure of Monmouth and Quinnipiac for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), returned to 11 with the 2019 addition of Merrimack, and again dropped to 10 in 2020 with the departure of Robert Morris for the Horizon League. In 2022, the conference dropped to 9 members with the departure of Bryant and Mount St. Mary's, respectively for the America East Conference and the MAAC, plus the addition of Stonehill. On March 20, 2023, St. Francis Brooklyn announced that all intercollegiate sports would be dropped effective at the end of the 2022-23 season, dropping the NEC down to 8 full members. This was followed on May 10, 2023 by the announcement that Le Moyne College would begin a transition from Division II and join the NEC on July 1.[5]

Additional changes were announced in 2018 and took effect with the 2019–20 school year. First, on September 10, the NEC announced it would add Merrimack.[6] Then, on October 3, Long Island University announced that it would combine its two existing athletic programs—NEC member LIU Brooklyn and the Division II program at LIU Post—into a single Division I program under the LIU name. The new LIU program, nicknamed Sharks,[7] maintains LIU Brooklyn's previous memberships in Division I and the NEC.[8] Another recent change took place on July 1, 2020, when charter member Robert Morris left to join the Horizon League. The next changes in membership were on July 1, 2022, with Bryant leaving for the America East Conference,[9] Mount St. Mary's leaving for the MAAC,[10] and Stonehill arriving from NCAA Division II.[11]

The Northeast Conference has a total of 9 full members in 24 championship sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's bowling, men's and women's cross country, women's field hockey, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's indoor track & field, women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track & field, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's volleyball.

Men's lacrosse became the league's 23rd sport for the 2011 season.[12] The number of sports dropped to 22 after the 2012–13 school year, when the conference dropped field hockey. The departure of Monmouth and Quinnipiac to become all-sports members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in July 2013 gave the MAAC four full members that sponsored the sport; the other two were NEC single-sport affiliates Rider and Siena. The MAAC then decided to add field hockey as a sponsored sport for the 2013 season,[13] and all of the NEC's remaining field hockey programs eventually joined the MAAC except for Saint Francis (PA), which joined the Atlantic 10 Conference. The NEC reinstated field hockey as a sponsored sport for the 2019 season with seven members—full members Bryant, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, and Wagner, plus associate members Fairfield and Rider.[14] Saint Francis (PA) rejoined the NEC in field hockey during the 2021-22 season. A more recent addition to the NEC's sports roster was men's swimming & diving, added for 2020–21 with full members Bryant, LIU, Mount St. Mary's, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Wagner plus incoming associate member Howard.[15]

In 2022–23, the NEC added one sport and dropped another. On September 30, 2021, the NEC announced that it would begin sponsoring men's volleyball in 2022–23 with six members.[16] Before the end of the 2021–22 school year, the NEC announced that two Division II schools from the Buffalo, New York area, Daemen and D'Youville, would also become part of the new men's volleyball league.[17] In a May 9, 2022 Twitter post, NEC commissioner Noreen Morris indicated that the NEC would shut down its men's lacrosse league after the then-ongoing 2022 season. The NEC had already lost two full members that sponsored the sport, and would eventually lose its two affiliate members in that sport when the Atlantic 10 Conference announced it would launch a men's lacrosse league in the 2023 season.[18] Three of the remaining four NEC men's lacrosse programs became affiliate members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The other program, Merrimack, was in talks with several lacrosse-sponsoring conferences for affiliate membership,[19] and eventually joined the America East in time for the 2023 season.[20]

In July 2022, the Northeast Conference announced a partnership with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in which MEAC schools sponsoring baseball and men's and women's golf would become affiliate members in their respective sports beginning in the 2022-23 season.[21] That September, the NEC announced that MEAC member Delaware State, which had just joined NEC baseball and women's golf, would add women's lacrosse and women's soccer to its NEC membership in 2023–24.[22]

In March 2023, St. Francis College (Brooklyn) announced that it would discontinue its athletic programs at the end of the spring 2023 schedule.[23] Le Moyne was announced as SFC's replacement that May.

The NEC added two affiliate members in 2023–24—Binghamton University in men's golf plus men's and women's tennis,[24] and Niagara University in bowling. Niagara added that sport for 2023–24 by effectively absorbing the bowling program of Medaille University, a nearby Division III school that closed at the end of the 2022–23 school year.[25]

In October 2023, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced that Merrimack and Sacred Heart would join the conference for the 2024-25 season.[26] This announcement came on the heels of the NEC announcing it would bring back men's lacrosse as a conference sponsored sport for the 2024–25 academic year, after having to discontinue it two years prior due to lack of sponsoring members. The original plan was for full members Le Moyne, LIU, Merrimack, Sacred Heart, and Wagner to be joined by two new associate members, the University of Detroit Mercy and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).[27] However, the departure of Merrimack and Sacred Heart left the number of men's lacrosse programs in the conference below the 6 member minimum required for an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I men's lacrosse tournament. In response to this, the NEC announced in November 2023 that Cleveland State University as well as former full member Robert Morris would join the league as men's lacrosse associates as well.[28]

Shortly after this, Maryland Eastern Shore announced that it would add men's volleyball in the 2026 season (2025–26 school year) as an NEC associate member, increasing the number of its NEC teams to four. It became the first historically African-American Division I member to announce the addition of that sport.[29]

In November 2023, Robert Morris also announced that it would return to the NEC in football.[30] A few weeks later, in December 2023, Chicago State University was announced as the league's newest member.[31]

Currently, a total of 13 affiliate members compete in football, women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, women's bowling, and men's volleyball.

