New Jersey Athletic Conference

NCAA-affiliated college athletic conference

New Jersey Athletic Conference

Formerly| New Jersey State Athletic Conference (1957–1985)
Association| NCAA
Founded| 1985
Commissioner| Terry Small
Sports fielded|

* 20
* men's: 9
* women's: 11

Division| Division III
No. of teams| 10 (11 in 2026)
Headquarters| Pitman, New Jersey
Region| New Jersey and New York (2026)
Official website| njacsports.com
Locations

The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), formerly the New Jersey State Athletic Conference, is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. All of its current full members are public universities in New Jersey, although it will add one new full member from New York in 2026. Affiliate members (track-only, or football-only) are located in Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

## History

[edit]

New Jersey Athletic Conference

50km
31miles

MSU

New Paltz

Stockton

Rutgers–Camden

Rowan

Kean

TCNJ

WPU

Rutgers–Newark

Ramapo

NJCU

NJAC members:  north division full member,  south division full member, and  future member

### Chronological timeline

[edit]

* 1957 - In 1957, the NJAC was founded as the New Jersey State Athletic Conference (NJSAC). Charter members included Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), Montclair State College (now Montclair State University), Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University), Newark State College (now Kean University), Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), and William Paterson College (now William Paterson University), effective beginning the 1957-58 academic year.
* 1976 - Ramapo College of New Jersey joined the NJSAC, effective in the 1976-77 academic year.
* 1977 - Stockton State College (now Stockton University) joined the NJSAC, effective in the 1977-78 academic year.
* 1985 - Women's programs became part of the NJSAC, when the Jersey Athletic Conference (a women's sports athletic conference) was merged into the NJSAC. Therefore it was rebranded as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), effective in the 1985-86 academic year.
* 1985 - Rutgers University at Camden and Rutgers University at Newark joined the NJAC, effective in the 1985-86 academic year.
* 2000 - The State University of New York at Cortland joined the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2000 fall season (2000-01 academic year).
* 2004 - New Jersey City left the NJAC to become an NCAA D-III Independent, effective after the 2003-04 academic year.
* 2004 - Western Connecticut State University joined the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2004 fall season (2004-05 academic year).
* 2005 - New Jersey City re-joined back to the NJAC after spending one season as an NCAA Division III Independent school, effective in the 2005-06 academic year.
* 2006 - Buffalo State College (now a university) joined the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2006 fall season (2006-07 academic year).
* 2008 - The State University of New York at Brockport and the State University of New York at Morrisville joined the NJAC as associate members for football, effective in the 2008 fall season (2008-09 academic year).
* 2011 - The State University of New York at Farmingdale (Farmingdale State College) and St. Joseph's College–Long Island (now a university) joined the NJAC as associate members for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, effective in the 2011-12 academic year).
* 2012 - Buffalo State left the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective after the 2011 fall season (2011-12 academic year).
* 2013 - Western Connecticut State left the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective after the 2012 fall season (2012-13 academic year).
* 2014 - SUNY Brockport left the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective after the 2013 fall season (2013-14 academic year).
* 2014 - Southern Virginia University joined the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
* 2015 - SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville left the NJAC as associate members for football, effective after the 2014 fall season (2014-15 academic year).
* 2015 - Christopher Newport University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University and Wesley College joined the NJAC as associate members for football, all effective in the 2015 fall season (2015-16 academic year).
* 2019 - Frostburg State and Southern Virginia left the NJAC as associate members for football, effective after the 2018 fall season (2018-19 academic year).
* 2019 - Five institutions joined the NJAC as associate members: Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg for men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, and the State University of New York at Oneonta, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater for men's tennis, all effective in the 2019-20 academic year.
* 2021 - Wesley (Del.) left the NJAC as an associate member for football after the school closed down to later be acquired by Delaware State University, effective after the 2020 fall season (2020-21 academic year).
* 2025 - Vermont State University–Castleton will join the NJAC as an associate member for football, effective in the 2025 fall season (2025-26 academic year).
* 2026 – SUNY New Paltz will join the NJAC as a full member, becoming the NJAC's first-ever full member located outside of the state of New Jersey.[1]

## Member schools

[edit]

### Current members

[edit]

The NJAC currently has ten full members, all are public schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Colors  | Football

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

North Division
Montclair State University | Upper Montclair, New Jersey | 1908  | Public  | 16,660  | Red Hawks | 1957  |  | Yes
New Jersey City University | Jersey City, New Jersey | 1929  | 7,300  | Gothic Knights | 1957;
2005[a] |  | No
Ramapo College | Mahwah, New Jersey | 1969  | 5,233  | Roadrunners | 1976  |  | No
Rutgers University–Newark | Newark, New Jersey | 1945  | 10,500  | Scarlet Raiders | 1985  |  | No
William Paterson University | Wayne, New Jersey | 1855  | 10,970  | Pioneers | 1957  |  | Yes
South Division
Kean University | Union, New Jersey | 1855  | Public  | 15,000  | Cougars | 1957  |  | Yes
Rowan University | Glassboro, New Jersey | 1923  | 18,500  | Profs | 1957  |  | Yes
Rutgers University–Camden | Camden, New Jersey | 1950  | 5,450  | Scarlet Raptors | 1985  |  | No
Stockton University | Galloway, New Jersey | 1969  | 7,450  | Ospreys | 1977  |  | No
The College of New Jersey | Ewing, New Jersey | 1855  | 7,400  | Lions | 1957  |  | Yes

Notes

1. ^ New Jersey City left the NJAC after the 2003–04 school year to compete as an NCAA D-III Independent; which would later re-join back, effective in the 2005–06 school year.

