Marywood Accepts Invitation to Join Middle Atlantic Conference

NEWTOWN, Pa. — The Middle Atlantic Conference Presidents are pleased to formally announce that Marywood University will join as its 18th member institution effective in the 2026-27 academic year. This strategic expansion further solidifies the MAC's commitment to fostering a robust and competitive NCAA Division III landscape for student-athletes across the region.

"On behalf of the MAC Presidents, it is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Marywood University into the Middle Atlantic Conference, commencing in the 2026-27 academic year," said Dan Myers, MAC Executive Committee Chair and Misericordia University President. "This strategic expansion underscores our collective commitment to growth and competitive integrity. Marywood's presence will undoubtedly enrich our conference, fostering new rivalries and enhancing opportunities for student-athletes across the region for years to come."

The Middle Atlantic Conference stands as a premier NCAA Division III athletics conference, comprising 16 distinguished colleges and universities, all firmly committed to the holistic development and success of student-athletes. With its rich and enduring history, the MAC consistently delivers an unparalleled competitive environment that not only cultivates athletic excellence but also champions academic achievement and embodies the highest principles of sportsmanship, thus thoroughly preparing individuals for lifelong success. This commitment to growth and competitive integrity is further strengthened by the recent addition of Marywood University, joining fellow Atlantic East Conference member Neumann University, as the conference continues to strategically expand its distinguished membership.

Marywood will compete in the MAC Freedom for field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, golf, lacrosse, softball, and tennis. With the additions of Marywood and Neumann, the Commonwealth and Freedom conferences will each have nine competing institutions. 

"Joining the MAC is a game-changer for Marywood Athletics and an important step in facilitating our broader vision for growth," said Lisa Lori, President of Marywood University. "It brings all of our NCAA-sponsored sports under one competitive umbrella, strengthens our commitment to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience, and reestablishes key regional rivalries that energize our community. This move elevates expectations both on and off the field. As an institution, we embrace that."

The Pacers will bring a slate of 10 men's and 12 women's NCAA teams to the MAC, including baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, golf, tennis, swimming and diving, cross country, track and field, softball, and volleyball. In the past year, the Pacers captured four Atlantic East Conference crowns in men's cross country, field hockey, women's soccer, and men's track and field, moving to 26 overall AEC championship titles. 

During its time in the Atlantic East, Marywood led with the most student-athletes on the All-Academic Team during six of the conference's seven years. It leads the Atlantic East with 35 Team Academic Awards for the highest Grade Point Average.

Prior to the AEC, Marywood was a long-time member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference, formerly the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, through the end of the 2017-18 academic year. Marywood is an associate member of the Landmark Conference and Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference in women's and men's golf, respectively. Inclusive of its past performances, the Pacers have collected 68 conference championships and 69 runner-up finishes.

Marywood continues to improve and expand its facilities to enhance the student-athlete experience. In the past few years, the university has added resources such as a recovery room, nutrition services, sports psychology training, strength and conditioning programming, and more to help the student-athletes perform their best on and off the field. 

"By joining the MAC we are prioritizing the student-athlete experience and student-athlete well-being, both of which are key staples within Marywood athletics," stated Marywood Director of Athletics and Recreation Andrew Smith. "With this new partnership, Marywood coaches will be able to expand our recruiting footprint, enabling us to compete in the region and beyond. As competitors, we want to get better every day. Joining the MAC provides us that opportunity."

About the Middle Atlantic Conference
Located in Newtown Pa., the Middle Atlantic Conference is an NCAA Division III conference comprised of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) and Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom).
 
Its 16 member institutions, located across three states, are: Albright College (Reading, Pa.), Alvernia University (Reading, Pa.), Arcadia University (Glenside, Pa.), Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pa.), DeSales University (Center Valley, Pa.), Eastern University (St. Davids, Pa.), Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (Madison, N.J.), Hood College (Frederick, Md.), King's College (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pa.), Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), Misericordia University (Dallas, Pa.), Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, N.J.), Stevenson University (Owings Mills, Md.), Widener University (Chester, Pa.) and York College (York, Pa.).

The MAC currently sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports that compete in the NCAA Division III. More than 7,700 student-athletes participate in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's golf, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track & field, softball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's volleyball and wrestling. The MAC will sponsor women's wrestling beginning 2025-26 increasing its sponsorship to 28 sports and 41 championships. 

Learn More about Marywood's Athletics