Member schools

Full members

Current full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment (2022) Nickname Colors
Central Connecticut State University New Britain, Connecticut 1849 1997-98 Public 9,546 $63,000,000 Blue Devils    
Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, New Jersey 1942 1981-82 Private (Nonsectarian) 8,590 $88,300,000 Knights    
Le Moyne College Syracuse, New York[lower-alpha 1] 1946 2023–24 Private (Catholic, Jesuit) 3,409 $180,400,000 Dolphins    
Long Island University[lower-alpha 2] Brooklyn and
Brookville, New York[lower-alpha 3]		 1926 1981-82 Private (Nonsectarian) 16,958[lower-alpha 4] $367,000,000 Sharks    
Merrimack College North Andover, Massachusetts 1947 2019-20 Private (Catholic, Augustinian) 3,726 $55,700,000 Warriors    
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut 1963 1999-2000 Private (Catholic, diocesan) 5,974 $246,000,000 Pioneers    
Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania 1847 1981-82 Private (Catholic, Franciscan) 2,111 $63,000,000 Red Flash    
Stonehill College Easton, Massachusetts 1948 2022-23 Private (Catholic, Holy Cross) 2,479 $295,259,814 Skyhawks    
Wagner College Staten Island, New York 1883 1981-82 Private (Lutheran) 1,762 $112,000,000 Seahawks    
Notes
  1. ↑ The campus has a Syracuse mailing address, but almost entirely lies within the adjacent town of DeWitt.
  2. ↑ Prior to 2019–20, LIU operated two separate athletic programs, with only that of the school's Brooklyn campus being an NEC member.
  3. ↑ The merged LIU athletic program bases some sports at the Brooklyn campus and others at the Post campus in Brookville, New York.[32]
  4. ↑ Combined enrollment of the Brooklyn and Post campuses. All LIU varsity sports are open to undergraduates at either campus who meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

Future members

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joining Colors Current
conference
Chicago State University Chicago, Illinois 1867 Public
(TMCF)		 2,620[33] Cougars 2024     D-I independent

Former full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors Current
conference
University of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland 1925 1981-82 1982-83 Public Super Bees     none[lower-alpha 1]
Bryant University Smithfield, Rhode Island 1863 2008-09 2021-22 Private Bulldogs     America East
Loyola College Baltimore, Maryland 1852 1981-82 1988-89 Greyhounds     Patriot
Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York 1929 1996-97 Red Foxes     MAAC
University of Maryland, Baltimore County Catonsville, Maryland 1966 1998-99 2002-03 Public Retrievers     America East
Monmouth University West Long Branch, New Jersey 1933 1985-86 2012-13 Private Hawks     CAA
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland 1808 1989-90 2021-22 Mountaineers     MAAC
Quinnipiac University Hamden, Connecticut 1929 1998-99 2012-13 Bobcats    
Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey 1865 1992-93 1996-97 Broncs      
Robert Morris University[lower-alpha 2] Moon Township, Pennsylvania 1921 1981-82 2019-20 Colonials       Horizon
St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York 1858 2022-23 Terriers     none[lower-alpha 3]
Siena College Loudonville, New York 1937 1983-84 Saints     MAAC
Towson University Towson, Maryland 1866 1981-82 Public Tigers     CAA
Notes
  1. ↑ The University of Baltimore dropped intercollegiate athletics after the 1982–83 academic year.
  2. ↑ Robert Morris will return to the NEC in 2024–25 as an affiliate member in football and men's lacrosse.
  3. ↑ St. Francis Brooklyn dropped intercollegiate athletics after the 2022–23 academic year.

