The University of New Haven has accepted an invitation from the Northeast Conference and is making the move to Division I athletics.
Vincent Salzo, Patch Staff
WEST HAVEN, CT — The University of New Haven announced Tuesday that it has accepted a full membership invitation from the Northeast Conference (NEC) Council of Presidents, and will be moving up to NCAA Division I.
UNH will officially join the league on July 1, according to the announcement made by NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris and University of New Haven President Jens Frederiksen.
Located in West Haven, UNH will begin its transition to NCAA Division I and the NEC during the 2025-26 academic year.
The Chargers will attain full Division I membership in 2028-29 following the NCAA-mandated reclassification period, according to a news release.
“We are thrilled to welcome the University of New Haven to the Northeast Conference family,” NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris said in a statement. “Making the move to Division I is a bold step, and we’re honored that New Haven chose to take that step with us. From the start, it was clear that they share our values – putting academics, competitive excellence and the student-athlete experience at the forefront. I want to thank President Jens Frederiksen and Athletic Director Devin Crosby for their thoughtful leadership throughout this process. I’m also grateful to the NEC Council of Presidents for their support and shared vision as we continue to shape the future of the conference. We’re excited to partner with the Chargers as they make their mark in Division I and help elevate the NEC.”
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Read more from the news release below:
Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, New Haven is set to become the NEC’s 10th full-time member. The Chargers will join NEC charter members Fairleigh Dickinson University, Long Island University, Saint Francis University and Wagner College, along with Central Connecticut State University (joined in 1997), Stonehill College (2022), Le Moyne College (2023), Chicago State University (2024) and Mercyhurst University (2024).
A member of the Northeast-10 (NE10) Conference since 2008, New Haven sponsors 20 varsity programs, 19 of which align with NEC sponsored sports. The Chargers field teams in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field (indoor and outdoor) and women’s volleyball. The Chargers also sponsor women’s rugby.
New Haven will be integrated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, with the exception of football. The timing of New Haven football’s addition to the conference schedule is still to be determined.
During its reclassification, the Chargers will immediately be able to participate in NEC Championships in NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports: cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. New Haven athletic programs will gain full NEC Championship access as early as the 2026-27 academic year, but no later than 2027-28. Per conference policy, no more than two schools undergoing reclassification may have full championship access at the same time. As the third NEC member currently in transition, New Haven’s timeline is contingent on when the others complete their process. The Chargers will become eligible for NCAA Championship competition in 2028-29, upon successful completion of their reclassification period.
“We are thrilled about this opportunity for the University of New Haven,” Frederiksen said. “Athletics has been and continues to be a vital driver of enrollment and brand recognition for the University. This move to the Northeast Conference and Division I positions the University for an exciting future – one consistent with the overall strategic focus on academic, professional and global return on investment.”
Devin Crosby, New Haven’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, shared his excitement about the university’s transition to Division I and its new partnership with the NEC.
“This is about positioning ourselves at the highest level,” Crosby said. “The University of New Haven’s momentum under President Frederiksen’s leadership aligns naturally with our transition to NCAA Division I and the Northeast Conference. The Blue & Gold deserve this.”
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