Northeast Conference

Northeast Conference
(NEC)
Established 1981
Association NCAA
Division Division I FCS
Members 10
Sports fielded 22 (men's: 10; women's: 12)
Region Northeast
Headquarters Somerset, New Jersey
Commissioner Noreen Morris (since 2010)
Website northeastconference.org
Locations

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 except football, which competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Participating schools are located in the Northeastern United States.

The conference was named the ECAC Metro Conference when it was established in 1981. The original eleven member schools were Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University, Loyola College in Maryland (left in 1989), Marist College (left in 1997), Robert Morris University, St. Francis College (N.Y.), St. 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 expanded seven 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), 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) and 2008 (Bryant University). The Northeast Conference's ranks was largest at 12 in 2008 with the addition of Bryant University,[4] but dropped to 10 in 2013 with the departure of Monmouth and Quinnipiac for the MAAC.

The Northeast Conference has a total of 10 full members in 22 championship sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, 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, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. Currently the conference is seeking to expand with the possible addition of Delaware State University and New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Men's lacrosse became the league’s 23rd sport for the 2011 season.[5] 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,[6] 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.

There are also seven affiliate members which compete in football, men's lacrosse, and women's bowling.

Member schools

Full members

Current full members

Institution Location
(Population)		 Founded Joined Type Enrollment Endowment (2014) Nickname Colors U.S. News Ranking
Bryant University Smithfield, Rhode Island
(21,430)		 1863 2008 Private 3,454 $172,809,000 Bulldogs Black & Gold
         		 9 (Private University, Region: North)
Central Connecticut State University New Britain, Connecticut
(73,206)		 1849 1997 Public 11,865 $47,700,000 Blue Devils Blue & White
         		 35 (Public Universities, Region: North)
Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, New Jersey
(40,329)		 1942 1981 Private 6,464 $56,586,000 Knights Burgundy & Blue
         		 67 (Private University, Region: North)
LIU Brooklyn Brooklyn, New York
(2,592,149)		 1926 1981 Private 11,200 $96,987,000 Blackbirds Black & Silver
         		 Not Ranked
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland
(2,814)		 1808 1989 Private 2,240 $47,605,000 Mountaineers Blue & Bronze
         		 T-27 (Private University, Region: North)
Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania
(24,185)		 1921 1981 Private 5,181 $32,692,000 Colonials Maroon & Navy Blue
          		188 (National University)
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut
(60,855)		 1963 1999 Private 7,016 $137,027,000 Pioneers Red & White
         		 44 (Private University, Region: North)
St. Francis Brooklyn Brooklyn, New York
(2,592,149)		 1858 1981 Private 2,834 $77,536,000 Terriers Royal Blue & Red
         		 9 (Private College, Region: North)
Saint Francis University Loretto, Pennsylvania
(1,302)		 1847 1981 Private 2,449 $44,863,000 Red Flash Red & White
         		 T-27 (Private University, Region: North)
Wagner College Staten Island, New York
(472,621)		 1883 1981 Private 2,400 $82,141,000 Seahawks Green & Grey
         		 Not Ranked

Former full members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Enrollment Nickname Current
Conference
University of Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland 1925 1981 1983 Public 5,415 Super Bees n/a*
Loyola College Baltimore, Maryland 1852 1981 1989 Private 6,080 Greyhounds Patriot
Marist College Poughkeepsie, New York 1929 1981 1997 Private 5,408 Red Foxes MAAC
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Catonsville, Maryland 1966 1998 2003 Public 13,637 Retrievers America East
Monmouth University West Long Branch, New Jersey 1933 1985 2013 Private 6,494 Hawks MAAC
Quinnipiac University Hamden, Connecticut 1929 1998 2013 Private 9,000 Bobcats MAAC
Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey 1865 1992 1997 Private 5,790 Broncs MAAC
Siena College Loudonville, New York 1937 1981 1994 Private 3,423 Saints MAAC
Towson University Towson, Maryland 1866 1981 1982 Public 21,950 Tigers CAA
Note

* - The University of Baltimore's intercollegiate athletics were dropped following their departure from the NEC.