Affiliate members

Current affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Colors NEC
sport(s)		 Primary
conference
Binghamton University Binghamton, New York[lower-alpha 1] 1946 2023–24 Public 16,098 Bearcats       Men's golf America East
Men's tennis
Women's tennis
Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland 1900 2022–23 Public
(HBCU)		 2,348 Eagles     Baseball MEAC
Daemen University Amherst, New York 1947 Private 2,156 Wildcats     Men's volleyball ECC
(NCAA D-II)
Delaware State University Dover, Delaware 1891 Public
(HBCU)		 4,768 Hornets     Baseball MEAC
Women's golf
2023-24 Women's lacrosse
Women's soccer
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1878 2008–09 Private 10,184 Dukes     Football Atlantic 10
2016–17 Bowling
D'Youville University Buffalo, New York 1946 2022–23 1,475 Saints       Men's volleyball ECC
(NCAA D-II)
Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut 1942 2019–20[lower-alpha 2] 4,991 Stags   Field hockey MAAC
Howard University Washington, D.C. 1867 2020–21 Private
(HBCU)		 10,000 Bison/Lady Bison     Men's swimming & diving MEAC
Women's swimming & diving
2021–22 Women's golf
Women's lacrosse
Men's soccer
Women's soccer
2022–23 Men's golf
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Maryland 1886 Public
(HBCU)		 2,888 Hawks     Baseball
Men's golf
Women's golf
Niagara University Niagara University, New York[lower-alpha 3] 1856 2023–24 Private 3,765 Purple Eagles     Bowling MAAC
Norfolk State University Norfolk, Virginia 1935 2022–23 Public
(HBCU)		 5,601 Spartans     Baseball MEAC
North Carolina Central University Durham, North Carolina 1910 8,011 Eagles     Men's golf
Women's golf
Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey 1865 2019–20[lower-alpha 4] Private 5,790 Broncs       Field hockey MAAC
Notes
  1. ↑ The BU campus has a Binghamton mailing address, but mostly lies in the adjacent town of Vestal.
  2. ↑ Fairfield field hockey had previously competed in the NEC from the 2004 to 2006 fall seasons (2004–05 to 2006–07 school years).
  3. ↑ The Niagara campus is its own census-designated place and postal entity within the town of Lewiston.
  4. ↑ Rider field hockey had previously competed in the NEC from the 1998 to 2012 fall seasons (1998–99 to 2012–13 school years).

Future affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joining Type Enrollment Nickname Colors NEC
sport(s)		 Primary
conference		 Current conference
in affiliate sport
Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio 1964 2024–25 Public 16,418 Vikings     Men's lacrosse Horizon ASUN
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, Michigan 1877 2024–25 Private 5,700 Titans      
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania 1921 2024–25 Private 4,895 Colonials       Football Big South–OVC
Men's lacrosse ASUN
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Lexington, Virginia 1839 2024–25 Public
(Senior Military College)		 1,772 Keydets       SoCon MAAC
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, Maryland 1888 2025–26 Public
(HBCU)		 2,888 Hawks     Men's volleyball MEAC —

Former affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Nickname Colors NEC
sport		 Primary
conference		 Conference
in former
NEC sport
Adelphi University Garden City, New York 1896 2008-09 2014-15 Private Panthers     Bowling Northeast-10
(NCAA D-II)		 ECC
(NCAA D-II)
University at Albany Albany, New York 1844 1999-00 2012-13 Public Great Danes     Football America East CAA Football[lower-alpha 1]
Caldwell University Caldwell, New Jersey 1939 2014-15 2017-18 Private Cougars     Bowling CACC
(NCAA D-II)		 ECC
(NCAA D-II)
Hobart College Geneva, New York 1822 2013-14 2021-22 Statesmen     Men's lacrosse Liberty
(NCAA D-III)		 Atlantic 10
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, Pennsylvania 1866 2008-09 2014-15 Public Golden Bears     Bowling PSAC
(NCAA D-II)		 ECC
(NCAA D-II)
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 1942 2004-05 2009-10 Bald Eagles     Field hockey Atlantic 10
New Jersey City University Jersey City, New Jersey 1929 2009-10 2012-13 Gothic Knights     Bowling NJAC
(NCAA D-III)		 Allegheny Mountain
(NCAA D-III)[34]
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey 1881 2019-20[35] 2019-20 Highlanders     Women's lacrosse America East[lower-alpha 2]
St. John's University New York City, New York 1870 2000-01 2002-03 Private Red Storm     Football Big East none[lower-alpha 3]
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1851 2013-14 2021-22 Hawks     Men's lacrosse Atlantic 10
Saint Peter's University Jersey City, New Jersey 1872 2008-09 2012-13 Peahens[lower-alpha 4]     Bowling MAAC none[lower-alpha 5]
Siena College Loudonville, New York 1937 1998-99 2012-13 Saints     Field hockey MAAC none[lower-alpha 6]
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 1957 1999-00 2006-07 Public Seawolves       Football CAA CAA Football[lower-alpha 1]
Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia 1839 2003-04[lower-alpha 7] Public
Senior Military College		 Keydets       Men's swimming & diving SoCon America East[lower-alpha 8]
Women's swimming & diving
Notes
  1. 1 2 CAA Football is technically a separate entity from the all-sports Coastal Athletic Association, though both share the same administration.
  2. ↑ NJIT left NEC men's lacrosse after only one season when it became a full member of the America East Conference, which sponsors that sport.[36]
  3. ↑ St. John's dropped football after the 2002 fall season (2002–03 school year).
  4. ↑ When Saint Peter's was an NEC associate, its men's teams used the nickname Peacocks, with women's teams using Peahens. The university has since adopted Peacocks for all teams.
  5. ↑ Saint Peter's dropped bowling after the 2017–18 school year.
  6. ↑ Siena dropped field hockey after the 2017 fall season (2017–18 school year).
  7. ↑ The VMI men's swimming program joined the NEC for the 2003–04 school year. The women's swimming team became a varsity program during the 2005–06 school year.
  8. ↑ At the time of their membership in the Northeast Conference, VMI was a member of the Big South. In 2014, they became full members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). In swimming, the Keydets left the NEC to join the league now known as the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, and have competed in the America East Conference since the 2017–18 school year.

