WATERVILLE, ME- On Tuesday afternoon the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced three new members of the conference, as confirmed by the NAC Council of Presidents. Cazenovia College, SUNY Cobleskill, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute will be full members of the conference effective July 1, 2020.

The new members bring the total number of full institutional members to twelve and allows for an east-west divisional competition schedule in most sports while shoring up access to the NCAA automatic qualification bid for several sports.

Commissioner Marcella Zalot is enthusiastic about the outlook for the conference. "The addition of our three new members achieves the first phase of our strategic plan to grow the NAC regionally. I am looking forward to working with them to shape the NAC vision and offer increasing transformational growth opportunities for our student athletes. I am excited for our future together. "All three schools sponsor ten NAC sports - baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, and women's volleyball. Cazenovia and SUNY Poly also sponsor women's lacrosse, while SUNY Cobleskill offers men's golf and men's and women's track and field. Each department supports teams outside NAC sponsorship as well.

"We are so pleased to welcome three strong institutions into the conference," said NAC President's Council Chair, Dr. Elaine Collins.  "We were fascinated to learn about Cazenovia, SUNY Cobleskill, and SUNY Poly and their unique value as institutions of higher learning.  Each school brings something truly special to the conference and will enhance the experience and opportunities for student athletes in the NAC."

The addition of Cazenovia, SUNY Cobleskill, and SUNY Poly continues the NAC's ongoing strategic initiative to build membership and provide high quality educational experiences for student athletes. 

The North Atlantic Conference was founded in 1997 as the North Atlantic Women's Conference (NAWC), giving female student-athletes an opportunity to compete in a post-season tournament. The NAWC was then rebranded as the North Atlantic Conference in 1999. The NAC currently sponsors 16 men's and women's intercollegiate sports in Division III of the NCAA, including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track & field and women's volleyball.

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