New Jersey 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

50km
30miles

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

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).
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

Current members

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

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	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

^ 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

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

^ Part of the State University of New York System.

Affiliate members

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	2011–12^m.i.t.f. 2011–12^m.o.t.f. 2011–12^w.i.t.f. 2011–12^w.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	2019–20^m.i.t.f. 2019–20^m.o.t.f. 2019–20^w.i.t.f. 2019–20^w.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	2011–12^m.i.t.f. 2011–12^m.o.t.f. 2011–12^w.i.t.f. 2011–12^w.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

Former affiliate members

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

^ Buffalo State left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2011 football season (2011–12 school year). Currently a university since 2023.
^ 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]
^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.
^ 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.
^ SUNY Brockport left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2013 football season (2013–14 school year).
^ ^a ^b SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville left the NJAC to join the Empire 8 after the 2014 football season (2014–15 school year).
^ Wesley was acquired by Delaware State University after the 2020–21 school year.
^ 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

Sports

The NJAC sponsors championships in the following sports:

**Conference sports**
Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Field Hockey		Y
Football	Y
Lacrosse	^[a]	Y
Soccer	Y	Y
Softball		Y
Swimming	Y	Y
Tennis		Y
Track and field (indoor)	Y	Y
Track and field (outdoor)	Y	Y
Volleyball	Y	Y

^ 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

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

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

External links

Official website

[2] 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.

[SUNY-3] Part of the State University of New York System.

[4] Buffalo State left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2011 football season (2011–12 school year). Currently a university since 2023.

[6] 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]

[D2-7] Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference.

[8] 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.

[9] SUNY Brockport left the NJAC for the Empire 8 after the 2013 football season (2013–14 school year).

[2K14E8-10] SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville left the NJAC to join the Empire 8 after the 2014 football season (2014–15 school year).

[11] Wesley was acquired by Delaware State University after the 2020–21 school year.

[12] Western Connecticut left the NJAC to join the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) after the 2012 football season (2012–13 school year).

[14] 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]

[1] "SUNY New Paltz to Become a Full Member of the NJAC in 2026-27". NJACsports.com. NJAC. Retrieved 5 July 2024.

[5] "Frostburg State Set To Join Mountain East Conference" (Press release). Mountain East Conference. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.

[13] "NJAC & C2C Announce Formation of Coastal Lacrosse Conference" (Press release). New Jersey Athletic Conference. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.

[15] "About the NJAC". Retrieved September 8, 2015.

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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