| Northeast Conference (NEC) | |
| Established | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Association | NCAA |
| Division | Division I FCS |
| Members | 12 |
| Sports fielded | 23 (men's: 10; women's: 13) |
| Region | Northeast |
| Headquarters | Somerset, New Jersey |
| Commissioner | Noreen Morris (since 2010) |
| Website | northeastconference.org |
| Locations | |
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The Northeast Conference (NEC) is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football (formerly Division I-AA) and to Division I Sports for all other sports. Participating schools are primarily located in the northeastern United States.
Locations of current Northeast Conference full member institutions.
The circuit 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), 1989 (Mount St. Mary's University), 1992 (Rider University, who left in 1997), 1997 (Central Connecticut State University), 1998 (Quinnipiac University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who left in 2003), 1999 (Sacred Heart University) and 2008 (Bryant University).
The Northeast Conference has a total of twelve members in 23 championship sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, 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, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. Men's lacrosse became the league’s 23rd sport by the 2011 season.[4] There are also nine affiliate members that compete in football, field hockey, and women's bowling. The Northeast Conference's ranks increased to 12 in 2008 with the addition of Bryant University.[5]
Member schools[]
There are a total of twenty-two institutions that compete in the Northeast Conference twelve full-time member schools and ten affiliate member schools.
Full members[]
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Colors | Founded | Type | Enrollment | U.S. News Ranking | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant University | Bulldogs | Smithfield, Rhode Island | Black & Gold |
1863 | Private | 5,082 | 15 (Regional: North) | 2008 |
| Central Connecticut State University | Blue Devils | New Britain, Connecticut | Blue & White |
1849 | Public | 12,233 | 116 (Regional: North) | 1997 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Knights | Teaneck, New Jersey | Burgundy & Blue |
1942 | Private | 12,158 | 75 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
| Long Island University | Blackbirds | Brooklyn, New York | Black & Silver |
1926 | Private | 8,298 | 112 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
| Monmouth University* | Hawks | West Long Branch, New Jersey | Midnight Blue & White |
1933 | Private | 7,440 | 35 (Regional: North) | 1985 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Mountaineers | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Blue & Bronze |
1808 | Private | 2,373 | 23 (Regional: North) | 1989 |
| Quinnipiac University* | Bobcats | Hamden, Connecticut | Blue & Gold |
1929 | Private | 8,520 | 13 (Regional: North) | 1998 |
| Robert Morris University | Colonials | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Maroon & Navy Blue |
1921 | Private | 5,464 | 70 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
| Sacred Heart University | Pioneers | Fairfield, Connecticut | Red & White |
1963 | Private | 6,938 | 38 (Regional: North) | 1999 |
| St. Francis College (NY) | Terriers | Brooklyn, New York | Royal Blue & Red |
1858 | Private | 2,953 | 26 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
| St. Francis University (PA) | Red Flash | Loretto, Pennsylvania | Red & Black |
1847 | Private | 2,618 | 61 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
| Wagner College | Seahawks | Staten Island, New York | Green & Grey |
1883 | Private | 2,275 | 26 (Regional: North) | 1981 |
- Notes
* - Monmouth and Quinnipiac announced on December 14, 2012 they will leave the NEC for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2013.[6][7] At that time, Monmouth's football plans were unknown; the MAAC does not currently sponsor the sport. These plans became clear on February 14, 2013, when the Big South Conference announced that Monmouth would become a football-only member of that conference in 2014. The Hawks will play the 2013 season as an independent.[8]
Affiliate members[]
| Institution | Nickname | Location | Primary Conference | Type | Enrollment | NEC Sport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelphi University | Panthers | Garden City, New York | Northeast-10 (NE-10) (NCAA Division II) |
Private | 8,530 | women's bowling |
| University at Albany* | Great Danes | Albany, New York | America East | Public | 17,500 | football |
| Duquesne University | Dukes | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Atlantic 10 (A-10) | Private | 10,184 | football |
| Kutztown University | Golden Bears | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | PSAC (NCAA Division II) |
Public | 10,193 | women's bowling |
| New Jersey City University | Gothic Knights | Jersey City, New Jersey | NJAC (NCAA Division III) |
Public | 8,300 | women's bowling |
| Rider University | Broncs | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | MAAC | Private | 5,039 | field hockey |
| Saint Peter's University | Peacocks (men's) Peahens (women's) |
Jersey City, New Jersey | MAAC | Private | 3,700 | women's bowling |
| Siena College | Saints | Loudonville, New York | MAAC | Private | 3,705 | field hockey |
- Notes
* - Albany football will leave the NEC after the 2012 season to join the Colonial Athletic Association.
