NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz is leaving the SUNY Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) to join the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), effective the 2026-27 school year.
New Paltz, a Division III school, will continue competing in the SUNYAC with no changes to the existing structure, for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.
“We are excited to enter a new era of Hawks athletics, and I am grateful to NJAC leadership for their support throughout this process,” said SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler. “I also want to thank the SUNY Athletic Conference, their members and their leadership for their stewardship of the DIII athletics experience in New York State and their support of our institution throughout our years as a member.”
Competing in NJAC will meaningfully reduce away-game travel time for SUNY New Paltz varsity teams, providing a better experience for athletes and helping the University realize cost savings that will be reinvested into athletics and wellness programs that benefit all New Paltz students.
The NJAC was founded in 1957 and expanded to 10 teams in 1983. It has had a consistent membership in the 40+ years since. The two-year window before New Paltz joins will allow the conference to conduct a sport-by-sport study to develop new regular season and postseason competition plans that will be implemented ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.
New Paltz has competed in the SUNYAC since 1963.
“Moving to the New Jersey Athletic Conference presents opportunities to enhance the profile and competitiveness of Hawks athletics programs at a time when our varsity teams are performing at historic levels,” said Director of Athletics, Wellness & Recreation Renee Bostic. “Coordinating this transition along a two-year timeline will also help us provide a smooth experience for our current student-athletes, particularly juniors and seniors who are focused on building on last year’s record-breaking season.”
