EDISON, NJ and NORTH EASTON, MA (Nov. 13, 2026) –– The Metro Conference announced Friday that Stonehill College has accepted an invitation to join the Conference as a
full member institution, effective July 1, 2027. Stonehill's addition brings the Metro to 14 full member institutions in 2027-28, the most in Conference history.
Stonehill joins Canisius University, Iona University, Le Moyne College, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary's University, Niagara University,
Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena University as 2027-28 Metro full member institutions.
"We are excited to welcome Stonehill College as the 14th member of the Metro Conference," said Metro Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. "With an outstanding campus, the excitement
surrounding the development of Bogan Arena, and a clear vision for the future, Stonehill has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in its Division I athletics program and is an
institution on the rise. Our Council of Presidents has been intentional in identifying institutions that are committed to investing in athletics and positioning themselves for long-term success. We
believe Stonehill has the leadership, resources, and vision to compete for championships in the Metro Conference. Its institutional mission and values align well with those of our membership,
and its addition further strengthens our presence in New England."
Stonehill College is located in North Easton, Massachusetts, in the heart of the Boston–Providence corridor, providing a strong geographic presence in two of the nation's largest media
markets. The Skyhawks join Merrimack as the Metro's second member institution in Massachusetts, solidifying the Conference's presence in the region.
Stonehill sponsors 25 sport programs, 11 for men and 14 for women, including men's golf, which begins varsity competition in 2027-28. The College began its NCAA Division I
reclassification process in July 2022 and successfully completed an accelerated Division I transition on July 1, 2025, making the 2025-26 academic year its first with full NCAA Division I
active member status.
"On behalf of the Council of Presidents, we are proud to welcome Stonehill College to the Metro Conference," said Dr. Charles Seifert, president of Siena University and chair of the Metro
Council of Presidents. "Stonehill embodies everything the Metro stands for, combining academic excellence and strong faith-based values with a proven commitment to investing in Division I
athletics. At a time of significant shift throughout the NCAA, this move underscores our league's determination to be proactive and bold in shaping our own trajectory. Reaching a record 14
member institutions and strengthening our New England footprint enhances our competitive landscape. We have great admiration for Father Denning's leadership and look forward to
collaborating with him to advance our shared mission in the years ahead."
Stonehill's addition comes amid a historic investment in Skyhawk athletics. In May 2026, the College publicly launched Built to Rise, a $50 million campaign to transform its athletics
facilities, anchored by the Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena. Made possible by a $15 million lead gift from Tom and Kathleen Bogan, the arena will house both a basketball arena and an ice
hockey venue, each seating between 2,250 and 2,500 spectators, along with training areas, locker rooms, meeting spaces, and advanced media amenities. The campaign also includes a new
athletic fields complex with turf baseball and softball fields adjacent to W.B. Mason Stadium, while the College's recent acquisition of the 18-hole Easton Country Club will serve as home to
its men's and women's golf programs.
"We are honored to join the Metro Conference, an organization whose values align closely with the educational mission of Stonehill College," said Rev. John Denning, C.S.C., president of the
College. "Like Stonehill, the Metro is committed to student-athletes' holistic development, supporting them academically, athletically and personally as they grow into confident, engaged
leaders. This partnership will enhance the student experience, as well as create new opportunities to engage our alumni and other supporters of the College."
"Joining the Metro Conference marks an exciting milestone for Stonehill College as we continue to build our Division I identity," said Dean O'Keefe, associate vice president and director of
athletics. "The Metro is an outstanding fit for Stonehill, providing exceptional competitive opportunities while reflecting our shared commitment to academic excellence and student-athlete
success. Expanding our presence in vibrant markets throughout the region will create new opportunities to engage our alumni, increase Stonehill's visibility, and introduce future
generations of Skyhawks to the distinctive educational experience our College provides. We look forward to renewing historic rivalries, building new relationships, and leveraging this
opportunity to elevate Stonehill's profile, enhance the student-athlete experience, and continue our ascent in Division I athletics."
Stonehill, founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1948, will be the Metro's 11th Catholic institution in 2027-28. All-time, Stonehill teams have earned 119 NCAA tournament bids, with student-athletes making regular appearances at the NCAA championships in men's and women's track and field. As a Division II member, Skyhawk women's basketball made 26 NCAA tournament appearances, followed by women's cross country with 21 appearances at the NCAA championships, 18 by men's cross country, and 15 each by men's basketball and women's tennis.
A charter member of the Northeast-10 Conference (NCAA Division II), Stonehill captured 129 NE10 championships and the NE10 Conference Presidents' Cup six times. Stonehill is one of
just 10 institutions nationwide to receive the NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence, recognizing athletics departments with an Academic Success Rate of 90 percent or
better, in each of the first 10 years of the program's existence. Since joining the Division I ranks, four Stonehill teams have combined to capture seven conference championships in men's and women's cross country, women's ice hockey, and women's lacrosse. The Skyhawks made their first NCAA Division I championship appearance on May 8, 2026, when women's lacrosse faced Stony Brook in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Stonehill's sport sponsorship includes 20 of the Metro's 23 championship sports, including: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's
golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and
women's volleyball. All programs except for football, field hockey, women's equestrian, and men's and women's ice hockey will compete in the Metro. Ranked No. 83 among National Liberal Arts Colleges and No. 73 in Best Value Schools by U.S. News & World Report (2025), Stonehill is also featured in The Princeton Review's The Best 391 Colleges: 2027 Edition and Forbes' 2027 Top 500 U.S. Colleges list, and ranks in the top 16% nationally in Money's 2026 Best Colleges in America. The College boasts 2,491 full-time students.
Stonehill is the Metro's fifth new member since 2022, following Mount St. Mary's (2022), Merrimack and Sacred Heart (2024), and Le Moyne (2027). The Metro's 14 member institutions
in 2027-28 span five states: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Founded in 1980 as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), the Metro Conference,
which implemented its brand repositioning project on July 1, 2026, is currently in its 46th year of competition and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey.
About the Metro
Now in its 46th year of competition, the Metro Conference unites 13 institutions committed to excellence in academics and athletics. Anchored in one of the nation's most dynamic regions and
its largest media markets, the Metro's 2027-28 membership shares a common vision for growth: Canisius University, Iona University, Le Moyne College, Manhattan University, Marist
University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary's University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter's University, Siena
University, and Stonehill College. Connect with the Metro on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at @MetroConfSports, or visit TheMetro.org.
About Stonehill College
Stonehill College, a Catholic institution of higher learning, was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1948. Located on the beautiful 387-acre campus and former estate of Frederick
Lothrop Ames in North Easton, Massachusetts, it is a community of scholarship and faith, anchored by a belief in the inherent dignity of each person. Through more than 100 academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business and pre-professional fields, Stonehill College provides an education of the highest caliber that fosters critical thinking, free inquiry and the interchange of ideas. Stonehill College educates the whole person so that each Stonehill graduate thinks, acts and leads with courage toward the creation of a more just and compassionate world.
