Saint Anselm announced a big switch in the midst of an ever-changing college athletics landscape. The college announced it will transition to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) in Division III.
The Hawks were previously competing in Division II in the Northeast-10 Conference. The transition will begin on July 1, 2027, with expectations to achieve full Division III membership by 2029-30, pending NCAA approval.
“We are confident this decision is in the best interest of the Saint Anselm student experience and the long-term future of the college,” Saint Anselm President Joseph A. Favazza said in a statement.
Favazza cited the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) landscape and transfer portal as sources of instability and uncertainty.
The college described the transition as a “aligning with institutions that share its commitment to academic rigor, competitive excellence, and holistic student development.”
Saint Anselm’s currently supports 23 varsity programs with 650 student-athletes.
“Athletics is an extension of our educational experience, and the NEWMAC offers a conference home that mirrors our priorities both in the classroom and in competition,” Athletic Director Phil Rowe said in a statement.
In addition to the conference and divisional change, the college is currently developing the Van Hoof Athletic Complex, aimed at hosting soccer and track and field in 2027.
The only two exceptions to Saint Anselm’s previous athletic alignment were women’s ice hockey and women’s bowling, both in Division I in the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance and the East Coast Conference, respectively.
A Change.org petition started by Margaret Sullivan, a Saint Anselm’s women’s hockey alumna, expressed concern over the institutional realignment. As of Monday, April 27, the petition had over 1,500 signatures asking the college to keep the team in Division I.