Membership timeline

Chicago State UniversityNCAA Division I independent schoolsWestern Athletic ConferenceGreat West ConferenceNCAA Division I independent schoolsSummit LeagueEast Coast Conference (Division I)NCAA Division I independent schoolsNAIA independent schoolsLe Moyne CollegeNortheast-10 ConferenceNew England Collegiate Conference (Division II)NCAA Division II independent schoolsNCAA Division II independent schoolsStonehill CollegeNortheast-10 ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMerrimack CollegeNortheast-10 ConferenceDuquesne UniversityAmerica East ConferenceBryant UniversityNortheast-10 ConferenceSt. John's University (New York City)Colonial Athletic Association Football ConferenceBig South ConferenceStony Brook UniversityCoastal Athletic Association Football ConferenceUniversity at Albany, SUNYMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceSacred Heart UniversityNew England Collegiate Conference (Division II)America East ConferenceUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBig South ConferenceEast Coast Conference (Division I)Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceQuinnipiac UniversityNortheast-10 ConferenceNew England Collegiate Conference (Division II)Central Connecticut State UniversitySummit LeagueEast Coast Conference (Division I)East Coast Conference (Division I)Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceRider UniversityEast Coast Conference (Division I)Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMount St. Mary's UniversityCoastal Athletic AssociationMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMonmouth UniversityWagner CollegeSaint Francis University (Pennsylvania)St. Francis CollegeHorizon LeagueRobert Morris UniversityLong Island UniversityFairleigh Dickinson UniversityMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMarist CollegePatriot LeagueMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceLoyola University MarylandMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceAmerica East ConferenceSiena CollegeUniversity of BaltimoreCoastal Athletic AssociationAmerica East ConferenceBig South ConferenceEast Coast Conference (Division I)Towson University

Full members  Full members (non-football)  Football Affiliate  Affiliate member (other sports)  Other Conference  Other Conference 

Sports

The Northeast Conference currently sponsors championship competition in 11 men's and 13 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[37] Twelve schools are associate members in 14 of those sports.

The most recent changes to the NEC sports lineup came in 2022 with the addition of men's volleyball and the elimination of men's lacrosse,[19] though men's lacrosse will be reinstated in 2024–25.

Teams in Northeast Conference competition
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball12–
Basketball99
Bowling–7
Cross country99
Field hockey–8
Football8–
Golf1012
Lacrosse–11
Soccer911
Softball–9
Swimming & Diving49
Tennis99
Track and Field (Indoor)99
Track and Field (Outdoor)99
Volleyball78
Notes

    Men's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBaseballBasketballCross
    Country    		FootballGolfSoccerSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
    (Indoor)    		Track & Field
    (Outdoor)    		VolleyballTotal NEC
    Sports
    Central ConnecticutYesYesYesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesNo7
    Fairleigh DickinsonYesYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
    Le MoyneYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesNo9
    LIUYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
    MerrimackYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYes9
    Sacred HeartYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes10
    Saint FrancisNoYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes9
    StonehillYesYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesNo8
    WagnerYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNo9
    Totals8+4[lower-alpha 1]997+1[lower-alpha 2]6+4[lower-alpha 3]8+1[lower-alpha 4]3+1[lower-alpha 4]8+1[lower-alpha 5]995+2[lower-alpha 6]81+14
    Future member
    Chicago StateNoYesYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesNo7
    Notes
    1. ↑ Affiliate members Coppin State, Delaware State, UMES, and Norfolk State
    2. ↑ Affiliate member Duquesne. Robert Morris to join as football affiliate in 2024.
    3. ↑ Affiliate members Binghamton, Howard, UMES, and North Carolina Central
    4. 1 2 Affiliate member Howard
    5. ↑ Affiliate member Binghamton
    6. ↑ Affiliate members Daemen and D'Youville. UMES to join as men's volleyball associate in 2025.

    Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Northeast Conference which are played by NEC schools:

    SchoolFencing[lower-alpha 1]Ice HockeyLacrosse[lower-alpha 2]Water PoloWrestling
    Le Moyne——Independent——
    LIUINDIndependentMAAC—EIWA
    Merrimack—Hockey EastAmEast——
    Sacred HeartNEIFCAtlantic HockeyMAAC—EIWA
    Stonehill–Independent–––
    Wagner——MAACCWPA—
    Notes
    1. ↑ Fencing is a coeducational sport, with schools having men's and women's squads and all individual matches involving members of the same sex. While four NEC members sponsor fencing, only LIU and Sacred Heart field both men's and women's squads, though Wagner will add a men's squad in 2023–24.
    2. ↑ The NEC will reinstate men's lacrosse in the 2024-25 academic year.

