New England Collegiate Conference

Last updated
New England Collegiate Conference
New England Collegiate Conference Logo.png
Association NCAA
Founded2007
CommissionerJacob VanRyn (since 2019)
Sports fielded
  • Men's volleyball and Esports
Division Division III
No. of teams7 men's volleyball, 27 Esports
Headquarters Mansfield, Massachusetts
Region New England
Official website neccathletics.com
Locations
NECC-USA.png

The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) is an NCAA Division III men's volleyball and esports college athletic conference based in the Northeastern United States. The NECC was formerly an all-sports conference from 2008 to 2023. The conference rebranded as New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) starting in 2023–24 year after becoming a men's volleyball-only conference.

Contents

History

New England Collegiate Conference
New England Collegiate Conference
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New England College
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Manhattanville
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Russell Sage
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NVU-Johnson
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Nichols
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Endicott
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Mitchell
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Eastern Nazarene
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Lesley
Locations of NECC members, 2021-2022 Blue pog.svg full and Red pog.svg associate

In June 2007, nine colleges from New England announced the creation of a new athletic conference under the same NECC name.

The conference, which began operations July 1, 2008, in Division III, currently includes Lesley University (Cambridge), Mitchell College (New London, Connecticut), Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy) and New England College (Henniker, New Hampshire) as members. Their indicated locations are in Massachusetts unless otherwise noted.

Southern Vermont and Newbury both announced they would cease operations after the 2018–19 academic year, [1] [2] and founding member Becker College announced the same after the 2020–21 school year. [3] Elms College joined the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, where it had competed as a swimming and diving affiliate since 2008, in the 2021-22 academic year. [4] In July 2021, original member Bay Path was admitted to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), [5] implicitly leaving the conference and the NCAA.

Within the past year, there have been changes. Bard College joined the NECC for men's volleyball as an associate member beginning the spring of 2023. [6] Lesley received and accepted an invitation to join the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), while Mitchell and New England College both accepted an invitation to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), all beginning the 2023-24 season. [7] In 2023 it was announced that Eastern Nazarene College would also be joining the NAC. [8]

The NECC may remain in operation for men's volleyball and the non-NCAA sport of esports. The conference has nine men's volleyball members in the current 2023 season, and the NCAA's official membership database lists all nine NECC men's volleyball teams as being members of the "New England Volleyball Conference". [9] Over 25 schools are affiliate members in esports.

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Final full members

The NECC had four full members when it disbanded as an all-sports conference, all were private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 Nazarene 772 Lions 20182023Closed in 2024
Lesley University [c] Cambridge, Massachusetts 1909Nonsectarian6,593 Lynx 2008 North Atlantic (NAC)
Mitchell College New London, Connecticut 1938572 Mariners Great Northeast (GNAC)
New England College Henniker, New Hampshire 19464,327 Pilgrims 2018
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (Lesley since 2005–06).

Current men's volleyball members

The NECC has seven current associate members in men's volleyball:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] NECC
sport
Primary
conference
Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 1860Private2,051 Raptors 2022men's volleyball Liberty
Endicott College Beverly, Massachusetts 1939Nonsectarian4,600 Gulls 2011 New England (CNE)
Nichols College Dudley, Massachusetts 18151,915 Bison 2018 New England (CNE)
Northern Vermont University–Johnson Johnson, Vermont 1828 [b] Public1,333 Badgers 2019 North Atlantic (NAC)
Russell Sage College [c] Albany/Troy, New York [d] 1916 [e] Nonsectarian1,600 [f] Gators 2020 [11] Empire 8
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
(SUNY Poly)
Marcy, New York 1913Public [g] 3,061 Wildcats 2021 North Atlantic (NAC)
State University of New York at Potsdam
(SUNY Potsdam)
Potsdam, New York 18163,098 Bears S.U. New York
(SUNYAC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Northern Vermont University was founded in 2018 by the merger of Johnson State College, founded in 1828, and Lyndon State College, founded in 1911. The two campuses continue to operate separate athletic programs.
  3. The Sage Colleges, which were recognized by the NECC, NCAA, and the state of New York as a single institution, rebranded as Russell Sage College in July 2020 after consolidating the three components Sage previously consisted of—the women-only Russell Sage, the coeducational Sage College of Albany (SCA), and the Sage Graduate Schools. In the context of the NECC, Russell Sage's team consists mostly of former SCA students, since SCA was the only Sage component that enrolled male undergraduates.
  4. Russell Sage has campuses in both Albany and Troy, New York, but the former SCA operated only in Albany.
  5. The Sage Colleges dated their history to the establishment of Russell Sage College in 1916. SCA was established in 1949 and adopted its historical name in 2002.
  6. Reflects Russell Sage's overall undergraduate enrollment. Enrollment in the former SCA, the only Sage component from which men's volleyball drew players, was about 850.
  7. Part of the State University of New York System.

