FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Following 35-year period as member of Northeast-10 Conference, Merrimack Warriors to join Division I Northeast Conference
MANSFIELD, Mass. –Today, Merrimack College informed the Northeast-10 Conference that it has officially accepted an invitation to join the Division I Northeast Conference and begin a reclassification to NCAA Division I status. Merrimack and its 22 Division II varsity programs will join the NEC for the 2019-20 academic year. The Warriors’ 35 year affiliation with the NE10 will end on June 30, 2019.
“While a conference never likes to lose a valued member, the NE10 wishes Merrimack the best of luck as it enters this new phase of its athletics history with the impending reclassification into Division I. Over the course of their 35 year association with the NE10, the Warriors have strongly contributed to the level of excellence the Conference is proud to be known for,” said NE10 commissioner Julie Ruppert. “As they end their relationship with the NE10 this year, they do so with our collective best wishes. I’m pleased that our Council of Presidents has ensured that this transition will be amicable and smooth.”
“Merrimack College will always be proud of its long relationship with the Northeast-10 Conference, one that dates back to 1984. The NE10 is unrivaled at the Division II level in providing outstanding athletic and academic opportunities to its student athletes”, said Merrimack director of athletics Jeremy Gibson. “We are especially grateful to Commissioner Julie Ruppert and the entire NE10 membership for their support of Merrimack’s ambitions through this reclassification process.”
“Merrimack’s institutional goal to provide a distinctive Division I experience for its entire athletic program has been known to the NE10 since 2011. Their candid approach to the reclassification process, along with open lines of communication between the Northeast Conference and the NE10, has provided us an opportunity to be prepared for this news.” added Ruppert. “We will begin work immediately with our administrators to make this transition as smooth as we can for the 14 members that will comprise the NE10 in 2019-20 and beyond. Our Council of Presidents is actively engaged and will participate in conversations about future NE10 membership composition at the appropriate time.”
Merrimack will remain fully eligible to compete in Northeast-10 Championships in 2018-19.
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.