Former members[]
| Institution | Membership Type | Location | Nickname | Joined | Left | Subsequent Conference Membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towson University | Charter Member | Towson, Maryland | Tigers | 1981 | 1982 | East Coast (1982-1992) Big South (1992-1995) America East (1995-2001) CAA (2001-present) |
| University of Baltimore | Charter Member | Baltimore, Maryland | Super Bees | 1981 | 1983 | Intercollegiate athletics were dropped altogether |
| Siena College | Charter Member | Loudonville, New York | Saints | 1981 | 1984 | America East (1984-1989) MAAC (1989-present) |
| Loyola College | Charter Member | Baltimore, Maryland | Greyhounds | 1981 | 1989 | MAAC (1989-2013) Patriot League (2013–future) |
| Marist College | Charter Member | Poughkeepsie, New York | Red Foxes | 1981 | 1997 | MAAC (1997-present) |
| Rider University | Full Member | Lawrenceville, New Jersey | Broncs | 1992 | 1997 | MAAC (1997-present) |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) |
Full Member | Catonsville, Maryland | Retrievers | 1998 | 2003 | America East (2003-present) |
Membership timeline[]
Full members Full members (non-football) Football Affiliate Other Conference Other Conference
Sports Sponsored[]
The Northeast Conference sponsors championship competition in ten men's and thirteen women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[9] Eight schools are Associate members in three of those sports.
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Bowling | ||
| Cross Country | ||
| Field Hockey | ||
| Golf | ||
| Football | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Swimming & Diving | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track and Field (Indoor) | ||
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | ||
| Volleyball |
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 |
Tournament championships by school[]
| School | # of Tournament Championships | Last Tournament Championship |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Morris | 7 | 2010 |
| Monmouth | 4 | 2006 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 4 | 2005 |
| Long Island | 4 | 2012 |
| Mount St. Mary's | 3 | 2008 |
| Central Connecticut St. | 3 | 2007 |
| Marist† | 2 | 1987 |
| Rider† | 2 | 1994 |
| St. Francis (PA) | 1 | 1991 |
| Wagner | 1 | 2003 |
| Bryant | 0 | — |
| Quinnipiac | 0 | — |
| Sacred Heart | 0 | — |
| St. Francis Brooklyn | 0 | — |
- †Former member of NEC
Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Locations[]
- 1982: Arnold and Marie Schwartz Athletic Center, Long Island, NY
- 1983: first rounds at campus sites; final at John Jay Center, Moon Township, PA
- 1984: McCann Field House, Poughkeepsie, NY
- 1985: Reitz Arena, Baltimore, MD
- 1986: Charles L. Sewall Center, Moon Township, PA
- 1987: first round at campus sites, rest at McCann Field House
- 1988: first round at campus sites; rest at Rothman Center, Hackensack, NJ
- 1989: first round at campus sites; rest at Sewall Center
- 1990: same
- 1991: first rounds at campus sites; final at DeGol Arena, Loretto, PA
- 1992: first rounds at campus sites; final at Sewall Center
- 1993: first rounds at campus sites; final at Alumni Gymnasium, Lawrenceville, NJ
- 1994: same
- 1995: same
- 1996: first rounds at campus sites; final at William T. Boylan Gymnasium, West Long Branch, NJ
- 1997: first rounds at campus sites; final at Schwartz Athletic Center
- 1998: first rounds at William H. Detrick Gymnasium, New Britain, CT; final at Schwartz Athletic Center
- 1999: Spiro Sports Center, Staten Island, NY
- 2000: Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, New Jersey
- 2001: same
- 2002: first rounds at campus sites; final at Detrick Gymnasium
- 2003: first rounds at campus sites; final at Spiro Sports Center
- 2004: first rounds at campus sites; final at Boylan Gymnasium
- 2005: first rounds at campus sites; final at Rothman Center
- 2006: same
- 2007: all games at highest seed; championship at Detrick Gymnasium
- 2008: all games at highest seed; championship at William H. Pitt Center
- 2009: all games at highest seed; championship at Sewall Center