Esports members

The NECC currently has twenty-seven associate members for esports, all but eight are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Primary
conference
Boise State University Boise, Idaho 1932Public25,540 Broncos 2020 Mountain West (MW)
[b]
California State University, Dominguez Hills
(Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Carson, California 196017,027 Toros California (CCAA)
[c]
Carroll University Waukesha, Wisconsin 1846 Presbyterian 3,358 Pioneers Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW)
Central Methodist University Fayette, Missouri 1854 United Methodist 3,382 Eagles Heart of America (HAAC)
[d]
Champlain College Burlington, Vermont 1878Nonsectarian2,900 Beavers N/A [e]
Hocking College Nelsonville, Ohio 1968Public3,671 Hawks Ohio (OCCAC)
[f]
Hood College Frederick, Maryland 1893 United Church of Christ 2,052 Blazers MAC Commonwealth
Howard Community College Columbia, Maryland 1966Community college29,894 Dragons Maryland (MDJUCO)
[f]
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois 1850Nonsectarian1,893 Titans Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW)
Jackson College Jackson, Michigan 1928Community college5,487 Jets Michigan (MCCAA)
[f]
Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Kansas 1886United Methodist710 Coyotes Kansas (KCAC)
[d]
Lakeland University Plymouth, Wisconsin 1862United Church of Christ3,973 Muskies Northern (NACC)
Midland University Fremont, Nebraska 1883 Lutheran ELCA 1,394 Warriors Great Plains (GPAC)
[d]
Monroe College New York City, New York 1933 For-profit 6,794 Mustangs Mid Hudson (MHC)
[f]
University of Montana Missoula, Montana 1893Public10,962 Grizzlies &
Lady Griz
Big Sky (BSC)
[b]
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland 1808 Catholic 2,240 Mountaineers Metro Atlantic (MAAC)
[b]
Newberry College Newberry, South Carolina 1856Nonsectarian1,250 Wolves South Atlantic (SAC)

[c]
Northcentral Technical College Wausau, Wisconsin 1912State technical college6,395 Timberwolves N/A [e]
Northern Essex Community College Essex County, Massachusetts 1961Community college6,600 Knights Massachusetts (MCCAA)
[f]
Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia 1830United Methodist1,419 Yellow Jackets Old Dominion (ODAC)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876Nonsectarian2,300 RedStorm River States (RSC)
[d]
California State University, Sacramento
(Sacramento State)
Sacramento, California 1947Public31,156 Hornets Big Sky (BSC)
[b]
St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa 1882Catholic3,607 Fighting Bees Chicagoland (CCAC)
[d]
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888Nonsectarian4,282 Dragons Great Midwest (G-MAC)
[c]
Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa 18576,158 Peacocks Northern Sun (NSIC) [c]
Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana 1859 Lutheran 4,500 Beacons Missouri Valley (MVC)
[b]
Westcliff University Irvine, California 1993Nonsectarian2,779 Warriors California Pacific (CalPac)
[d]
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Currently an NCAA Division I athletic conference.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  5. 1 2 This institution has no varsity sports program.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Currently an NJCAA athletic conference.
New England Collegiate Conference Esports
New England Collegiate Conference
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Boise State
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Westcliff
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Northcentral Technical
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Mount Saint Mary's
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Montana
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Monroe
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Midland
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Lakeland
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Kansas Weslyean
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Jackson
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Illinois Wesleyan
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Howard
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Hood
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Hocking
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Champlain
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Central Methodist
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Carroll
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Sacramento State
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Cal State Dominguez Hills
Locations of NECC eSports associate members, 2021-2022 White pog.svg associate

