he University at Albany has accepted an invitation to become a full member of America East Conference, effective the 2001–02 academic year, President Karen R. Hitchcock announced on Jan. 31. Seventeen of the school's 19 intercollegiate varsity teams will be immediately eligible for conference championships and NCAA post-season competition.
"We are most pleased that the University's search for conference affiliation has reached a successful conclusion," Hitchcock said. "The America Conference's membership and the University at Albany have similar missions. These institutions have high academic standards, operate their athletic departments with integrity and demonstrated quality, and value the student-athlete as a whole person. We look forward to a long and productive partnership."
America East is in its 13th year of all-sports championship competition with a reputation as a comprehensive conference that is committed to broad-based Division I athletics. America East sponsors 21 conference championships for men and women. Admission to NCAA championships can be earned in baseball, men's and women's basketball, field hockey, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, and volleyball. In addition, student-athletes compete as individuals for NCAA events in cross country, swimming and diving, and track and field.
The current America East membership includes Boston University, University of Delaware, Drexel University, University of Hartford, Hofstra University, University of Maine, University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University, Towson University, and University of Vermont, although Delaware, Drexel, Towson, and Hofstra will be leaving the conference in 2002–03. The University at Stony Brook was also accepted as a conference member.
"Conference affiliation for our entire athletics program will enhance the institution's Division I growth," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy, who has led the University's conference search process since his appointment in July 2000. "With America East Conference membership, the University's goals and aspirations for intercollegiate athletics are now clearly defined. Our student-athletes and coaches will have an opportunity to compete for both conference and NCAA championships. America East will also provide increased visibility for athletics and strengthen our identity with the University's students, alumni, faculty and friends."
The America East Conference decision to add UAlbany and Stony Brook was noted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and in The Boston Herald on Jan. 31.
UAlbany sponsors eight men's teams, including baseball, basketball, cross country, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, soccer, and football (Division 1AA). The eleven women's teams are basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Football will continue its association with the Northeast Conference, and is committed through 2002. Women's golf will compete as an independent.
UAlbany has an athletic history that dates back to the late 1890s, when the first known intercollegiate teams arrived on campus. Albany competed at the college division level prior to the NCAA's restructuring in 1972. The athletic program moved from Division III to Division II in 1995–96, and upgraded to Division I in September 1999.
Chancellor Robert L. King, State University of New York, said, "It is important to get our schools (Albany and Stony Brook) into conferences that are recognized and respected across the country. We are delighted by this affiliation because it starts to give some real credibility to our Division I programs. It will assist in our recruiting and give us the visibility we want to have. I think it is a win-win situation."
Hitchcock said, "We have been intensely involved in this process over the last seven months. A lot of things had to fall into place to make it happen. When the four teams announced they were leaving in 2002, we knew our chances to get into the conference would improve. We immediately established a relationship with America East. We did a lot of work before the dominos began to fall."
America East Commissioner Chris Monasch said, "Certainly (Albany) is very similar to the other institutions that we have currently in size and philosophy, academics, the reputation of the institution, what their athletic program is about. So it makes sense for all those reasons, and I just think we project them to be an outstanding Division I program."
Women's basketball coach Mari Warner said, "Our players will now have a chance to compete for a conference championship. Everyone wants to have a shot to win something. When you play in these conference games, anybody can beat anybody on any given day. We have everything to gain from this move."
Men's basketball tri-captain Will Brand said, "Now I have something to really play for in my senior year. It's something (conference affiliation) that I didn't want to go without. We haven't played in a conference since my freshman year, so it feels good to play in America East."
Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld said, "America East Conference affiliation will enrich the experience of every student-athlete and elevate the visibility of the institution."
