Northeast Conference

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

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.

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

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. 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.

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	Endowment (2011)
Bryant University	Bulldogs	Smithfield, Rhode Island	Black & Gold	1863	Private	3,581	15 (Regional: North)	2008	$148,715,000
Central Connecticut State University	Blue Devils	New Britain, Connecticut	Blue & White	1849	Public	10,225	116 (Regional: North)	1997	$33,411,529
Fairleigh Dickinson University	Knights	Teaneck, New Jersey	Burgundy & Blue	1942	Private	2,882	75 (Regional: North)	1981	$31,274,383
Long Island University	Blackbirds	Brooklyn, New York	Black & Silver	1926	Private	4,007	112 (Regional: North)	1981	$42,608,991
Monmouth University*	Hawks	West Long Branch, New Jersey	Midnight Blue & White	1933	Private	4,700	35 (Regional: North)	1985	$62,589,000
Mount St. Mary's University	Mountaineers	Emmitsburg, Maryland	Blue & Bronze	1808	Private	2,305	23 (Regional: North)	1989	$44,750,010
Quinnipiac University*	Bobcats	Hamden, Connecticut	Blue & Gold	1929	Private	6,262	13 (Regional: North)	1998	$277,466,413
Robert Morris University	Colonials	Moon Township, Pennsylvania	Maroon & Navy Blue	1921	Private	3,921	70 (Regional: North)	1981	$26,421,920
Sacred Heart University	Pioneers	Fairfield, Connecticut	Red & White	1963	Private	4,173	38 (Regional: North)	1999	$109,407,567
St. Francis College (NY)	Terriers	Brooklyn, New York	Royal Blue & Red	1858	Private	2,697	26 (Regional: North)	1981	$67,364,020
Saint Francis University (PA)	Red Flash	Loretto, Pennsylvania	Red & Black	1847	Private	1,746	61 (Regional: North)	1981	$34,268,349
Wagner College	Seahawks	Staten Island, New York	Green & Grey	1883	Private	1,856	26 (Regional: North)	1981	$59,806,011

Notes

^* - Monmouth and Quinnipiac announced on December 14, 2012 they will leave the NEC for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2013. 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.

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
Albany !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. Eight schools are Associate members in three of those sports.

Teams in Northeast Conference competition

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	9	-
Basketball	12	12
Bowling	-	10
Cross Country	12	12
Field Hockey	-	8
Golf	11	11
Football	8	-
Lacrosse	6	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	-	9

Men's basketball champions

See also: 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	Long Island (16-2)	Long Island
2013	Robert Morris (14-4)	Long Island

Tournament championships by school

Main article: Northeast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament

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

External links

• Official website