Chronicles of Z - D2 teams that move to D1

Chronicles of Z – Former D2 teams moving to D1

By Stephen Zerdelian

The specter of programs leaving the Division II landscape is ever-present and over the years there have been several regional teams transitioning to the Division I level, including Stonehill during this past off-season. How successful have they been? In some ways, more so at the D1 level than at D2; in other ways, not so much. There are plenty of ancillary factors (more funds, more coaching, etc.) that can determine relative success, of course, so it is not cut-and-dried.

Since the region came into being in the early 1980’s, there have been a dozen programs which have departed the ranks to move to Division I. Who and when? Here is a handy-dandy chart to illustrate…

Some have been more successful than others but there are qualifiers. Albany and Hartford, who had zero Division II NCAA bids, have a combined dozen in Division I. However, they spent a combined ten years (five each) as Division II outfits, so it is hardly fair to say they ‘failed’ in Division II. Sacred Heart also had zero Division II NCAA bids, but they spent almost two decades at that level. Yet, they have reached the NCAA Division I field thrice since moving up.

On the flip side, Massachusetts-Lowell picked up eight Division II NCAA bids but since moving into Division I, they’ve yet to reach the dance. Bryant (seven Division II berths) is in the same boat, along with Merrimack (three Division II NCAA spots), but the latter has only been in Division I for a few years, so they get a relative pass.

Four programs won Division II regional titles (as indicated by the *) and the group combined for 49 NCAA Division II tournament appearances…

Ironically, one institution will be dropping off this list soon, Hartford. In their own words…

ACADEMIC YEAR 2022–2023

The University of Hartford remains Division I but will not offer new athletic scholarships to incoming student-athletes. The existing athletic scholarships for all returning sophomores, juniors, seniors and grad students will be honored.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2023–2024

The University of Hartford will begin competing in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The existing athletic scholarships for all returning juniors, seniors, and graduate students will be honored.

At the end of this academic year, any student-athlete planning to enroll the following year (2024-‘25) will be asked to elect if they wish to continue to compete. If so, they will be repackaged on academic and need based aid. Depending on the student, this may be the same or similar packaging. However, if a student chooses to retain their full or partial athletic scholarship, they can do so, but will not be able to compete the following year under NCAA rules.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024–2025

The University of Hartford administers its athletics program consistent with all NCAA DIII policies and procedures. All students will have been transitioned off athletic scholarships, if competing, per NCAA rules. In September of 2025, the University of Hartford begins active membership in DIII.

This is hardly the new trend, however. If anything, more regional D2 institutions will be moving up a level. As it has in the past, the D2 regional conferences will adapt, try to add new members, and evolve into the future. Nothing stays the same, so get ready to watch the names and schools continue to churn.

Conferences come and go – does anyone remember the old Empire State Conference? This New York City-based amalgam of teams was a staple of the 1980’s along with a broadly similar loop on the men’s side named the Big Apple Conference. It was a tight cadre of schools (see the list below) who knew each other very well.

The Empire State Conference featured at least five teams in each of its eight campaigns with Pace the dominant unit, claiming most of the hardware. The league splintered in 1990 but was largely recrafted as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC), the predecessor of the current-day East Coast Conference. Army was the only one to break off and fully embrace a Division I schedule while CW Post (later LIU Post) and New York Tech are relics left in the past.

Empire State Conference (1982-’83 thru 1989-’90)

All eight seasons – Adelphi, CW Post, Molloy, New York Tech, Pace

1983-’84-end – Mercy

1984-’85-end – Army

Most don’t remember the league (try to find references on team/school websites, I dare you – there are not many) but I do. I’ll be honest – the info I pieced together wasn’t easy and it’s not complete, so if anyone has anything to add to the chart or has any input at all, I am all ears. As far as I am concerned, regional history must be remembered and preserved, otherwise it is gone for good, which would be a true shame for the players and coaches that made it happen.

Notes…

I wasn’t going to get into anything other than the above but last night’s action in the NE10 must be touched upon. The ever-volatile conference served up six games last night, all of which ended with a scoring difference of eight points or less between the teams. You just never know…

Le Moyne took over the league lead, thanks to a 58-57 win over Assumption in Syracuse. Haedyn Roberts’ basket with eight seconds left was the winning moment and the Dolphins got a stop after that to hold on. Lytoya Baker led LC with 21 points and 11 boards as they ran their winning streak to eight games… Southern New Hampshire is tied with Assumption for second place following their 71-63 win at Franklin Pierce. Julia Colby’s career-best 24 points sparked the Penmen, who stanched a late Raven rally to emerge victorious… Bentley holds fourth place all alone thanks to a 74-70 victory at Adelphi. Maggie Whitmore (19 points, including what proved to be the winning basket with 43 ticks left) and Brooke Obar (personal-high 14 points) topped the Falcon scoring… New Haven made it eight straight wins with a 49-40 decision over stubborn St. Michael’s in West Haven. Camryn DeBose (17 points) topped the Charger attack as UNH blasted to a fast lead (22-8 after a period) but struggled to shed the Purple Knights… Melanie Hoyt’s basket with 10 seconds left allowed Saint Anselm to snare a 50-49 win in Manchester against AIC. The win keeps the Hawks in with a chance to host a first-round playoff game, but the Yellow Jackets fell into 6^th place with the defeat… Four double figure scorers did the trick for Southern Connecticut, who edged past the College of Saint Rose, 60-54. The Owls scored 10 of the game’s final 13 points to prevail and get back into the win column.

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