    Women's sponsored sports by school

    SchoolBasketballBowlingCross
    Country    		Field HockeyGolfLacrosseSoccerSoftballSwimming & DivingTennisTrack & Field
    (Indoor)    		Track & Field
    (Outdoor)    		VolleyballTotal NEC
    Sports
    Central ConnecticutYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYes9
    Fairleigh DickinsonYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesYes11
    Le MoyneYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes11
    LIUYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes13
    MerrimackYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
    Sacred HeartYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes13
    Saint FrancisYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
    StonehillYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes12
    WagnerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo12
    Totals96+2[lower-alpha 1]96+2[lower-alpha 2]8+4[lower-alpha 3]9+2[lower-alpha 4]9+2[lower-alpha 4]98+1[lower-alpha 5]8+1[lower-alpha 6]998105+14
    Future member
    Chicago StateYesNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYes8
    Notes
    1. ↑ Affiliate members Duquesne and Niagara
    2. ↑ Affiliate members Fairfield and Rider
    3. ↑ Affiliate members Delaware State, Howard, UMES, and North Carolina Central
    4. 1 2 Affiliate members Delaware State and Howard
    5. ↑ Affiliate member Howard
    6. ↑ Affiliate member Binghamton

    Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Northeast Conference which are played by NEC schools:

    SchoolAcrobatics &
    Tumbling[lower-alpha 1]    		Equestrian[lower-alpha 1]Fencing[lower-alpha 2]GymnasticsIce HockeyRowingRugby[lower-alpha 1]Triathlon[lower-alpha 1]Water Polo
    Fairleigh Dickinson——NIWFA——————
    LIUIND[lower-alpha 3]—INDEAGLNEWHA———MAAC
    Merrimack————Hockey EastIND[lower-alpha 4]———
    Sacred Heart—IND[lower-alpha 5]NEIFC—NEWHAMAACIND[lower-alpha 6]——
    Saint Francis——-—————CWPA
    Stonehill—IND[lower-alpha 5]——NEWHA————
    Wagner——NIWFA————IND[lower-alpha 7]MAAC

    In addition to the above, Fairleigh Dickinson and Sacred Heart count their female cheerleaders (but not male cheerleaders) as varsity athletes.

    Notes
    1. 1 2 3 4 Part of the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program.
    2. ↑ Fencing is a coeducational sport, with schools having men's and women's squads and all individual matches involving members of the same sex. Of the four NEC members that sponsor the sport, LIU and Sacred Heart have both men's and women's squads (with LIU having added men's fencing in 2022–23), and Fairleigh Dickinson and Wagner field only women's squads. Wagner will add a men's squad to its existing women's squad in 2023–24.
    3. ↑ The NCAA considers all acrobatics & tumbling schools that do not compete in the sport within a recognized NCAA conference to be independents.
    4. ↑ Merrimack has not yet announced a women's rowing affiliation.
    5. 1 2 The NCAA considers all equestrian schools that do not compete in the sport within a recognized NCAA conference to be independents.
    6. ↑ The NCAA considers all rugby schools that do not compete in the sport within a recognized NCAA conference to be independents.
    7. ↑ The NCAA considers all triathlon schools that do not compete in the sport within a recognized NCAA conference to be independents.

    Basketball champions

    Men's basketball champions

    Season Regular Season Champion Tournament champion
    1982 Fairleigh Dickinson (12–3) Robert Morris
    1983 Robert Morris (12–2) Robert Morris
    1984 Long Island (11–5) Long Island
    1985 Marist (11–3) Fairleigh Dickinson
    1986 Fairleigh Dickinson (13–3) Marist
    1987 Marist (15–1) Marist
    1988 Fairleigh Dickinson (13–3) Fairleigh Dickinson
    1989 Robert Morris (12–4) Robert Morris
    1990 Robert Morris (12–4) Robert Morris
    1991 Saint Francis (PA) (13–3) Saint Francis (PA)
    1992 Robert Morris (12–4) Robert Morris
    1993 Rider (14–4) Rider
    1994 Rider (14–4) Rider
    1995 Rider (13–5) Mount Saint Mary's
    1996 Mount Saint Mary's (16–2) Monmouth
    1997 Long Island (15–3) Long Island
    1998 Long Island (14–2) Fairleigh Dickinson
    1999 UMBC (17–3) Mount Saint Mary's
    2000 Central Connecticut St. (15–3) Central Connecticut St.
    2001 St. Francis (NY) (16–4) Monmouth
    2002 Central Connecticut St. (19–1) Central Connecticut St.
    2003 Wagner (14–4) Wagner
    2004 Monmouth and St. Francis (NY) (12–6) Monmouth
    2005 Monmouth (14–4) Fairleigh Dickinson
    2006 Fairleigh Dickinson (14–4) Monmouth
    2007 Central Connecticut St. (16–2) Central Connecticut St.
    2008 Robert Morris (16–2) Mount Saint Mary's
    2009 Robert Morris (15–3) Robert Morris
    2010 Quinnipiac (15–3) Robert Morris
    2011 Long Island (16–2) Long Island
    2012 Long Island (16–2) Long Island
    2013 Robert Morris (14–4) Long Island
    2014 Robert Morris (14–2) Mount Saint Mary's
    2015 St. Francis Brooklyn (15–3) Robert Morris
    2016 Wagner (13-5) Fairleigh Dickinson
    2017 Mount Saint Mary's (14-4) Mount Saint Mary's
    2018 Wagner (14-4) LIU Brooklyn
    2019 Saint Francis (PA) and Fairleigh Dickinson (12–6) Fairleigh Dickinson
    2020 Merrimack (14–4)[lower-alpha 1] Robert Morris
    2021 Wagner (13–5) Mount St. Mary's
    2022 Bryant (16–2) Bryant
    2023 Merrimack (12–4) Merrimack[lower-alpha 2]
    1. ↑ Merrimack was ineligible for the NEC tournament due to being in its first transitional year (of four) from NCAA Division II.
    2. ↑ Starting with the 2023 edition, NEC tournament eligibility was extended to transitional D-I members effective with the third year of the transition, making fourth-year transitional member Merrimack tournament-eligible. However, it remained ineligible for the NCAA tournament. Merrimack's opponent in the NEC final, Fairleigh Dickinson, received the NEC automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

