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The University of New Haven accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference on July 1 and will begin transitioning from Division II to Division I.

“We are thrilled to welcome the University of New Haven to the Northeast Conference family,” NEC commissioner Noreen Morris said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”

The addition of New Haven will bring the NEC’s membership up to 10, as the school joins Central Connecticut, Chicago State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Le Moyne, Long Island, Mercyhurst, Saint Francis, Stonehill and Wagner. However, Saint Francis will move down to Division III after the 2025-26 academic year.

New Haven was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference and sponsors 20 varsity sports. Most notably, the Chargers will compete in football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, women’s tennis and men’s and women’s golf.

The NEC said New Haven will be integrated into the league’s athletic schedules for 2025-26 with the exception of football.

As a reclassifying school, New Haven will be allowed to participate in NEC championships in cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field right away. The other sports will be allowed to compete for NEC championships in either 2026-27 or 2027-28. The Chargers won’t be eligible to qualify for NCAA championships until 2028-29, at the end of their three-year reclassification period.

New Haven women’s basketball won the Division II championship in 1987, and the men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals as recently as 2023.

“This is about positioning ourselves at the highest level,” New Haven athletic director Devin Crosby said in a statement. “The University of New Haven’s momentum under President (Jens) Frederiksen’s leadership aligns naturally with our transition to NCAA Division I and the Northeast Conference. The Blue & Gold deserve this.”

–Field Level Media