The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) is an NCAA Division III conference that consists of eleven member institutions located in five New England states. It was formed in 1998 as part of the consolidation of two smaller conferences, the Pilgrim League and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The member schools are spread throughout New England, with six coming from Connecticut, three from Massachusetts and two from Vermont. In addition, the conference is a Division III all-sports member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.
History of the New England Collegiate Conference
The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) was founded in 1998 to provide an organized, competitive conference for smaller athletic programs in the New England region. At the time, the Pilgrim League and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference were consolidating, and the conference was created as part of this process. Since its inception, the NECC has become the premier small-school athletic conference in New England.
In 2009, the NECC expanded beyond the five New England states for the first time, adding The College of Notre Dame of Maryland as a full-member school. In 2011, the conference added Husson University of Maine as its 11th and current member school. Additional expansion has not occurred, as the conference remains committed to providing a competitive platform for the 11 member schools.
Member Institutions and Sports
The New England Collegiate Conference consists of 11 institutions located across New England, with six located in Connecticut, three in Massachusetts, and two in Vermont. The institutions range in enrollment size from 925 (Husson) to 5142 (Sacred Heart). Each school also sponsors various sports teams, ranging from 21 different sports at Sacred Heart University to seven at Husson University.
In addition to the 11 sponsored sports teams, schools also compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for post-season championships, as well as in the United States Sports Academy Sports Cup, which is awarded each year to the school with the best overall competitive record.
Notable Achievements
The NECC has had numerous successes in its relatively short history, with several of its member schools regularly competing in post-season play in various sports. Some of the most notable accomplishments include the University of New Haven winning the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2001, the University of Bridgeport winning the NCAA Division II Basketball Championship in 2012, and Endicott College winning the NCAA Division III Women’s Lacrosse Championship in 2017. Additionally, the NECC holds the distinction of having the most players to ever win back-to-back Little East Player of the Year awards.
Rivalries
Within the NECC, there are several intra-conference rivalries among the 11 members. The most prominent rivalry is the University of New Haven vs. the University of Bridgeport’s “Battle of the Bridgeport”. It began in 1927 and since then has been a staple in the NECC athletic schedule. Additionally, Stonehill College and Bentley University have traditionally had a rivalry as they are both located in the greater-Boston area.
Conference Governance
The New England Collegiate Conference is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors, which consists of a member from each of its 11 member schools and one at-large member. Each member school also has an athletic director who serves as a representative at assembly meetings and other conference-related functions. Additionally, the conference is run by a Commissioner, Matt Fox, who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the conference.
Scheduling and Championship Events
The NECC schedules and organizes sport-specific conference championships each year. These championships are held at sites that are determined by the conference, and the participating teams compete in double-elimination tournaments for the conference title. Additionally, teams compete in regular-season games to determine their placement in the conference standings, which are used to determine qualification for post-season play.
Role and Impact in the Sports Scene
The New England Collegiate Conference is a crucial part of the college sports scene in New England, as it provides an organized, competitive platform for less-prominent athletics programs in the region. Through its championships and regular-season competitions, the NECC plays an important role in helping student-athletes reach their goals and pursue excellence in the sports they participate in. The conference also serves as a valuable resource for schools in the region, providing necessary infrastructure for schools to compete with one another at a high level.
Future Prospects of the New England Collegiate Conference
As the NECC continues to grow and evolve, the conference’s future prospects are looking bright. The conference has recently moved to host its championship events on campuses of member schools, in an effort to raise visibility of the conference and its teams. Additionally, the conference has recently announced an expansion to include more non-traditional competitive events, such as Esports, to further help drive growth of the conference. As the conference continues to innovate and evolve, it is likely that the NECC will become even more prominent in the college sports landscape.