Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Le Moyne College is moving all 21 of its NCAA teams to the Division I level in the fall, joining the Northeast Conference. The shift will officially happen on July 1, according to the college’s press release.

“The move to Division I and the Northeast Conference is a milestone event for Le Moyne College,” wrote President Linda LeMura in the press release. “By making this move, we are building on a strong foundation of excellence that has been a hallmark of our student-athletes and our programs.”

The process began 15 months ago with the college forming an ad hoc committee made up of Le Moyne’s leadership team, faculty and trustees. They voted to support a reclassification to Division I. Later, Le Moyne’s Board of Trustees also voted in favor of the move.

Le Moyne was in the Northeast-10 Conference for 27 years, winning 44 conference championships in nine sports. The Dolphins also have eight national championships, including six in men’s lacrosse, one in women’s lacrosse and an individual championship in swimming and diving.

Le Moyne joins Merrimack College, Stonehill College, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, Long Island University, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis University and Wagner in the NEC. The Dolphins won’t be able to compete in postseason conference play until 2025-26 and will be ineligible for NCAA Tournament competition until 2027-28.

“In both the short- and long-term, the College’s decision to make this move will benefit Le Moyne in a number of ways,” wrote Pete DiLaura, chair of Le Moyne Board of Trustees, in the press release. “One of the initial benefits will be the increased awareness for Le Moyne that will come from competing against institutions located in new, larger markets.”

Published on May 10, 2023 at 3:10 pm

Contact Anish: asvasude@syr.edu | @anish_vasu