The University of New Haven has announced its upcoming transition from Division II to Division I as it joins the Northeast Conference (NEC) as a full member on July 1. This significant development was revealed by Noreen Morris, Commissioner of the NEC, along with Jens Frederiksen, the president of the university. With this addition, New Haven becomes the 10th full member of the conference. The school is set to complete its transition to full Division I membership by the 2028-29 academic year.
According to Morris, New Haven’s decision to join the NEC aligns with the conference’s core values, emphasizing the importance of academics, competitive success, and the overall student-athlete experience. She expressed that this move to Division I was a courageous decision by the university, and the NEC is excited to accompany New Haven on this new journey.
New Haven hosts a total of 20 sports teams, which will be integrated into the NEC’s schedules starting this year, with the lone exception being football. Decisions regarding the inclusion of football in the conference schedule are still under consideration. During the transition phase, New Haven athletes will be eligible to compete in conference championships for sports that don’t have automatic qualifications for NCAA tournaments. However, they will not be eligible for NCAA championship events until the 2028-29 season.
Parallel to New Haven’s transition, two other institutions, Stonehill and Le Moyne, are also making their move to Division I within the NEC framework. These changes reflect a broader trend within the conference as it expands and evolves to accommodate new members.