Former members

The NECC had nine former full members, all were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] Current
conference
Bay Path University [c] Longmeadow, Massachusetts 1897Nonsectarian3,298 Wildcats 20082021 USCAA Independent
Becker College Worcester, Massachusetts 1784N/A Hawks Closed in 2021
Dean College Franklin, Massachusetts 18651,055 Bulldogs 20172020 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Daniel Webster College Nashua, New Hampshire 1965 For-profit N/A Eagles 20082017Closed in 2017
Elms College Chicopee, Massachusetts 1899 Catholic
(S.S.J.)
1,713 Blazers 2021 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Newbury College Brookline, Massachusetts 1962NonsectarianN/A Nighthawks 2019Closed in 2019
Regis College Weston, Massachusetts 1927Catholic
(S.S.J.)
2,748 Pride 20112017 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Southern Vermont College Bennington, Vermont 1926NonsectarianN/A Mountaineers 20082019Closed in 2019
Wheelock College Boston, Massachusetts 1888 Wildcats 2018N/A [d]
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. This institution was a women's college, therefore it did not compete in men's sports.
  4. Wheelock was merged with Boston University in 2018.

Former associate members

The NECC had eight former associate members, all but one were private schools.

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined [a] Left [b] NECC
sport
Primary
conference
Babson College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1919Nonsectarian3,340 Beavers 20092019men's golf New England (NEWMAC)
Eastern Nazarene College [c] Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 Nazarene 772 Lions 20162018men's volleyballClosed in 2024
20232024
Husson University Bangor, Maine 1898Nonsectarian3,476 Eagles 20192023field hockey North Atlantic (NAC)
University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, Maine 1863Public [d] 1,861 Beavers
Manhattanville College Purchase, New York 1841 Catholic
(RSCJ)
2,494 Valiants 20192022field hockey Skyline
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT)
Cambridge, Massachusetts 1861Nonsectarian10,253 Engineers 20082009 [e] men's golf New England (NEWMAC)
Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts 19195,062 Pride 2019
Thomas College Waterville, Maine 1894Nonsectarian1,949 Terriers 20192023field hockey North Atlantic (NAC)
Notes
  1. Represents the calendar year when fall sports competition begins.
  2. Represents the calendar year when spring sports competition ends.
  3. Eastern Nazarene competed as a full member of the NECC from 2018–19 to 2022–23.
  4. Part of the University of Maine System.
  5. MIT dropped the sport after just one season due to budget cuts.

Membership timeline

Bard CollegeState University of New York at PotsdamSUNY Polytechnic InstituteRussell Sage CollegeThomas CollegeNorthern Vermont UniversityManhattanville UniversityUniversity of Maine at FarmingtonHusson UniversityNichols CollegeNew England CollegeDean CollegeEastern Nazarene CollegeRegis College (Massachusetts)Endicott CollegeBabson CollegeSpringfield College (Massachusetts)Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyWheelock CollegeSouthern Vermont CollegeNewbury College (United States)Mitchell CollegeLesley UniversityElms CollegeDaniel Webster CollegeBecker CollegeBay Path UniversityNew England Collegiate Conference

Sports

Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball 4-
Basketball 44
Cross Country 44
Esports 29
Field hockey -4
Golf --
Lacrosse 33
Soccer 44
Softball -4
Volleyball 94

References

  1. Therrien, Jim (March 4, 2019). "Shock as Southern Vermont College announces closing". Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  2. Krantz, Laura; Fernandes, Deirdre (December 14, 2018). "Newbury College to shut down in the spring". Boston Globe.
  3. "Becker College closing permanently at end of academic year". Boston: WFXT. March 29, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  4. "Elms, GNAC Ready to Begin Conference Affiliation in 2021-22". Great Northeast Athletic Conference. April 7, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  5. "Bay Path University joins United States Collegiate Athletic Association". Bay Path University. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  6. "Welcome Raptors! Bard to Join the NECC as an Associate Member in the Sport of Men's Volleyball" (Press release). New England Collegiate Conference. June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  7. "Mitchell, NEC Joining GNAC in 2023-24 Academic Year" (Press release). Great Northeast Athletic Conference. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. "NAC accepts Eastern Nazarene College as full member for 2023-24" (Press release). January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. "Membership Directory". NCAA. Retrieved February 1, 2023. Select "Men's Volleyball" from the "Sport" menu and "Division III" from the "Division" menu. Hovering over any dot on the map corresponding to an NECC men's volleyball member will show the conference as "New England Volleyball Conference".
  10. "NECC Welcomes New Men's Volleyball Associate Members". 11 January 2022.
  11. "Sage Men's Volleyball to Join NECC as Associate Member in 2020-21" (Press release). New England Collegiate Conference. August 19, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.