New England Collegiate Conference
AssociationNCAA
Founded2007
CommissionerJacob VanRyn (since 2019)
Sports fielded
  • Men's volleyball and Esports
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams9 men's volleyball (8 in 2025), 27 Esports
HeadquartersMansfield, Massachusetts
RegionNew England
Official websiteneccathletics.com
Locations
Location of teams in (({title))}

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.

History

New England Collegiate Conference
Map
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Locations of NECC members, 2021-2022 full and 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.

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current conference
Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 Nazarene 772 Lions 2018 2023 North Atlantic (NAC)
Lesley University[a] Cambridge, Massachusetts 1909 Nonsectarian 6,593 Lynx 2008
Mitchell College New London, Connecticut 1938 572 Mariners Great Northeast (GNAC)
New England College Henniker, New Hampshire 1946 4,327 Pilgrims 2018
Notes
  1. ^ This institution is a former women's college, which has eventually turned into a co-educational college (Lesley since 2005–06).

Final associate members

The NECC had ten final associate members, six of them were private schools. However, only seven of them will remain for men's volleyball:

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference 		NECC
sport
Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 1860 Private 2,051 Raptors 2022–23 Liberty men's volleyball
Endicott College Beverly, Massachusetts 1939 Nonsectarian 4,600 Gulls 2011–12 Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Husson University Bangor, Maine 1898 3,476 Eagles 2019–20 North Atlantic (NAC) field hockey
University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, Maine 1863 Public[a] 1,861 Beavers
Nichols College Dudley, Massachusetts 1815 Nonsectarian 1,915 Bison 2018–19 Commonwealth Coast (CCC) men's volleyball
Northern Vermont University–Johnson Johnson, Vermont 1828[b] Public 1,333 Badgers 2019-20 North Atlantic (NAC)
Russell Sage College[c] Albany/Troy, New York[d] 1916[e] Nonsectarian 1,600[f] Gators 2020–21[11] Empire 8
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
(SUNY Poly) 		Marcy, New York 1913 Public[g] 3,061 Wildcats 2021–22 North Atlantic (NAC)
State University of New York at Potsdam
(SUNY Potsdam) 		Potsdam, New York 1816 3,098 Bears State University of New York
(SUNYAC)
Thomas College Waterville, Maine 1894 Nonsectarian 1,949 Terriers 2019–20 North Atlantic (NAC) field hockey
Notes
  1. ^ Part of the University of Maine System.
  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.

Men's volleyball members

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference
Bard College Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 1860 Private 2,051 Raptors 2022–23 Liberty
Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, Massachusetts 1900 Nazarene 772 Lions 2016-17 North Atlantic (NAC)
Endicott College Beverly, Massachusetts 1939 Nonsectarian 4,600 Gulls 2011–12 Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Lesley University Cambridge, Massachusetts 1909 6,593 Lynx 2008-09 North Atlantic (NAC)
Nichols College Dudley, Massachusetts 1815 1,915 Bison 2018–19 Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Northern Vermont University–Johnson Johnson, Vermont 1828 Public 1,333 Badgers 2019-20 North Atlantic (NAC)
Russell Sage College Albany/Troy, New York 1916 Nonsectarian 1,600 Gators 2020–21 Empire 8
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
(SUNY Poly) 		Marcy, New York 1913 Public 3,061 Wildcats 2021–22 North Atlantic (NAC)
State University of New York at Potsdam
(SUNY Potsdam) 		Potsdam, New York 1816 3,098 Bears State University of New York
(SUNYAC)

