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This article is about the current NCAA Division III conference. For the NCAA Division I conference that used this name from 1988 to 1996, see America East Conference. For the shortlived HBCU conference, see North Atlantic Conference (1946).
North Atlantic Conference
FormerlyNorth Atlantic Women's Conference
AssociationNCAA
Founded1996
CommissionerMarcella Zalot (since 2016)
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 8
    • women's: 8
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams10
HeadquartersWaterville, Maine
RegionNortheastern United States
Official websitenacathletics.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Member schools are primarily small liberal arts colleges in the New England states of Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, as well as the Mid-Atlantic state of New York.

The conference was founded in 1996 when six colleges agreed to form the North Atlantic Women's Conference. It changed to its current name in the fall of 1999. It currently sponsors a total of 17 men's and women's sports played by teams of the 13 institutions therein.

The 17 different sports that are played in the NAC range from the fall season, throughout the winter, and to the spring season. These sports are played among both men's and women's teams.

In the fall season, there are six sports played. Among these are, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, women's tennis, and women's volleyball.

In the winter season there are two sports played, which are men's and women's basketball along with men's and women's swimming and diving.

In the spring time there are four sports both for men's and women's teams. The NAC has men's and women's lacrosse, baseball, softball, men's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track & field.[1]

History

[edit]
North Atlantic Conference
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
100km
62miles
Maine Maritime
Lesley
MCLA
SUNY Cobleskill
SUNY Delhi
Maine–Presque Isle
VSU–Lyndon
Thomas
Maine–Farmington
Husson
VSU–Johnson
Location of NAC members: full member associate member

[2]

On June 9, 2016, Colby–Sawyer announced that it would leave the NAC following the 2017–18 school year to join the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).[3]

On May 4, 2017, Castleton announced that it would leave the NAC following the 2017–18 school year to join the Little East Conference (LEC).[4]

On June 13, 2017, Green Mountain announced that it would leave the NAC (and the NCAA) following the 2017–18 school year to join the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[5] which it would spend one season as an NAIA member before closing in 2019.

On July 31, 2017, New England College announced that it would leave the NAC following the 2017–18 school year to join the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).[6]

The NAC announced the additions of the Maine–Presque Isle and the State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton) as full members beginning in the fall of 2018. Both schools had been members of the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA).[7]

On November 30, 2018, the NAC announced that the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi), already an associate member in six sports (men's golf, men's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's track & field), would become a full member of the conference effective in the fall of 2019. At that time, five additional Delhi sports—men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball—began NAC play. Three more sports—men's and women's basketball, plus softball—remained in the ACAA as its associate member until starting NAC play in 2020–21.[8]

On August 20, 2019, the NAC announced that three schools—Cazenovia College, the State University of New York at Cobleskill (SUNY Cobleskill) and the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)—would become full members in July 2020.[9][10]

On March 1, 2022, the NAC announced that SUNY Morrisville (formerly Morrisville State)—alongside Lesley—would join as full members in the 2023–24 season.

On January 9, 2023, the NAC announced that they would welcome Eastern Nazarene College as a full member, also starting in the 2023–24 season.

On October 5, 2023, SUNY Canton and SUNY Morrisville accepted to join to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC).[11] A month later, on November 21, 2023, SUNY Poly followed suit to join the Empire 8.[12]

Eastern Nazarene announced that it would be permanently closing following the 2024–25 academic year.