Affiliate members

Current affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Type Enrollment Nickname Primary Conference NEC Sport(s)
Caldwell University Caldwell, New Jersey 1939 2014 Private 1,800 Cougars Central Atlantic
(NCAA Division II)		 bowling
Duquesne University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1878 2008–09 Private 10,184 Dukes Atlantic 10 football; women's bowling
Hobart College Geneva, New York 1822 2013–14 Private 2,105 Statesmen Liberty League
(NCAA Division III)		 men's lacrosse
New Jersey City University Jersey City, New Jersey 1929 2009–10 Public 8,300 Gothic Knights NJAC
(NCAA Division III)		 women's bowling
Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1851 2013–14 Private 7,900 Hawks Atlantic 10 men's lacrosse
Saint Peter's University Jersey City, New Jersey 1872 2008–09 Private 3,700 Peahens MAAC women's bowling

Former affiliate members

Institution Location Founded Joined Left Type Enrollment Nickname Primary
Conference		 NEC Sport
Adelphi University Garden City, New York 1896 2008–09 2015 Private 8,530 Panthers Northeast-10
(NCAA Division II)		 women's bowling
University at Albany Albany, New York 1844 1999–2000 2012–13 Public 17,600 Great Danes America East football
Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut 1942 2004–05 2006–07 Private 4,991 Stags MAAC field hockey
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, Pennsylvania 1866 2008–09 2015 Public 10,193 Golden Bears PSAC
(NCAA Division II)		 women's bowling
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 1942 2004–05 2009–10 Public 5,500 Bald Eagles PSAC
(NCAA Division II)		 field hockey
Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey 1865 1998–99 2012–13 Private 5,790 Broncs MAAC field hockey
Siena College Loudonville, New York 1937 1998–99 2012–13 Private 3,423 Saints MAAC field hockey
St. John's University New York City, New York 1870 2000–01 2001–02 Private 21,354 Red Storm Big East football
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 1957 1999–2000 2006–07 Public 24,594 Seawolves America East football
Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia 1839 2003–2004[n 1] 2006–2007 Public
Senior Military College		 1,377 Keydets Big South[n 2] swimming
  1. ↑ The VMI men's swimming program joined the NEC for the 2003–2004 school year. The women's swimming team became a varsity program during the 2005–2006 school year.
  2. ↑ At the time of their membership in the Northeastern Conference, VMI was a member of the Big South. In 2014, they became full members of the Southern Conference. In swimming, the Keydets left the NEC to join the league now known as the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association.

Membership timeline

Duquesne University Bryant University Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Virginia Military Institute St. John's University (New York) Colonial Athletic Association Big South Conference Stony Brook University Colonial Athletic Association University at Albany, SUNY Sacred Heart University America East Conference University of Maryland, Baltimore County Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Quinnipiac University Central Connecticut State University Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rider University Mount St. Mary's University Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Monmouth University Wagner College Saint Francis University St. Francis College Robert Morris University Long Island University Fairleigh Dickinson University Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Marist College Patriot League Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Loyola University Maryland Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference America East Conference Siena College University of Baltimore Colonial Athletic Association America East Conference Big South Conference East Coast Conference (Division I) Towson University

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

Sports Sponsored

The Northeast Conference sponsors championship competition in ten men's and twelve women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[7] Seven schools are associate members in three of those sports.