### Future full members

[edit]

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joining  | Previous Conference  | Colors

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz, New York | 1828  | Public[a] | 7,489  | Hawks | 2026–27  | SUNYAC |

Notes

1. ^ Part of the State University of New York System.

### Affiliate members

[edit]

The NJAC currently has five affiliate members, all but one are public schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Primary
conference  | NJAC
sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Christopher Newport University | Newport News, Virginia | 1961  | Public  | 5,186  | Captains | 2015–16  | Coast to Coast (C2C) | football
Farmingdale State College | East Farmingdale, New York | 1912  | Public  | 7,000  | Rams | 2011–12m.i.t.f.
2011–12m.o.t.f.
2011–12w.i.t.f.
2011–12w.o.t.f. | Skyline | men's indoor track & field
men's outdoor track & field
women's indoor track & field
women's outdoor track & field
Penn State–Harrisburg | Lower Swatara, Pennsylvania | 1966  | Public  | 5,046  | Lions | 2019–20m.i.t.f.
2019–20m.o.t.f.
2019–20w.i.t.f.
2019–20w.o.t.f. | United East (UEC) | men's indoor track & field
men's outdoor track & field
women's indoor track & field
women's outdoor track & field
St. Joseph's University –Long Island | Patchogue, New York | 1916  | Private  | 3,810  | Golden Eagles | 2011–12m.i.t.f.
2011–12m.o.t.f.
2011–12w.i.t.f.
2011–12w.o.t.f. | Skyline | men's indoor track & field
men's outdoor track & field
women's indoor track & field
women's outdoor track & field
Salisbury University | Salisbury, Maryland | 1925  | Public  | 8,657  | Sea Gulls | 2015–16  | Coast to Coast (C2C) | football

### Future affiliate members

[edit]

The NJAC will have one new affiliate member, a public school:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joining  | Primary
conference  | NJAC
sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Vermont State University at Castleton | Castleton, Vermont | 1787  | Public[a] | 2,363  | Spartans | 2025–26  | Little East (LEC) | football

1. ^ Part of the Vermont State Colleges System.

### Former affiliate members

[edit]

The NJAC has twelve former affiliate members, all but two were public schools:

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Affiliation  | Enrollment  | Nickname  | Joined  | Left  | Primary
conference  | NJAC
sport

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Buffalo State College[a] | Buffalo, New York | 1871  | Public  | 11,000  | Bengals | 2006–07  | 2011–12  | New York (SUNYAC) | football
Frostburg State University[b] | Frostburg, Maryland | 1898  | Public  | 5,215  | Bobcats | 2015–16  | 2018–19  | Mountain East (MEC)[c]
Southern Virginia University[d] | Buena Vista, Virginia | 1867  | LDS Church | 1,106  | Knights | 2014–15  | 2018–19  | USA South
State University of New York at Brockport[e] | Brockport, New York | 1867  | Public  | 6,962  | Golden Eagles | 2008–09  | 2013–14  | New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Cortland[f] | Cortland, New York | 1868  | Public  | 6,199  | Red Dragons | 2000–01  | 2014–15  | New York (SUNYAC)
State University of New York at Morrisville[f] | Morrisville, New York | 1908  | Public  | 3,356  | Mustangs | 2008–09  | 2014–15  | United East (UEC)
Wesley College | Dover, Delaware | 1873  | United Methodist | 2,320  | Wolverines | 2015–16  | 2020–21  | N/A[g]
Western Connecticut State University[h] | Danbury, Connecticut | 1903  | Public  | 6,000  | Colonials | 2004–05  | 2012–13  | Little East (LEC)
State University of New York at Oneonta | Oneonta, New York | 1889  | Public  | 6,543  | Red Dragons | 2019–20  | 2023–24  | New York State (SUNYAC) | men's tennis
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | 1916  | Public  | 10,737  | Blugolds | 2019–20  | 2023–24  | Wisconsin (WIAC)
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse | La Crosse, Wisconsin | 1909  | Public  | 10,679  | Eagles | 2019–20  | 2023–24  | Wisconsin (WIAC)
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater | Whitewater, Wisconsin | 1868  | Public  | 12,346  | Warhawks | 2019–20  | 2023–24  | Wisconsin (WIAC)

Notes

1. ^ Buffalo State left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2011 football season (2011–12 school year). Currently a university since 2023.
2. ^ Frostburg State left the NJAC to begin a transition to NCAA Division II and joined the Mountain East Conference after the 2018 football season (2018–19 school year).[2]
3. ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
4. ^ Southern Virginia left the NJAC to join the Old Dominion Athletic Conference after the 2018 football season (2018–19 school year), and would later become an all-sports member of the USA South Athletic Conference, effective in the 2021–22 school year.
5. ^ SUNY Brockport left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2013 football season (2013–14 school year).
6. ^ a b SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville left the NJAC to join the Empire 8 after the 2014 football season (2014–15 school year).
7. ^ Wesley was acquired by Delaware State University after the 2020–21 school year.
8. ^ Western Connecticut left the NJAC to join the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) after the 2012 football season (2012–13 school year).