- 2010: all games at highest seed; championship at TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, CT
- 2011: all games at highest seed; championship at Athletic, Recreation & Wellness Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2012: same
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
Most conference championships[]
6 — Albany (3 shared)
6 — Robert Morris (3 shared)
5 — Monmouth (4 shared)
4 — Central Connecticut State (3 shared)
1 — Duquesne (1 shared)
1 — Sacred Heart
1 — Stony Brook (1 shared)
1 — Wagner (1 shared)
0 — Bryant
0 — St. Francis (PA)
NEC Rivalries[]
The NEC has 6 rivalry match-ups 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 NEC rivalries are as follows:
- Battle of Brooklyn: Long Island vs. St. Francis (NY)
- Garden State Rivalry: Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Monmouth
- Keystone Clash: Robert Morris vs. Saint Francis (PA)
- Governor's Cup: Quinnipiac vs. Sacred Heart
- The Duel in New England: Central Connecticut vs. Bryant
- North-South Showdown: Mount St. Mary's vs. Wagner
Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup[]
| Year | Overall | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Monmouth | Monmouth | Saint Francis (PA) |
| 2001-02 | Monmouth | Monmouth | Saint Francis (PA) |
| 2000-01 | Central Connecticut | Central Connecticut | Central Connecticut |
| 1999-2000 | Central Connecticut | Robert Morris | Wagner |
| 1998-99 | Central Connecticut | Monmouth | Central Connecticut |
| 1997-98 | Monmouth | Monmouth | Mount Saint Mary's |
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 | 3,500 | William H. Detrick Gymnasium | 3,200 | Central Connecticut State Baseball Field | N/A |
| Duquesne | Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field | 4,500 | Football-only member | |||
| Fairleigh Dickinson | Non-football school | Rothman Center | 5,000 | Naimoli Family Baseball Complex | 500 | |
| LIU | Non-football school | Athletic, Recreation & Wellness Center | 3,000 | Long Island University Field | 500 | |
| Monmouth | Kessler Field | 4,600 | Multipurpose Activity Center | 4,100 | Monmouth Baseball Field | N/A |
| Mount St. Mary's | Non-football school | Knott Arena | 3,121 | Straw Family Stadium | N/A | |
| Quinnipiac | Non-football school | TD Bank Sports Center | 3,570 | Quinnipiac Baseball Field | N/A | |
| Robert Morris | Joe Walton Stadium | 3,000 | Charles L. Sewall Center | 3,056 | Non-baseball school | |
| Sacred Heart | Campus Field | 4,000 | William H. Pitt Center | 2,100 | The Ballpark at Harbor Yard | 5,300 |
| St. Francis (NY) | Non-football school | Generoso Pope Athletic Complex | 2,000 | Non-baseball school | ||
| Saint Francis (PA) | DeGol Field | 3,450 | DeGol Arena | 3,500 | Non-baseball school | |
| Wagner | Wagner College Stadium | 4,000 | Spiro Sports Center | 2,500 | Richmond County Bank Ballpark | 7,171 |
References[]
- ↑ Ventre, Ralph. "Back to the Beginning: NEC Celebrates 30 Years," Northeast Conference, Thursday, March 3, 2011.
- ↑ Official press release issued Tuesday, August 2, 1988 (Announcement of name change from ECAC-Metro Conference to Northeast Conference).
- ↑ Northeast Conference 2012–13 Men's Basketball Record Book.
- ↑ http://www.northeastconference.org/Sports/general/2004/gen_aboutnec.asp?nl=1
- ↑ http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/news/2007-08/2007Oct18NortheastConferenceInvite
- ↑ "Monmouth University Joins the MAAC," Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Friday, December 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Quinnipiac University Joins the MAAC," Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Friday, December 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Big South Adds Monmouth University as Associate Football Member" (Press release). Big South Conference. February 14, 2013. http://www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=206394001&SPSID=25301&SPID=1985&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4800. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.northeastconference.org/
External links[]
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