JERSEY CITY, NJ. - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced the addition of Merrimack and Sacred Heart today. Both schools will begin competing in the conference in 2024-25.
This conference realignment propels the MAAC to an all-time membership high of 13 schools for the 2024-25 academic year. Additionally, the MAAC's geographical footprint will expand to Massachusetts as Merrimack's campus is located 25 miles north of downtown Boston. Located in Fairfield, Conn., Sacred Heart joins Fairfield and Quinnipiac as the conference's third member institution in the State of Connecticut.
Merrimack and Sacred Heart currently compete in every sport the MAAC sponsors except men's and women's swimming and diving and women's water polo.
Merrimack is in its first full year of Division I eligibility. The Warriors have won multiple Northeast Conference championships, including regular season men's basketball championships in 2019-202 and 2022-23 and the tournament championship in March 2023. Sacred Heart has captured 73 Northeast Conference team championships and a league-best nine Commissioner's Cups since joining the league in 1999.
"What a great day for the MAAC," SPU Interim Director of Athletics Katie Arcuri said. "We are excited to welcome Sacred Heart and Merrimack, two schools that will strengthen the conference from an academic, athletic and brand exposure standpoint."
A full release from the MAAC can be found here.