Teams in Northeast Conference competition
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
9
-
Basketball
10
10
Bowling
-
10
Cross country
8
10
Golf
11
11
Football
8
-
Lacrosse
7
10
Soccer
11
11
Softball
-
11
Swimming & Diving
-
7
Tennis
9
10
Track and Field (Indoor)
11
12
Track and Field (Outdoor)
12
12
Volleyball
-
8

Men's basketball

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 St. Francis (PA) (13–3) St. 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

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 State
  • 2005 – Stony Brook/Central Connecticut State
  • 2006 – Monmouth
  • 2007 – Albany
  • 2008 – Albany
  • 2009 – Central Connecticut State
  • 2010 – Robert Morris/Central Connecticut State
  • 2011 – Albany/Duquesne
  • 2012 – Wagner/Albany
  • 2013 – Sacred Heart/Duquesne
  • 2014 – Sacred Heart/Wagner
  • 2015 – Duquesne
  • 2016 – Saint Francis (PA)

Most conference championships

  • 6 – Albany (3 shared)
  • 6 – Robert Morris (3 shared)
  • 5 – Monmouth (4 shared)
  • 4 – Central Connecticut State (3 shared)
  • 3 – Duquesne (2 shared)
  • 3 – Sacred Heart (2 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
Non-conference as of 2013–14

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.

Year Overall Men's Women's
2015-16
2014-15 Bryant BryantSacred Heart
2013-14 Bryant Bryant Saint Francis (PA)
2012-13 Monmouth Monmouth Saint Francis (PA)
2011-12 Sacred Heart Monmouth Sacred Heart
2010-11 Sacred Heart Sacred Heart Sacred Heart
2009-10 Sacred Heart Monmouth Sacred Heart
2008-09 Sacred Heart Sacred Heart Sacred Heart
2007-08 Sacred Heart Monmouth Sacred Heart
2006-07 Monmouth Monmouth Sacred Heart
2005-06 Monmouth Monmouth Long Island
2004-05 Monmouth Monmouth Saint Francis (PA)
2003-04 Monmouth Monmouth Sacred Heart
2002-03 UMBC Monmouth UMBC
2001-02 UMBC Monmouth UMBC
2000-01 UMBC UMBC UMBC
1999-2000 UMBC UMBC UMBC
1998-99 UMBC Monmouth UMBC
1997-98 Monmouth
1996-97 Mount St. Mary's
1995-96 Mount St. Mary's
1994-95 Mount St. Mary's
1993-94 Fairleigh Dickinson
1992-93 Fairleigh Dickinson
1991-92 Fairleigh Dickinson
1990-91 Monmouth
1989-90 Fairleigh Dickinson
1988-89 Fairleigh Dickinson
1987-88 Fairleigh Dickinson
1986-87 Long Island

Facilities

School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity Baseball stadium Capacity
Bryant Bulldog Stadium 5,500 Chace Athletic Center 2,700 Conaty Park 500
Central Connecticut State Arute Field 5,500 William H. Detrick Gymnasium 3,200 Central Connecticut State Baseball Field N/A
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
LIU Non-football school Steinberg Wellness Center 3,000 Long Island University Field 500
Mount St. Mary's Non-football school Knott Arena 3,121 Straw Family Stadium N/A
Robert Morris Joe Walton Stadium 3,000 Charles L. Sewall Center 3,056 Non-baseball school
Sacred Heart Campus Field 3,334 William H. Pitt Center 2,100 The Ballpark at Harbor Yard 5,300
St. Francis Brooklyn Non-football school Generoso Pope Athletic Complex 1,200 Non-baseball school
Saint Francis (PA) DeGol Field 3,450 DeGol Arena 3,500 Non-baseball school
Wagner Wagner College Stadium 3,500 Spiro Sports Center 2,500 Richmond County Bank Ballpark 7,171

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 Men's Basketball Record Book.
  4. ↑ "BRYANT UNIVERSITY ACCEPTS INVITATION TO JOIN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE". 18 October 2007.
  5. ↑ "Northeast Conference - We Are The Northeast Conference".
  6. ↑ "MAAC to Add Field Hockey" (Press release). Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. April 19, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  7. ↑ "The Official Site of the Northeast Conference".

External links

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