Chronological timeline

[edit]
  • 1996 – The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) was founded as the North Atlantic Women's Conference (NAWC). Charter members included Bay Path College (now Bay Path University), Lasell College (now Lasell University), Lesley College (now Lesley University), the Maine Maritime Academy, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy (now the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences) and Wheelock College, beginning the 1996–97 academic year.
  • 1999:
    • Mass Pharmacy left the NAWC after the 1998–99 academic year.
    • The NAWC was rebranded as the North Atlantic Conference, while adding men's sports in there, beginning the 1999–2000 academic year.
    • Becker College, Elms College and Mount Ida College joined the NAC in the 1999–2000 academic year.
  • 2000 – Simmons College (now Simmons University) and Western New England College (now Western New England University) joined the NAC as associate members for field hockey in the 2000 fall season (2000–01 academic year).
  • 2001:
  • 2003 – Husson, UMaine–Farmington and Thomas upgraded their NAC memberships for all sports in the 2003–04 academic year.
  • 2004 – Three institutions joined the NAC as associate members, all effective in the 2005 spring season (2004–05 academic year):
  • 2007:
    • Lasell and Mount Ida left the NAC to join the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) after the 2006–07 academic year; while both remained in the conference as associate members (Lasell for field hockey, and Mount Ida for men's lacrosse).
    • Two institutions left the NAC as associate members, both effective after the 2006–07 academic year):
      • Saint Joseph's (Me.) for baseball
      • and Western New England for field hockey
  • 2008:
    • Bay Path, Becker, Elms, Lesley and Wheelock left the NAC to form part of the then-newly created New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) after the 2007–08 academic year.
    • Daniel Webster left the NAC as an associate member for men's lacrosse after the 2008 spring season (2007–08 academic year).
    • Green Mountain College and Lyndon State College (later Northern Vermont University at Lyndon and now Vermont State University at Lyndon) joined the NAC in the 2008–09 academic year.
    • Saint Joseph's (Me.) rejoined the NAC as an associate member (this time for field hockey and men's lacrosse) in the 2008–09 academic year.
  • 2009 – Rivier University joined the NAC as an associate member for field hockey in the 2009 fall season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2010 – Emerson, Mount Ida and Saint Joseph's (Me.) left the NAC as associate members for men's lacrosse after the 2010 spring season (2009–10 academic year).
  • 2011:
  • 2012 – The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) joined the NAC as an associate member for men's golf, men's lacrosse and men's & women's tennis in the 2013 spring season (2012–13 academic year).
  • 2014 – Lasell, Rivier, Saint Joseph's (Me.) and Simmons left the NAC as associate members for field hockey after the 2013 fall season (2013–14 academic year).
  • 2017 – The State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi) joined the NAC as an associate member for men's and women's track & field in the 2017–18 academic year.
  • 2018:
  • 2019 – SUNY Delhi upgraded its NAC membership for all sports in the 2019–20 academic year; although its men's and women's basketball and softball teams would later join in the 2020–21 school year.
  • 2020:
  • 2023:
  • 2024 – Four institutions left the NAC to join their future respective primary home conferences, all effective after the 2023–24 academic year:

Member schools

[edit]

Current members

[edit]

The NAC currently has ten full members, all but three are public schools.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors
Husson University Bangor, Maine 1898 Nonsectarian 3,476 Eagles 2003    
Lesley University[a] Cambridge, Massachusetts 1909 6,593 Lynx 1996;
2023[b] 		     
University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, Maine 1863 Public[c] 1,861 Beavers 2003    
University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, Maine 1903 1,469 Owls 2018    
Maine Maritime Academy Castine, Maine 1941 Public 941 Mariners 1996    
State University of New York at Cobleskill
(SUNY Cobleskill) 		Cobleskill, New York 1911 Public[d] 2,087 Fighting Tigers 2020    
State University of New York at Delhi
(SUNY Delhi) 		Delhi, New York 1913 3,088 Broncos 2019[e]      
Thomas College Waterville, Maine 1894 Nonsectarian 1,949 Terriers 2003    
Vermont State University–Johnson[f] Johnson, Vermont 1881 Public[g] 1,803 Badgers 2001      
Vermont State University–Lyndon[f] Lyndon, Vermont 1911 1,519 Hornets 2008    
Notes
  1. ^ This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (Lesley since 2005–06).
  2. ^ Lesley initially left the NAC after the 2007–08 school year, but later rejoined before the 2023–24 school year.
  3. ^ Part of the University of Maine System.
  4. ^ Part of the State University of New York System.
  5. ^ Before becoming a full member in the 2019–20 school year, SUNY Delhi had been an associate member in six sports. Men's and women's track joined in 2017–18, while men's golf, men's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis joined in 2018–19. Men's and women's basketball and softball would later join in 2020–21, a year after becoming a full member of the NAC.[13]
  6. ^ a b The former Johnson State and Lyndon State Colleges were merged into Northern Vermont University effective July 1, 2018. Both former institutions remain separate campuses, with their own athletic programs. The schools were subsequently merged with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.