### Membership timeline

[edit]

## Sports

[edit]

The NJAC sponsors championships in the following sports:

Conference sports Sport | Men's | Women's

|
|

Baseball |

Basketball |

Cross Country |

Field Hockey |  |

Football |

Lacrosse |

[a]

Soccer |

Softball |  |

Swimming |

Tennis |  |

Track and field (indoor) |

Track and field (outdoor) |

Volleyball |

1. ^ In 2022, NJAC and Coast to Coast Athletic Conference announced the creation of the Coastal Lacrosse Conference, an NCAA Division III single-sport men's lacrosse conference between members from the two conferences.[3]

## National championship teams

[edit]

Since the NCAA established the three division system in 1973, NJAC members have won a total of 63 team championships.[4]

* Baseball

Kean: 2007
Montclair State: 1987, 1993, 2000
Ramapo: 1984
Rowan: 1978, 1979
William Paterson: 1992, 1996

* Men's Basketball

Rowan: 1996

* Field Hockey

Rowan: 2002
TCNJ: 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2011

* Men's Golf

Ramapo: 1982

* Women's Lacrosse

TCNJ: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006

* Men's Soccer

Kean: 1992
Richard Stockton: 2001
Rowan: 1981, 1990
TCNJ: 1996

* Women's Soccer

TCNJ: 1993, 1994, 2000

* Softball

Rutgers-Camden: 2006
TCNJ: 1983, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996

* Women's Tennis

TCNJ: 1986

* Men's Outdoor Track

Rowan: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

* Wrestling

Montclair State: 1976, 1986
TCNJ: 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SUNY New Paltz to Become a Full Member of the NJAC in 2026-27". NJACsports.com. NJAC. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
2. ^ "Frostburg State Set To Join Mountain East Conference" (Press release). Mountain East Conference. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
3. ^ "NJAC & C2C Announce Formation of Coastal Lacrosse Conference" (Press release). New Jersey Athletic Conference. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
4. ^ "About the NJAC". Retrieved September 8, 2015.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Jersey Athletic Conference.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

New Jersey Athletic Conference

Full members|

* Kean Cougars
* Montclair State Red Hawks
* New Jersey Lions
* New Jersey City Gothic Knights1
* Ramapo Roadrunners1
* Rowan Profs
* Rutgers–Camden Scarlet Raptors1
* Rutgers–Newark Scarlet Raiders1
* Stockton Ospreys
* William Paterson Pioneers

Future members|

* New Paltz Hawks1(joining in 2026)

Football affiliates|

* Christopher Newport Captains
* Salisbury Sea Gulls

Men's tennis affiliates|

* Oneonta Red Dragons
* Wisconsin–Eau Claire Blugolds
* Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles
* Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks

Track & field affiliates|

* Farmingdale State Rams
* Penn State Harrisburg Lions
* St. Joseph's–Long Island Golden Eagles

1 non-football member

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division III all-sports conferences

* Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
* American Rivers Conference
* American Southwest Conference
* Atlantic East Conference
* Centennial Conference
* City University of New York Athletic Conference
* Coast to Coast Athletic Conference
* College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
* Collegiate Conference of the South
* Conference of New England
* Empire 8
* Great Northeast Athletic Conference
* Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Landmark Conference
* Liberty League
* Little East Conference
* Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
* Middle Atlantic Conferences (Commonwealth
* Freedom)
* Midwest Conference
* Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* New England Small College Athletic Conference
* New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
* New Jersey Athletic Conference
* North Atlantic Conference
* North Coast Athletic Conference
* Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
* Northwest Conference
* Ohio Athletic Conference
* Old Dominion Athletic Conference
* Presidents' Athletic Conference
* St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Skyline Conference
* Southern Athletic Association
* Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
* State University of New York Athletic Conference
* United East Conference
* University Athletic Association
* Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
* USA South Athletic Conference
* Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Independents

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division III football conferences

* American Rivers Conference
* American Southwest Conference
* Centennial Conference
* College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin
* Conference of New England
* Empire 8
* Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Landmark Conference
* Liberty League
* Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
* Middle Atlantic Conference
* Midwest Conference
* Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* New England Small College Athletic Conference
* New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
* New Jersey Athletic Conference
* North Coast Athletic Conference
* Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
* Northwest Conference
* Ohio Athletic Conference
* Old Dominion Athletic Conference
* Presidents' Athletic Conference
* Southern Athletic Association
* Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
* Upper Midwest Athletic Conference
* USA South Athletic Conference
* Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
* Independents

NCAA Division III Football Championship
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