New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz officially joins the NJAC. 

 July 1st marked the end of one era and the beginning of a new future for The State University New York (SUNY) at New Paltz Hawk intercollegiate athletic program. SUNY New Paltz officially ended its 60 year membership in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and entered into the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), becoming the first non-New Jersey university to have full membership in the NJAC.

While a charter member since 1958 of SUNYAC, the current lineup of SUNYAC participants meant that SUNY New Paltz student-athletes spent an inordinate amount of time away from campus. Single away trips of more than three hours were common, as were lengthy weekend overnight trips. Not only did these trips interfere and affect the education of Hawk athletes, they also expended resources that could have been better used to enhance the overall athletic and recreational programs for athletes and the campus community alike. Joining the NJAC will alleviate these factors and provide for a better educational and athletic experience for Hawk student-athletes.

Introducing the NJAC
The NJAC was founded in 1957 as the New Jersey State Athletic Conference (NJSAC). First a men's only athletic league, in 1985 the women's Jersey Athletic Conference (JAC) merged with NJSAC and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) was incorporated. One the strongest NCAA DIII conferences in the nation, NJAC teams have won 64 NCAA DIII championships, 25 in men's sports and 39 in women's sports, since 1957.

The NJAC currently sponsors championships in nine men's sports and 11 women's sports, all leading to automatic qualification to the respective NCAA DIII postseason tournament. Those sports include: Fall: men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, field hockey, women's volleyball and football; Winter: men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's winter track and field, and men's and women's basketball; Spring: men's volleyball, baseball, softball, women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track and field. The addition of SUNY New Paltz will allow the NJAC to now sponsor championships in women's tennis and men's lacrosse.

NJAC Student-Athlete Recognition

NJAC Athletes of the Week (by sport)
NJAC Composite Awards (All Conference Awards)
NJAC All Academic Team (individual)
NJAC Cup
NJAC Career Recognition

Who's Who in the NJAC?

Kean University (1855)
11,758 undergraduates
Location: Union, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 1:39 hours (87 miles)
Team Colors: Kean Blue (light blue)
Nickname: Cougars
NJAC Championships: Softball (2), Women's Volleyball (9), Women's Swimming & Diving (1),
Baseball (5), Men's Basketball (3), Men's Soccer (10), Men's Volleyball (2)
NCAA DIII Championships: Baseball (2)
Web: keanathletics.com

Montclair State University (1908)
16,093 undergraduates
Location: Montclair, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 1:22 hours (73 miles)
Team Colors: Red/White
Nickname: Red Hawks
NJAC Championships: Field Hockey (2), Women's Soccer (5), Softball (4), Women's Tennis (1),
Women's Volleyball (3), Baseball (15), Men's Basketball (9), Men's Cross Country (4), Men's
Soccer (15)
NCAA DIII Championships: Wrestling (2), Baseball (3)
Web: montclairathletics.com

Ramapo College of New Jersey (1969)
5,732 undergraduates
Location: Mahwah, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 1:03 hours (58 miles)
Team Colors: Maroon/White
Nickname: Roadrunners
NJAC Championships: Softball (1), Women's Volleyball (1), Baseball (4), Men's Basketball (5),
Men's Cross Country (1), Men's Soccer (1)
NCAA DIII Championships: Baseball (1)
Web: ramapoathletics.com

Rowan University (1923)
16,199 undergraduates
Location: Glassboro, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz: 2:57 hours (175 miles)
Team Colors: Brown/Gold
Nickname: Profs
NJAC Championships: Women's Cross Country (7), Field Hockey (12), Women's Lacrosse (1),
Women's Soccer (4), Softball (14), Women's Swimming & Diving (13), Women's Volleyball (8),Baseball (18), Men's Basketball (12), Men's Cross Country (26), Men's Soccer (16), Men's
Swimming & Diving (18)
NCAA DIII Championships: Baseball (2), Outdoor Track & Field (5), Men's Soccer (2), Men's
Basketball (1), Men's Indoor Track & Field (1)
Web: rowanathletics.com

