Great Northeast Athletic Conference

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the Division III ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Great Northeast Athletic Conference
AssociationNCAA
Founded1995
CommissionerJoe Walsh (since 2005)
Sports fielded
  • 22
    • men's: 11
    • women's: 11
DivisionDivision III
No. of teams16 (15 in 2024, 14 in 2025)
HeadquartersWinthrop, Massachusetts
RegionNew England
Official websitethegnac.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

History

Great Northeast Athletic Conference
50km
30miles
Dean
New England College
Mitchell
Albertus Magnus
Saint Joseph (CT)
Colby-Sawyer
Rivier
Elms
Anna Maria
Norwich
JWU
Saint Joseph's (ME)
Simmons
Emmanuel
Regis
Lasell
Locations of GNAC members, 2023-2024 full and departing

Chronological timeline

Member schools

Current members

The GNAC currently has sixteen full members, all are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoined
Albertus Magnus CollegeNew Haven, Connecticut1925Catholic
(D.S.P.)
1,961Falcons1995
Anna Maria College[a]Paxton, Massachusetts1946Catholic
(S.S.A.)
1,500Amcats2011
Colby–Sawyer CollegeNew London, New Hampshire1837Nonsectarian2,262Chargers2018
Dean CollegeFranklin, Massachusetts1865Nonsectarian1,055Bulldogs2020
Elms College[b]Chicopee, Massachusetts1928Catholic
(S.S.J.)
1,713Blazers2021[c]
Emmanuel College[b]Boston, Massachusetts1919Catholic
(SNDdeN)
1,850Saints1995
Johnson & Wales University[d]Providence, Rhode Island1914Nonsectarian8,564Wildcats1995
Lasell University[b]Newton, Massachusetts1851Nonsectarian2,200Lasers2007
Mitchell CollegeNew London, Connecticut1938Nonsectarian572Mariners2023
New England CollegeHenniker, New Hampshire1946Nonsectarian4,327Pilgrims2023
Norwich UniversityNorthfield, Vermont1819Private2,300Cadets1998
Regis College[b]Weston, Massachusetts1927Catholic
(S.S.J.)
2,748Pride2017
Rivier UniversityNashua, New Hampshire1933Catholic
(S.P.M.)
2,520Raiders1995
University of Saint Joseph[b]West Hartford, Connecticut1932Catholic
(R.S.M.)
2,467Blue Jays1995
Saint Joseph's College of MaineStandish, Maine1912Catholic
(R.S.M.)
1,987Monks2007
Simmons University[e][f]Boston, Massachusetts1899Nonsectarian1,900Sharks1995
Notes

Associate members

The GNAC currently has five associate members, all but two are private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedPrimary
conference
GNAC
sport
Husson UniversityBangor, Maine1898Nonsectarian3,500Eagles2008North Atlantic (NAC)swimming and diving
Emerson CollegeBoston, Massachusetts1880Nonsectarian4,290Lions1995New England (NEWMAC)men's volleyball
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, Massachusetts1904Nonsectarian4,576Leopards2011Commonwealth Coast (CCC)men's volleyball

Former members

The GNAC had eight former full members, all were private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference
Daniel Webster CollegeNashua, New Hampshire1965For-profitN/AEagles19952008Closed in 2017
Endicott CollegeBeverly, Massachusetts1939Nonsectarian4,528Gulls19951999Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Emerson CollegeBoston, Massachusetts1880Nonsectarian4,290Lions19952013New England (NEWMAC)
Mount Ida CollegeNewton, Massachusetts1899NonsectarianN/AMustangs20072018Closed in 2018
Pine Manor College[a]Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts1911NonsectarianN/AGators19952012N/A[b]
Southern Vermont CollegeBennington, Vermont1929NonsectarianN/AMountaineers19982008Closed in 2019
Suffolk UniversityBoston, Massachusetts1906Nonsectarian6,832Rams19952020Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Western New England UniversitySpringfield, Massachusetts1919Nonsectarian3,702Golden Bears19982007Commonwealth Coast (CCC)
Notes

Former associate members

The GNAC had two former associate members, which were also private schools:

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftPrimary
conference
GNAC
sport
Eastern Nazarene CollegeQuincy, Massachusetts1900Nazarene1,063Lions20182020North Atlantic (NAC)men's tennis
University of New EnglandBiddeford, Maine1831Nonsectarian7,208Nor'easters20212022Commonwealth Coast (CCC)women's swimming & diving
Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, Rhode Island1854Nonsectarian7,523Anchormen2008?Little East (LEC)men's golf
University of Southern MainePortland, Maine1878Public8,022Huskies2008?Little East (LEC)men's golf
University of Massachusetts DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, Massachusetts1895Public8,513Corsairs2012?Little East (LEC)men's golf

Membership timeline

New England CollegeMitchell CollegeUniversity of New England (United States)Dean CollegeEastern Nazarene CollegeColby-Sawyer CollegeRegis College (Massachusetts)University of Massachusetts DartmouthWentworth Institute of TechnologyAnna Maria CollegeUniversity of Southern MaineRhode Island CollegeHusson UniversityElms CollegeSaint Joseph's College of MaineMount Ida CollegeLasell CollegeWestern New England UniversitySouthern Vermont CollegeNorwich UniversitySuffolk UniversitySimmons UniversityUniversity of Saint Joseph (Connecticut)Rivier UniversityPine Manor CollegeJohnson %26 Wales UniversityEndicott CollegeEmerson CollegeEmmanuel College (Massachusetts)Daniel Webster CollegeAlbertus Magnus College

Sports

A divisional format is used for basketball (M / W).
North
  • Anna Maria
  • Colby–Sawyer
  • Emmanuel
  • Norwich
  • Rivier
  • Saint Joseph (Maine)
  • Simmons
South
  • Albertus Magnus
  • Dean
  • Elms
  • Johnson & Wales
  • Lasell
  • Regis
  • Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Conference sports
SportMen'sWomen's
Baseball
Y
Basketball
Y
Y
Cross country
Y
Y
Field hockey
Y
Golf
Y
Lacrosse
Y
Y
Soccer
Y
Y
Softball
Y
Swimming & diving
Y
Y
Tennis
Y
Y
Track & field
Y
Y
Volleyball
Y
Y

References

External links