Mercyhurst University has accepted a full membership invitation from the Northeast Conference, effective July 1, 2024.
Mercyhurst is in Erie, Pennsylvania, and is a four-year, liberal arts, Catholic institution with an enrollment of 2,125 undergraduate and 360 graduate students. It was a Division II member.
Its football team finished 2-9 in 2022 and 2023.
The NEC has looked to fill its ranks after Merrimack and Sacred Heart left to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference while going independent in football. With Robert Morris rejoining the NEC this year, the conference will have eight football members in 2024 with Mercyhurst.
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“Today, on behalf of the NEC Council of Presidents, we are delighted to extend a heartfelt welcome to Mercyhurst University as the newest member of the NEC,” NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris said. “Mercyhurst’s commitment to bringing out the best in their student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom, alongside their focus on community engagement, deeply resonated with our mission and values. We appreciate President Kathleen Getz and Athletic Director Joe Spano for their exceptional leadership throughout this process. Their forward-thinking vision and meticulous planning have positioned the Lakers for a seamless and successful transition to Division I and the NEC. We’re eager to kick off this partnership, which promises to uplift the conference and invigorate both the vibrant campus life at Mercyhurst and the surrounding Erie community.”
Mercyhurst will be integrated into NEC athletic schedules beginning with the 2024-25 season. During its reclassification, Mercyhurst will immediately be able to participate in NEC championships in NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports (cross country, swimming and diving, and indoor and outdoor track and field). Beginning in 2026-27, all Mercyhurst athletic programs will be eligible to compete in the NEC postseason but will remain ineligible for NCAA competition until the 2028-29 academic year.
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“Today marks a watershed moment for Mercyhurst University, amplifying our commitment to excellence in all that we do,” said President Getz. “In making this transition to the Northeast Conference, we believe our Mercyhurst community, our alumni, and devoted fans will benefit from a new era of spirited competition and connectedness, forging an enduring legacy for future generations of Lakers. Further, we are truly grateful for the gracious welcome extended to us by Commissioner Noreen Morris and the NEC Council of Presidents, whose values and mission are strategically aligned with our own.”
Joe Spano, Mercyhurst’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, also expressed his enthusiasm on the program’s move to Division I and its new affiliation with the NEC.
“For years, our athletic programs have showcased exceptional talent and dedication, both athletically and academically, at the NCAA Division II level,” said Spano. “In looking to the future, we see the immense potential for growth and achievement that comes with competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics and we are excited to offer this opportunity to our student-athletes. I would like to thank the NEC for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be associated with such outstanding institutions.”