    Women's basketball champions

    Year Regular Season Champions Tournament champions
    1986-87 Monmouth Monmouth
    1987-88 Monmouth Robert Morris
    1988-89 Wagner Wagner
    1989-90 Mount St. Mary's Fairleigh Dickinson
    1990-91 Mount St. Mary's Robert Morris
    1991-92 Mount St. Mary's Fairleigh Dickinson
    1992-93 Fairleigh Dickinson/Mount St. Mary's Mount St. Mary's
    1993-94 Mount St. Mary's Mount St. Mary's
    1994-95 Mount St. Mary's Mount St. Mary's
    1995-96 Mount St. Mary's Saint Francis (PA)
    1996-97 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    1997-98 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    1998-99 Mount St. Mary's Saint Francis (PA)
    1999-00 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2000-01 Mount St. Mary's Long Island
    2001-02 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2002-03 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2003-04 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2004-05 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2005-06 Sacred Heart Sacred Heart
    2006-07 Long Island, Robert Morris and Sacred Heart Robert Morris
    2007-08 Quinnipiac and Robert Morris Robert Morris
    2008-09 Sacred Heart Sacred Heart
    2009-10 Robert Morris Saint Francis (PA)
    2010-11 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2011-12 Sacred Heart Sacred Heart
    2012-13 Quinnipiac Quinnipiac
    2013-14 Robert Morris Robert Morris
    2014-15 Bryant/Central Connecticut St. Francis Brooklyn
    2015-16 Sacred Heart Robert Morris
    2016-17 Robert Morris Robert Morris
    2017-18 Saint Francis (PA) Saint Francis (PA)
    2018–19 Robert Morris Robert Morris
    2019–20 Robert Morris None; tournament canceled in progress due to COVID-19
    2020-21 Mount St. Mary’s Mount St. Mary’s
    2021-22 Fairleigh Dickinson Mount St. Mary’s
    2022-23 Fairleigh Dickinson Sacred Heart

    Football champions

    Football champions

    • 1996 – Robert Morris/Monmouth
    • 1997 – Robert Morris
    • 1998 – Monmouth/Robert Morris
    • 1999 – Robert Morris
    • 2000 – Robert Morris
    • 2001 – Sacred Heart
    • 2002 – Albany
    • 2003 – Monmouth/Albany
    • 2004 – Monmouth/Central Connecticut
    • 2005 – Stony Brook/Central Connecticut
    • 2006 – Monmouth
    • 2007 – Albany
    • 2008 – Albany
    • 2009 – Central Connecticut
    • 2010 – Robert Morris/Central Connecticut
    • 2011 – Albany/Duquesne
    • 2012 – Wagner/Albany
    • 2013 – Sacred Heart/Duquesne
    • 2014 – Sacred Heart/Wagner
    • 2015 – Duquesne
    • 2016 – Saint Francis (PA)/Duquesne
    • 2017 – Central Connecticut
    • 2018 – Duquesne/Sacred Heart
    • 2019 - Central Connecticut
    • 2020 - Sacred Heart
    • 2021 - Sacred Heart
    • 2022 - Saint Francis (PA)
    • 2023 - Duquesne

    Most conference championships

    • 6 – Albany (3 shared)
    • 6 – Robert Morris (3 shared)
    • 6 – Central Connecticut (3 shared)
    • 6 – Duquesne (4 shared)
    • 5 – Sacred Heart (3 shared)
    • 5 – Monmouth (4 shared)
    • 2 – Saint Francis (PA) (1 shared)
    • 2 – Wagner (2 shared)
    • 1 – Stony Brook (1 shared)