Associate member

[edit]

The NAC currently has one associate member, which is also a public school:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Primary
conference 		NAC
sport(s)
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
(MCLA) 		North Adams, Massachusetts 1894 Public 1,202 Trailblazers 2012m.ten.;
2012w.ten.;
2012m.lax. 		    Massachusetts (MASCAC) men's tennis;
women's tennis;
men's lacrosse
Notes

Former members

[edit]

The NAC has thirteen former full members, all but one were private schools:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Bay Path College[a][b] Longmeadow, Massachusetts 1897 Nonsectarian 1,400 Wildcats 1996 2008 N/A (USCAA)
Becker College Worcester, Massachusetts 1784 N/A Hawks 1999 Closed in 2021
Vermont State University–Castleton[c] Castleton, Vermont 1787 Public[d] 2,130 Spartans 2001 2018 Little East (LEC)
Cazenovia College Cazenovia, New York 1913 Nonsectarian 800 Wildcats 2020 2023 Closed in 2023
Colby–Sawyer College New London, New Hampshire 1837 1,415 Chargers 2011 2018 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 Nazarene 772 Lions 2023 2024 Closed in 2024
Elms College[e] Chicopee, Massachusetts 1928 Catholic
(S.S.J.) 		1,118 Blazers 1999 2008 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Green Mountain College Poultney, Vermont 1834 United Methodist N/A Eagles 2008 2018 Closed in 2019
Lasell College[e][f] Newton, Massachusetts 1851 Nonsectarian 1,800 Lasers 1996 2007 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, Massachusetts 1823 6,010 Cardinals 1999 N/A[g]
Mount Ida College Newton, Massachusetts 1899 N/A Mustangs 1999 2007 Closed in 2018
New England College Henniker, New Hampshire 1946 2,000 Pilgrims 2011 2018 Great Northeast (GNAC)
State University of New York at Canton
(SUNY Canton) 		Canton, New York 1906 Public[h] 3,122 Roos 2018 2024 State U. of New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Morrisville
(SUNY Morrisville) 		Morrisville, New York 1908 2,486 Mustangs 2023 2024 State U. of New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
(SUNY Poly) 		Marcy, New York 1913 3,061 Wildcats 2020 2024 Empire 8
Wheelock College Boston, Massachusetts 1888 Nonsectarian 1,237 Wildcats 1996 2008 N/A[i]
Notes
  1. ^ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not compete in men's sports.
  2. ^ Currently known as Bay Path University since 2014.
  3. ^ Castleton University merged with Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University on July 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.
  5. ^ a b This institution is a former women's college, it has since become a co-educational college (Elms since 1998–99, Lesley since 1997–98, Lesley since 2005–06).
  6. ^ Currently known as Lasell University since 2019.
  7. ^ Mass Pharmacy discontinued its athletics program after the 1998–99 school year.
  8. ^ Part of the State University of New York System.
  9. ^ Wheelock was merged into Boston University after the school closed in 2018.

Former associate members

[edit]

The NAC had ten former associate members, all but two were private schools. This list includes only associate members that have completely departed the NAC. Current full members that had previously housed select sports in the NAC, such as SUNY Delhi, are not included.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Primary
conference 		NAC
sport
Daniel Webster College Nashua, New Hampshire 1965 For-profit 1,200 Eagles 2004 2008 Closed in 2017 men's lacrosse
Emerson College Boston, Massachusetts 1880 Nonsectarian 4,113 Lions 2004 2010 New England (NEWMAC) men's lacrosse
Lasell College[a][b] Newton, Massachusetts 1851 Private 1,800 Lasers 2007 2014 Great Northeast (GNAC) field hockey
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
(MCLA) 		North Adams, Massachusetts 1894 Public 1,202 Trailblazers 2012 2020 Massachusetts (MASCAC) men's golf
Mount Ida College[c] Newton, Massachusetts 1899 Nonsectarian 1,300 Mustangs 2007 2010 Closed in 2018 men's lacrosse
Rivier University Nashua, New Hampshire 1933 Catholic
(S.P.M.) 		2,300 Raiders 2009 2014 Great Northeast (GNAC) field hockey
Salem State University Salem, Massachusetts 1854 Public 7,242 Vikings 2011 2020 Massachusetts (MASCAC) men's golf
Simmons College[d] Boston, Massachusetts 1899 Nonsectarian 4,933 Sharks 2000 2014 Great Northeast (GNAC) field hockey
Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish, Maine 1912 Catholic
(R.S.M.) 		1,000 Monks 2004bs.,
2008f.h.,
2008m.lax. 		2007bs.,
2014f.h.,
2010m.lax. 		Great Northeast (GNAC) baseball,
field hockey,
men's lacrosse
Western New England University Springfield, Massachusetts 1919 Nonsectarian 3,657 Golden Bears 2001 2007 Commonwealth Coast (CCC) field hockey
Notes
  1. ^ Lasell was a full member of the NAC from 1996–97 to 2006–07.
  2. ^ Currently known as Lasell University since 2019.
  3. ^ Mount Ida was a full member of the NAC from 1999–2000 to 2006–07.
  4. ^ Currently known as Simmons University since 2018.