Rutgers University-Camden (1926)
4,497 undergraduates
Location: Camden, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz: 2:48 minutes (164 miles)
Team Colors: Scarlet
Nickname: Scarlet Raptors
NJAC Championships: Softball (2), Baseball (1), Men's Soccer (4)
NCAA DIII Championships: Softball (1)
Web: scarletraptors.com

Rutgers University-Newark (1909)
8,170 undergraduates
Location: Newark, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 1:32 hours (82 miles)
Team Colors: Scarlet
Nickname: Scarlet Raiders
NJAC Championships: Women's Volleyball (5), Men's Soccer (1), Men's Volleyball (5)
Web: rutgersnewarkathletics.com

Stockton University (1969)
7,583 undergraduates
Location: Galloway, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 2:57 minutes (183 miles)
Team Colors: Black/White/Columbia Blue
Nickname: Ospreys
NJAC Championships: Women's Cross Country (2), Women's Volleyball (14), Men's Basketball
(10), Men's Soccer (5)
NCAA DIII Championships: Men's Soccer (1)
Web: stocktonathletics.com

The College of New Jersey (1855)
6,653 undergraduates
Location: Ewing, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 2:22 hours (132 miles)
Team Colors: Navy Blue/Gold
Nickname: Lions
NJAC Championships: Women's Cross Country (35), Field Hockey (26), Women's Lacrosse
(16), Women's Soccer (22), Softball (14), Women's Swimming & Diving (17), Women's Tennis(43), Baseball (11), Men's Basketball (6), Men's Cross Country (32), Men's Swimming & Diving
(15)
NCAA DIII Championships: Wrestling (5), Field Hockey (11), Softball (6), Women's Lacrosse
(13), Women's Tennis (1), Women's Soccer (3)
Web: tcnjathletics.com

William Paterson University (1855)
5,298 undergraduates
Location: Wayne, NJ
Travel time from New Paltz - 1:17 hours (64 miles)
Team Colors: Orange/Black
Nickname: Pioneers
NJAC Championships: Field Hockey (1), Women's Soccer (1), Softball (3), Women's Volleyball
(4), Baseball (10), Men's Basketball (11), Men's Cross Country (2), Men's Soccer (2)
NCAA DIII Championships: Baseball (2)
Web: wpupioneers.com

NJAC Champions 2025-26

Women's Cross County - Rowan University
Men's Cross Country - The College of New Jersey
Women's Soccer - Montclair State University
Men's Soccer - Rowan University
Women's Volleyball - Kean University
Men's Swimming & Diving - Salisbury University (affiliate member)
Women's Swimming & Diving - The College of New Jersey
Men's Indoor Track & Field - Rowan University
Women's Indoor Track & Field - Rowan University
Women's Basketball - The College of New Jersey
Men's Basketball - The College of New Jersey
Men's Volleyball - New Jersey City University
Women's Tennis - Rowan University
Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Rowan University
Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Rowan University
Women's Lacrosse - The College of New Jersey
Baseball - Rowan University
Softball - Rowan University

NJAC in the 2025-26 NCAA DIII Championships

Field Hockey - Rowan (1st round)
Women's Soccer - Montclair State & Rowan (2nd round)
Men's Soccer - Rowan (3rd round)
Women's Cross Country - NCAA III Metro: TCNJ (2nd), Rowan (4th), Stockton (5th), Ramapo
(6th), Monclair State (11th), Kean (19th)
Men's Cross Country - NCAA DIII Metro: TCNJ (1st), Rowan (5th), Stockton (8th), Ramapo
(14th), Kean (17th), Rutgers-Camden (18th), Rutgers-Newark (25th)
NCAA DIII National Championship - TCNJ (32nd)
Women's Volleyball - Kean (2nd round)
Men's Baskeball - TCNJ (2nd round)
Women's Basketball - TCNJ (1st round)
Women's Swimming & Diving - Kean (17th), Rowan (32nd)
Men's Swimming & Diving - TCNJ (11th)
Men's Volleyball - New Jersey City University (1st round)
Womens' Tennis - TCNJ (2nd round)
Women's Lacrosse - Rowan (3rd round), TCNJ (quarterfinals)
Softball - Rowan (43-11) College World Series
Baseball - Rowan (38-7) College World Series

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