    NEC Rivalries

    Before the 2013 departure of Monmouth and Quinnipiac, the NEC had 6 rivalry matchups in the conference; which is most prevalent during NEC's men's and women's basketball "Rivalry Week." The concept of playing back-to-back games against a local rival the same week is the only one of its kind among the nation's 31 NCAA Division I conferences. The pre-2013 NEC rivalries are as follows (with the current NEC team listed first in the matchups that are now non-conference):

    Currently in-conference
    • Constitution State Rivalry: Central Connecticut vs. Sacred Heart
    Non-conference
    • Garden State Rivalry: Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Monmouth (non-conference since 2013–14)
    • Governor's Cup: Sacred Heart vs. Quinnipiac (non-conference since 2013–14)
    • Keystone Clash: Saint Francis (PA) vs. Robert Morris (non-conference since 2020–21)
    • NY–MD Showdown: Wagner vs. Mount St. Mary's (non-conference since 2022–23)
    Discontinued
    • Battle of Brooklyn: LIU vs. St. Francis Brooklyn (St. Francis Brooklyn dropped athletics after the 2022-23 season)

    Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup

    The NEC Commissioner's Cup was instituted during the 1986-87 season with Long Island winning the inaugural award. Cup points are awarded in each NEC sponsored sport. For men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, football, women's bowling, softball, men's and women's lacrosse, and baseball, the final regular season standings are used to determine Cup points. Starting with the 2012-13 season, the Conference began awarding three bonus points to the NEC Tournament champion in those sports. In all other sports, points are awarded based on the finish at NEC Championship events.

    YearOverallMen'sWomen's
    2022-23Sacred HeartMerrimackSacred Heart
    2021-22LIULIULIU
    2020-21LIUBryantLIU
    2019-20Not AwardedNot AwardedNot Awarded
    2018-19Sacred HeartBryantSacred Heart
    2017-18Saint Francis (PA)BryantSaint Francis (PA)
    2016-17Sacred HeartBryantSacred Heart
    2015-16Sacred HeartBryantSacred Heart
    2014-15BryantBryantSacred Heart
    2013-14BryantBryantSaint Francis (PA)
    2012-13MonmouthMonmouthSaint Francis (PA)
    2011-12Sacred HeartMonmouthSacred Heart
    2010-11Sacred HeartSacred HeartSacred Heart
    2009-10Sacred HeartMonmouthSacred Heart
    2008-09Sacred HeartSacred HeartSacred Heart
    2007-08Sacred HeartMonmouthSacred Heart
    2006-07MonmouthMonmouthSacred Heart
    2005-06MonmouthMonmouthLong Island
    2004-05MonmouthMonmouthSaint Francis (PA)
    2003-04MonmouthMonmouthSacred Heart
    2002-03UMBCMonmouthUMBC
    2001-02UMBCMonmouthUMBC
    2000-01UMBCUMBCUMBC
    1999-2000UMBCUMBCUMBC
    1998-99UMBCMonmouthUMBC
    1997-98Monmouth
    1996-97Mount St. Mary's
    1995-96Mount St. Mary's
    1994-95Mount St. Mary's
    1993-94Fairleigh Dickinson
    1992-93Fairleigh Dickinson
    1991-92Fairleigh Dickinson
    1990-91Monmouth
    1989-90Fairleigh Dickinson
    1988-89Fairleigh Dickinson
    1987-88Fairleigh Dickinson
    1986-87Long Island

    Facilities

    Departing members in pink. Future members in gray.

    School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity Baseball stadium Capacity
    Central Connecticut Arute Field 5,500 William H. Detrick Gymnasium 3,200 CCSU Baseball Field —
    Chicago State Non-football school Jones Convocation Center 7,000 Non-baseball school
    Duquesne Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field 2,200 Football (and bowling)-only member
    Fairleigh Dickinson Non-football school Rothman Center 5,000 Naimoli Family Baseball Complex 500
    Le Moyne Non-football school Ted Grant Court 2,500 Dick Rockwell Field —
    LIU Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium 6,000 Steinberg Wellness Center 3,000 LIU Post Baseball Field —
    Merrimack Duane Stadium 3,500 Merrimack Athletics Complex 1,200 Warrior Baseball Diamond[lower-alpha 1] —
    Robert Morris Joe Walton Stadium 3,000 Football (and men's lacrosse)-only member
    Sacred Heart Campus Field 3,334 William H. Pitt Center 2,100 The Ballpark at Harbor Yard 5,300
    Saint Francis DeGol Field 3,450 DeGol Arena 3,500 Non-baseball school
    Stonehill W.B. Mason Stadium 2,400 Merkert Gymnasium 1,560 Lou Gorman Field —
    Wagner Wagner College Stadium 3,500 Spiro Sports Center 2,500 Richmond County Bank Ballpark 7,171
    Baseball affiliates
    School Stadium Capacity
    Coppin State Joe Cannon Stadium 1,500
    Delaware State Soldier Field 500
    Maryland Eastern Shore Hawk Stadium 1,000[38]
    Norfolk State Marty L. Miller Field 1,500[39]
    Notes
    1. ↑ Although Merrimack has an on-campus baseball venue, the school more regularly uses off-campus venues, among them Holman Stadium in Nashua, New Hampshire and the campus of St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts.