Membership timeline

[edit]
SUNYACState University of New York at MorrisvilleEastern Nazarene CollegeEmpire 8SUNY Polytechnic InstituteState University of New York at CobleskillCazenovia CollegeState University of New York at DelhiSUNYACState University of New York at CantonUniversity of Maine at Presque IsleGreat Northeast Athletic ConferenceNew England Collegiate ConferenceNew England CollegeGreat Northeast Athletic ConferenceColby–Sawyer CollegeVermont State UniversityNorthern Vermont UniversityGreen Mountain CollegeThomas CollegeUniversity of Maine–FarmingtonHusson UniversityVermont State UniversityNorthern Vermont UniversityLittle East ConferenceCastleton UniversityGreat Northeast Athletic ConferenceMount Ida CollegeGreat Northeast Athletic ConferenceNew England Collegiate ConferenceElms CollegeNew England Collegiate ConferenceBecker CollegeNew England Collegiate ConferenceWheelock CollegeMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesMaine Maritime AcademyNew England Collegiate ConferenceLesley UniversityGreat Northeast Athletic ConferenceLasell CollegeUnited States Collegiate Athletic AssociationNew England Collegiate ConferenceBay Path College

Sports

[edit]
A divisional format is used for baseball, basketball (M / W), softball, and volleyball (W).
East
  • Eastern Nazarene
  • Husson
  • Lesley
  • Maine–Farmington
  • Maine–Presque Isle
  • Maine Maritime
  • Thomas
West
  • SUNY Canton
  • SUNY Cobleskill
  • SUNY Delhi
  • SUNY Poly
  • SUNY Morrisville
  • Vermont State–Johnson
  • Vermont State–Lyndon
Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball
Green tickY
Basketball
Green tickY
Green tickY
Cross country
Green tickY
Green tickY
Field hockey
Green tickY
Golf
Green tickY
Lacrosse
Green tickY
Green tickY
Soccer
Green tickY
Green tickY
Softball
Green tickY
Swimming & diving
Green tickY
Green tickY
Tennis
Green tickY
Green tickY
Track & field
Green tickY
Green tickY
Volleyball
Green tickY

Championships

[edit]
See also: North Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Championship

The NAC holds championships in the following sports:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "North Atlantic Conference - NAC". www.nacathletics.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  2. ^ NAC Timeline
  3. ^ "Colby-Sawyer and Regis to Join GNAC as Full Members" (Press release). Great Northeast Athletic Conference. June 9, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Castleton to Join Little East Conference in 2018-19" (Press release). Castleton Spartans. May 4, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "Green Mountain to leave NCAA". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. June 13, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "New England College to Join the NECC in 2018-2019" (Press release). New England Collegiate Conference. July 31, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "UMPI among two additions to North Atlantic Conference". November 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "SUNY Delhi to Join the NAC in 2019" (Press release). North Atlantic Conference. November 30, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "North Atlantic Conference Expands with Three New Members in 2020–21" (Press release). North Atlantic Conference. August 20, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "NAC expands to 12 members - D3sports". 25 August 2019.
  11. ^ "SUNYAC Adds 2 Full-Time Members, 5 Associates & Men's Wrestling". 5 October 2023.
  12. ^ "SUNY Polytechnic Institute to Join Empire 8 as 12th Full Member in Fall of 2024 - Empire 8 Athletic Conference". November 21, 1023.
  13. ^ "SUNY Delhi to Join the North Atlantic Conference as Associate Member in Six Sports" (Press release). North Atlantic Conference. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
[edit]
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