Northeast Conference

Northeast Conference
(NEC)
Established 1981
Association NCAA
Division Division I FCS
Members 12
Sports fielded 22 (men's: 9; women's: 13)
Region Northeast
Headquarters Somerset, New Jersey
Commissioner Noreen Morris (since 2010)
Website northeastconference.org
Locations

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.

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, Marist College, Robert Morris University, St. Francis College (NY), St. Francis College (PA), Siena College, Towson State University, University of Baltimore and Wagner College.[1] The conference's name was changed to its present form on August 1, 1988.[2]

The Northeast Conference has expanded seven times since 1981. The expansions were in 1985, 1989, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2008. The additions from the original charter members were Monmouth, Mount Saint Mary's, Central Connecticut State, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart and Bryant.

The Northeast Conference has a total of twelve members in 22 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 and field, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball. Men's lacrosse will become the league’s 23rd sport by the 2011 season.[3] 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. Although Bryant is already in the conference it will not be a core member, a member with voting rights, until the 2012 season.[4]

Contents

Membership

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 Location Founded Type Enrollment Joined Nickname
Bryant University† Smithfield, RI 1863 Private 5,082 2008 Bulldogs
Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT 1849 Public 12,233 1997 Blue Devils
Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, NJ 1942 Private 12,158 1981 Knights
Long Island University Brooklyn, NY 1926 Private 24,170 1981 Blackbirds
Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ 1933 Private 7,440 1985 Hawks
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD 1808 Private 2,373 1989 Mountaineers
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT 1929 Private 8,520 1998 Bobcats
Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA 1921 Private 5,464 1981 Colonials
Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT 1963 Private 6,938 1999 Pioneers
St. Francis College Brooklyn, NY 1858 Private 2,953 1981 Terriers
Saint Francis University Loretto, PA 1847 Private 2,618 1981 Red Flash
Wagner College Staten Island, NY 1883 Private 2,275 1981 Seahawks

† - Bryant University becomes a core-member in 2012. They were granted voting rights in 2009, and began eligibility for certain conference championships in 2009.

Affiliates

Institution Mascot Location Conference Type Enrollment Sport
Adelphi University Panthers Garden City, New York Northeast 10 Private 8,530 Women's Bowling
University at Albany Great Danes Albany, New York America East Public 17,040 Football
Duquesne University Dukes Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Atlantic 10 Private 10,184 Football
Lock Haven University Bald Eagles Lock Haven, Pennsylvania PSAC Public 5,500 Field Hockey
Kutztown University Golden Bears Kutztown, Pennsylvania PSAC Public 10,193 Women's Bowling
New Jersey City University Gothic Knights Jersey City, New Jersey NJAC Public 8,300 Women's Bowling
University of Rhode Island Rams Kingston, Rhode Island Atlantic 10 Public 19,095 Football (Starting 2013 season)[5]
Rider University Broncs Lawrenceville, New Jersey MAAC Private 5,039 Field Hockey
Saint Peter's College Peacocks Jersey City, New Jersey MAAC Private 3,700 Women's Bowling
Siena College Saints Loudonville, New York MAAC Private 3,705 Field Hockey

Former members

Institution Affiliation Years New Conference Classification
Towson University Charter Member 1981–1982 CAA NCAA Division I
Siena College Charter Member 1981–1984 MAAC NCAA Division I
Loyola College Charter Member 1981–1989 MAAC NCAA Division I
Marist College Charter Member 1981–1997 MAAC NCAA Division I
Rider University Full Member 1992–1997 MAAC NCAA Division I
UMBC Full Member 1998–2003 America East NCAA Division I

Membership timeline


Men's basketball champions

See also: Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Locations and Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
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

Tournament championships by school

School # of Tournament Championships Last Tournament Championship
Robert Morris 7 2010
Monmouth 4 2006
Fairleigh Dickinson 4 2005
Mount St. Mary's 3 2008
Central Connecticut St. 3 2007
Long Island 3 2011
Marist† 2 1987
Rider† 2 1994
St. Francis (PA) 1 1991
Wagner 1 2003
Bryant 0 —
Quinnipiac 0 —
Sacred Heart 0 —
St. Francis (NY) 0 —

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

Most conference championships

6 — Robert Morris
5 — Monmouth
5 — Albany
4 — Central Connecticut State
1 - Duquesne
1 — Sacred Heart

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:

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

Conference facilities

School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity
Albany University Field 10,000 Does not sponsor basketball in the NEC
Bryant Bulldog Stadium 5,500 Chace Athletic Center 2,700
Central Connecticut Arute Field 3,500 William H. Detrick Gymnasium 3,200
Duquesne Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field 4,500 Does not sponsor basketball in the NEC
Fairleigh Dickinson Does not sponsor football Rothman Center 5,000
LIU Does not sponsor football Athletic, Recreation & Wellness Center 3,000
Monmouth Kessler Field 4,600 Multipurpose Activity Center 4,100
Mount St. Mary's Does not sponsor football Knott Arena 3,121
Quinnipiac Does not sponsor football TD Bank Sports Center 3,570
Rhode Island Meade Stadium 5,180 Does not sponsor basketball in the NEC
Robert Morris Joe Walton Stadium 3,000 Charles L. Sewall Center 3,056
Sacred Heart Campus Field 4,000 William H. Pitt Center 2,100
St. Francis (NY) Does not sponsor football Pope Physical Education Center 1,200
St. Francis (PA) DeGol Field 3,450 DeGol Arena 3,500
Wagner Wagner College Stadium 4,000 Spiro Sports Center 2,500

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. ^ http://www.northeastconference.org/Sports/general/2004/gen_aboutnec.asp?nl=1
  4. ^ http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/news/2007-08/2007Oct18NortheastConferenceInvite
  5. ^ http://www.gorhody.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112210aac.html

External links

Northeast Conference