    References

    1. ↑ Ventre, Ralph. "Back to the Beginning: NEC Celebrates 30 Years," Northeast Conference, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
    2. ↑ Official press release issued Tuesday, August 2, 1988 (Announcement of name change from ECAC-Metro Conference to Northeast Conference).
    3. ↑ "Northeast Conference - 2012-13 NEC Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). www.northeastconference.org. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
    4. ↑ "BRYANT UNIVERSITY ACCEPTS INVITATION TO JOIN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE". 18 October 2007.
    5. ↑ "Le Moyne College Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference" (Press release). Northeast Conference. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
    6. ↑ "Northeast Conference - Merrimack College Accepts Invitation to Join Northeast Conference". northeastconference.org. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
    7. ↑ "Welcome to the Shark Tank: Long Island University Chooses the Shark as New Mascot" (Press release). Long Island University. May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
    8. ↑ "Long Island University Announces Unification Into One LIU Division I Program" (Press release). LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
    9. ↑ "Bryant University to Join America East Conference as Newest Member Institution" (Press release). America East Conference. March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
    10. ↑ "MAAC Welcomes Mount St. Mary's University as Newest Member Institution" (Press release). Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
    11. ↑ "Stonehill Announces Transition to NCAA Division I for 2022-23 Academic Year" (Press release). Stonehill Skyhawks. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
    12. ↑ "Northeast Conference - We Are The Northeast Conference".
    13. ↑ "MAAC to Add Field Hockey" (Press release). Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. April 19, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
    14. ↑ "Northeast Conference Re-Establishes Field Hockey Championship" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
    15. ↑ "Six Howard University Athletics Programs Join the Northeast Conference As Associate Members" (Press release). Northeast Conference. July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
    16. ↑ "Northeast Conference Announces Men's Volleyball as 25th Championship Sport" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
    17. ↑ "NEC Welcomes Daemen & D'Youville as Men's Volleyball Associate Members" (Press release). Northeast Conference. May 19, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
    18. ↑ "Atlantic 10 Conference Adds Men's Lacrosse as 22nd Championship Sport" (Press release). Atlantic 10 Conference !date=May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
    19. 1 2 DaSilva, Matt (May 9, 2022). "NEC Won't Sponsor Men's Lacrosse in 2023; MAAC Absorbs Three Teams". USA Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
    20. ↑ "Merrimack Added as Associate Member in Men's Lacrosse" (Press release). America East Conference. July 20, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
    21. ↑ "NEC & MEAC Announce Three-Sport Associate Member Partnership". Northeast Conference (Press release). July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
    22. ↑ "Delaware State To Extend NEC Associate Membership Partnership to Women's Soccer & Women's Lacrosse" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
    23. ↑ "St. Francis College Restructures to Further Advance SFC Forward; COO Tim Cecere Appointed Acting President". St. Francis College. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
    24. ↑ "NEC Welcomes Binghamton as Associate Member in Men's Golf and Men's & Women's Tennis" (Press release). Northeast Conference. June 12, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
    25. ↑ "NEC Welcomes Niagara as Women's Bowling Associate Member" (Press release). Northeast Conference. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
    26. ↑ "MAAC Welcomes Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University as Newest Full Members". maacsports.com. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
    27. ↑ "NEC Men's Lax is Back! Sport To Return In 2024-25 With Detroit Mercy & VMI Joining As Associate Members" (Press release). October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
    28. ↑ "NEC Men's Lacrosse Adds Cleveland State and Robert Morris As Associates Ahead of 2024-25 Return" (Press release). November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
    29. ↑ "University of Maryland Eastern Shore announces the addition of men's volleyball" (Press release). UMES Hawks. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
    30. ↑ "Return Engagement: Robert Morris Rejoins NEC As Football Associate Member". northeastconference.org. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
    31. ↑ "Windy City Welcome: Chicago State Roars Into NEC" (Press release). Northeast Conference. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
    32. ↑ "One LIU: Frequently Asked Questions". Long Island University. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
    33. ↑ "CSU Graduate Enrollment Increases 5%". Chicago State University. September 11, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
    34. ↑ "New Jersey City University Joins AMCC as Affiliate Member in Women's Bowling" (Press release). Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. May 27, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
    35. ↑ "NEC Welcomes NJIT as Men's Lacrosse Associate Member" (Press release). Northeast Conference. October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
    36. ↑ "NJIT to Join America East Conference as 10th Member Institution" (Press release). NJIT Highlanders. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
    37. ↑ "The Official Site of the Northeast Conference".
    38. ↑ "2012 Baseball Quick Facts" (PDF). grfx.CSTV.com. UMES Sports Information Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
    39. ↑ "Marty L. Miller Field". NSUSpartans.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
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