BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. - On Tuesday, the Northeast Conference announced Stonehill College has accepted a membership invitation from the NEC Council of Presidents to join the conference on July 1, 2022. The new member of the conference was announced by NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris and Stonehill President Fr. John Denning, C.S.C.
Stonehill, located in Easton, Massachusetts, will begin competition in the NEC in the fall of 2022 and become a full member of the conference in 2026-27 upon completion of its four-year NCAA Division I reclassification period.
"On behalf of the NEC membership, I am thrilled to welcome President Fr. John Denning, Athletic Director Dean O'Keefe and the Stonehill College community to the NEC family," said Morris. "As we progressed through the membership evaluation process, it became abundantly clear that Stonehill will be a tremendous fit for the NEC from an academic, athletic and mission perspective. The Skyhawks have a strong history of success in all three realms, and they are well positioned to elevate to the Division I ranks and strengthen the NEC. We are extremely excited to kickoff the NEC and Stonehill College partnership this fall!"
The NEC is expanding for the first time since 2018 when Merrimack College was added to the membership. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University, St. Francis College, Saint Francis University and Wagner College are charter NEC members. Mount St. Mary's University was admitted in 1989, Central Connecticut State University in 1997 and Sacred Heart University in 1999.
Stonehill will sponsor 20 of the NEC's 25 championship sports in 2022-23, the only exceptions being men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's swimming and diving, men's volleyball and women's bowling.
Stonehill will be incorporated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2022-23 season. During its reclassification Stonehill will be able to participate in NEC championships in NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports (cross country, swimming and diving, and indoor and outdoor track and field) only.
