Monmouth University announced today it will accept the invitation of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) to join the conference, effective July 1, 2013. Monmouth, which fields 21 NCAA Division I athletic teams, will begin competition in the MAAC during the 2013-14 academic year.
Monmouth President Paul G. Gaffney said, “Monmouth is flattered by the invitation to join the MAAC. I thank the Council of Presidents for having confidence in us. While we have enjoyed our relationships with the NEC member institutions and our successes on the field, Monmouth is pleased with the opportunity to aim for new goals. There is little doubt that Monmouth and our NEC friends will find ways to continue valuable competitions. I look forward to working closely with new colleagues in the continual advancement of our new home conference.”
Monmouth University Chair of the Board of Trustees Robert Sculthorpe ’63 agreed, indicating that the Board of Trustees fully supports this move as a progressive opportunity to positively impact the Monmouth brand in the Northeast.
“Monmouth Athletics is looking forward to its new association with the MAAC conference and its member institutions with strong academic and athletics profiles,” stated Monmouth Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Marilyn McNeil. “We believe this is a positive step for our University and will enhance the experience of our student-athletes. However, it is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to the Northeast conference, and in particular, to our friends and colleagues at the league office and the respective schools. We have appreciated all of the good and respectful competition along the way and we are sorry to say goodbye.”
“In evaluating potential new member schools the MAAC membership has sought to maintain a brand the stresses excellence in academics and athletics and Monmouth University fully meets that criteria,” notes MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. “The MAAC will be a great home for the Monmouth athletic program and the conference looks forward to the start of their participation with the start of the 2013-14 academic year.”
“I am so pleased that Monmouth University will be joining our conference,” added Saint Peter’s University President Eugene Cornacchia. “Like Saint Peter’s, Monmouth is one of New Jersey’s private institutions and I have gotten to know of the tremendous strength of their student body, faculty and administration. The Hawks are a welcome addition to the MAAC; strong in the classroom and on the field of play.”
Monmouth, which joined the Northeast Conference in 1985-86, won a total of 63 Northeast Conference Championships, 35 NEC Regular Season titles, and made 19 NCAA Tournament Appearances as a member of the league.
The Hawks also captured five Commissioner’s Cup trophies since 1997-98, nine men’s sports commissioner’s cup titles and finished in the top-two in 14 of the 15 years.
Monmouth is a private, mid-sized, coeducational, comprehensive University founded in 1933. It serves residential and commuter students in eight schools and is less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean on the Jersey Shore in West Long Branch, New Jersey. The 156-acre campus features 54 buildings, including historic landmarks and state-of-the-art facilities.
“MU looks forward to continuing its positive relationship with the NEC in football, field hockey and bowling,” said McNeil. Monmouth will apply for associate membership in those three sports.”
With the addition of Monmouth, the MAAC, founded in 1980, will boast 10 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics.
Current Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference member institutions include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Loyola University Maryland (moving to the Patriot League in 2013), Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
Monmouth University Athletics will hold a press conference in the Eyas Lounge of the Multipurpose Activity Center on Monday, December 17 at 1:00 p.m., which is open to all media members and the general public.
Follow Monmouth on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonmouthHawks and on twitter @MUHawks
Follow the MAAC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MAACSports and on twitter @MAACSports
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