Mercyhurst University is bumping up its athletics program.
The private Catholic-affiliated institution in Erie announced Thursday that it accepted an invitation into the Division I Northeast Conference, effective this fall for the 2024-25 academic year. With the exception of the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams, Lakers athletics is currently competing at the Division II level with most sports in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
“Today marks a watershed moment for Mercyhurst University, amplifying our commitment to excellence in all that we do,” Mercyhurst president Kathleen Getz said in a statement. “In making this transition to the Northeast Conference, we believe our Mercyhurst community, our alumni, and devoted fans will benefit from a new era of spirited competition and connectedness, forging an enduring legacy for future generations of Lakers.”
Getz likened Thursday’s announcement to other landmark decisions in the history of the 98-year old school such as its move from being all-female to co-ed in 1969 and its status change from college to university in 2012.
“By making the move to Division I and the NEC, we are not only raising the bar for our student-athletes but also elevating the profile and prestige of Mercyhurst University on a national stage,” Getz said. “This transition will open doors to new opportunities for recruitment, competition, and collaboration with universities and athletic programs in new and larger markets, including New York, Chicago, and Boston.”
Mercyhurst immediately has an in-state rival in Loretto-based St. Francis (Pa.), a three-hour drive to the southeast. Central Connecticut State, Chicago State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Le Moyne, Long Island, Stonehill and Wagner are the NEC’s other full members.
NEC’s football conference includes Duquesne and Robert Morris.
In addition to the ice hockey teams and football, other sports sponsored by Mercyhurst include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s heavyweight and lightweight rowing, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, stunt, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s water polo and wrestling.
The Lakers will participate in 18 of the 25 sports the NEC offers.
“For years, our athletic programs have showcased exceptional talent and dedication, both athletically and academically, at the NCAA Division II level,” Mercyhurst athletic director Joe Spano said in a statement. “In looking to the future, we see the immense potential for growth and achievement that comes with competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics and we are excited to offer this opportunity to our student-athletes. I would like to thank the NEC for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be associated with such outstanding institutions.”
With an undergraduate enrollment of 2,125 in addition to 360 graduate students, Mercyhurst teams have won 26 conference championships and made 72 appearances in the NCAA Tournament since 2000. The men’s lacrosse team won the Division II national championship in 2011.
“We are delighted to extend a heartfelt welcome to Mercyhurst University as the newest member of the NEC,” conference commissioner Noreen Morris said in a statement. “Mercyhurst’s commitment to bringing out the best in their student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom, alongside their focus on community engagement, deeply resonated with our mission and values.”
Mercyhurst becomes Pennsylvania’s fifth Division I basketball program west of Penn State, joining Pitt, Duquesne, Robert Morris and St. Francis. It becomes western Pennsylvania’s first new Division I school since Robert Morris made the jump almost a half century ago.
Mercyhurst will not be eligible for “March Madness” (or any other NCAA team national championship) until the 2028-29 season as it reclassifies into Division I. With the exception of NCAA non-automatic qualifier sports (cross country, swimming and diving, and indoor and outdoor track and field), it will not be until the 2026-27 season until Lakers teams can compete in NEC championships.
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.