Esports members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Primary
conference
Boise State University Boise, Idaho 1932 Public 25,540 Broncos 2020–21 Mountain West
(NCAA D-I)
California State University, Dominguez Hills
(Cal State Dominguez Hills) 		Carson, California 1960 17,027 Toros California (CCAA)
(NCAA D-II)
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)
(NAIA)
Champlain College Burlington, Vermont 1878 Nonsectarian 2,900 Beavers N/A[a]
Hocking College Nelsonville, Ohio 1968 Public 3,671 Hawks Ohio (OCCAC)
(NJCAA)
Hood College Frederick, Maryland 1893 United Church of Christ 2,052 Blazers MAC Commonwealth
Howard Community College Columbia, Maryland 1966 Community college 29,894 Dragons Maryland (MDJUCO)
(NJCAA)
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois 1850 Nonsectarian 1,893 Titans Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW)
Jackson College Jackson, Michigan 1928 Community college 5,487 Jets Michigan (MCCAA)
(NJCAA)
Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, Kansas 1886 United Methodist 710 Coyotes Kansas (KCAC)
(NAIA)
Lakeland University Plymouth, Wisconsin 1862 United Church of Christ 3,973 Muskies Northern (NACC)
Midland University Fremont, Nebraska 1883 Lutheran ELCA 1,394 Warriors Great Plains (GPAC)
(NAIA)
Monroe College New York City, New York 1933 For-profit 6,794 Mustangs Mid Hudson (MHC)
(NJCAA)
University of Montana Missoula, Montana 1893 Public 10,962 Grizzlies &
Lady Griz 		Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland 1808 Catholic 2,240 Mountaineers Metro Atlantic (MAAC)
(NCAA D-I)
Newberry College Newberry, South Carolina 1856 Nonsectarian 1,250 Wolves South Atlantic (SAC)
(NCAA D-II)
Northcentral Technical College Wausau, Wisconsin 1912 State technical college 6,395 Timberwolves N/A[a]
Northern Essex Community College Essex County, Massachusetts 1961 Community college 6,600 Knights Massachusetts (MCCAA)
(NJCAA)
Randolph–Macon College Ashland, Virginia 1830 United Methodist 1,419 Yellow Jackets Old Dominion (ODAC)
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, Ohio 1876 Nonsectarian 2,300 RedStorm River States (RSC)
(NAIA)
California State University, Sacramento
(Sacramento State) 		Sacramento, California 1947 Public 31,156 Hornets Big Sky
(NCAA D-I)
St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa 1882 Catholic 3,607 Fighting Bees Chicagoland (CCAC)
(NAIA)
Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio 1888 Nonsectarian 4,282 Dragons Great Midwest (G-MAC)
(NCAA D-II)
Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa 1857 6,158 Peacocks Northern Sun (NSIC)
(NCAA D-II)
Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana 1859 Lutheran 4,500 Beacons Missouri Valley (MVC)
(NCAA D-I)
Westcliff University Irvine, California 1993 Nonsectarian 2,779 Warriors California Pacific (CalPac)
(NAIA)
Notes
  1. ^ a b This institution has no varsity sports program.
New England Collegiate Conference Esports
Map
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Locations of NECC eSports associate members, 2021-2022 associate


Former members

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

Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Current
conference
Bay Path University[a] Longmeadow, Massachusetts 1897 Nonsectarian 3,298 Wildcats 2008–09 2020–21 N/A (USCAA)
Becker College Worcester, Massachusetts 1784 N/A Hawks Closed in 2021
Dean College Franklin, Massachusetts 1865 1,055 Bulldogs 2017–18 2019–20 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Daniel Webster College Nashua, New Hampshire 1965 For-profit N/A Eagles 2008–09 2016–17 Closed in 2017
Elms College Chicopee, Massachusetts 1899 Catholic
(S.S.J.) 		1,713 Blazers 2020–21 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Newbury College Brookline, Massachusetts 1962 Nonsectarian N/A Nighthawks 2018–19 Closed in 2019
Regis College Weston, Massachusetts 1927 Catholic
S.S.J. 		2,748 Pride 2011–12 2016–17 Great Northeast (GNAC)
Southern Vermont College Bennington, Vermont 1926 Nonsectarian N/A Mountaineers 2008–09 2018–19 Closed in 2019
Wheelock College Boston, Massachusetts 1888 Wildcats 2017–18 N/A[b]
Notes
  1. ^ This institution was a women's college, therefore it did not compete in men's sports.
  2. ^ Wheelock was merged with Boston University in 2018.

Former associate members

The NECC had four former associate members, all private schools.

Institution Location Nickname Founded Affiliation Enrollment Joined Left Primary
conference 		NECC
sport
Babson College Wellesley, Massachusetts 1919 Nonsectarian 3,340 Beavers 2009–10 2018–19 New England (NEWMAC) men's golf
Manhattanville College Purchase, New York 1841 Catholic
(RSCJ) 		2,494 Valiants 2019–20 2021–22 Skyline field hockey
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) 		Cambridge, Massachusetts 1861 Nonsectarian 10,253 Engineers 2008–09 2008–09[a] New England (NEWMAC) men's golf
Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts 1919 5,062 Pride 2018–19
Notes
  1. ^ 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 CollegeUniversity 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 University

Sports

See also: NECC men's basketball tournament
Conference sports
Sport Men's Women's
Baseball 4 -
Basketball 4 4
Cross Country 4 4
Esports 29
Field hockey - 4
Golf - -
Lacrosse 3 3
Soccer 4 4
Softball - 4
Volleyball 9 4

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.

External links

New England Collegiate Conference
NCAA Division III all-sports conferences
Category