Le Moyne College has accepted an invitation to join the Metro Conference (formerly MAAC) as a full-time member beginning on July 1, 2027.
Le Moyne, currently a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC), is in the midst of its first season with full NCAA Division I active member status, having started the transition from Division II in July 2023. The school completed the accelerated transition to D1 this past June.
In the announcement, the school said the move “places Le Moyne alongside a group of peer institutions with similar values, who are committed to academic excellence, and will elevate Le Moyne’s national profile.”
Le Moyne was previously an associate member of the MAAC in baseball (1990-2007) and women’s lacrosse (1999-2007).
“We are absolutely thrilled to join the Metro Conference at a transformative time for both Le Moyne College and the Central New York region,” said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura.
“This move will allow Le Moyne to compete against peer institutions with similar missions and values, who are committed to academic excellence, and who have legacies of on-field achievement and institutional support for athletics. Competing in the Metro will elevate Le Moyne’s national profile, enhance the student-athlete experience, and increase exposure in cities and regions beneficial for future recruitment efforts and growth. We look forward to building strong rivalries and a dynamic future together.”
Located in Syrcause, N.Y., Le Moyne sponsors both a women’s and men’s swimming & diving team.
In moving to the Metro Conference, the Dolphins will join Canisius, Fairfield, Iona, Manhattan, Marist, Merrimack, Mount St. Mary’s, Niagara, Rider, Sacred Heart, Saint Peter’s and Siena, all of whom sponsor women’s swimming & diving team. Among the schools listed, all but Merrimack, Sacred Heart and Siena have a men’s swim & dive team.
Quinnipiac is the only full-time Metro Conference member without a swimming & diving program.
“We are excited to welcome Le Moyne College back to the Metro Conference,” said Metro Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. “Le Moyne’s leadership has taken an aggressive approach to building its Division I athletics program and demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in its future success.
“With significant economic development and investment taking place throughout Central New York, this is an exciting time for Le Moyne and the Syracuse region. We believe Le Moyne has tremendous potential and is well positioned to capitalize on this momentum. We look forward to working together to build a successful future with Le Moyne in the Metro Conference.”
Le Moyne currently sponsors 22 varsity sports, 10 men’s and 12 women’s, 21 of which are sponsored by the Metro–women’s bowling being the lone one that isn’t sponsored.
Last season, the Le Moyne women’s swim & dive team placed 7th out of seven teams at the Northeast Conference Championships, while the men finished 3rd out of four teams. Lucas Clay (men’s 100 breast) and Louis Allison (men’s 1-meter dive) both won individual conference titles for the Dolphins.
With Le Moyne’s departure next season, the Northeast Conference will only have four full-time members with swimming & diving teams, LIU, Stonehill, Wagner and Central Connecticut, along with affiliate member Howard.
