The Metro Conference keeps getting bigger at the Northeast Conference’s expense.
The Metro, which includes Siena University, announced Friday the addition of Stonehill College, effective July 1, 2027, to bring the league’s membership to a record 14 schools for the 2027-28 season.
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Stonehill, located in North Easton, Mass., is the second NEC school in three weeks to accept an invitation from the Metro. Le Moyne College in Syracuse is also joining the Metro in 2027-28.
Mount St. Mary’s, Merrimack and Sacred Heart have also departed the NEC for the Metro since 2022.
“We are excited to welcome Stonehill College as the 14th member of the Metro Conference,” said Metro commissioner Travis Tellitocci said in a news release. “With an outstanding campus, the excitement surrounding the development of Bogan Arena, and a clear vision for the future, Stonehill has demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in its Division I athletics program and is an institution on the rise. Our Council of Presidents has been intentional in identifying institutions that are committed to investing in athletics and positioning themselves for long-term success.”
Fairfield is leaving the Metro for the Coastal Athletic Association after this academic year.
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Stonehill began its reclassification from Division II to Division I in July 22 and completed an accelerated transition on July 1, 2025. The Skyhawks became full NCAA Division I active members for the 2025-26 academic year.
Stonehill previously belonged to the Division II Northeast 10 Conference, where the Skyhawks were rivals of The College of Saint Rose, which closed in 2024.
Last May, Stonehill announced a planned $50 million improvement of its athletic facilties, including a new basketball and hockey arena. Stonehill said it had $22.5 million in commitments. Stonehill is a Division I independent in hockey.
Last season, Stonehill men’s basketball went 12-21 and the women’s team was 12-18. The teams currently play in Merkert Gymnasium, with a capacity of 1,560.
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Siena president Chuck Seifert, who is chair of the Metro Council of Presidents, said “Stonehill embodies everything the Metro stands for” because of its academic excellence, strong faith-based values and commitment to investing in Division I athletics.
“At a time of significant shift throughout the NCAA, this move underscores our league’s determination to be proactive and bold in shaping our own trajectory,” Seifert said. “Reaching a record 14 member institutions and strengthening our New England footprint enhances our competitive landscape.”
Frank Ambrose, who is Siena’s advisor to athletic director John D’Argenio for revenue sharing and NIL strategy, was less enthusiastic about adding another team from the NEC, historically one of the lowest-rated conferences in Division I basketball.
Ambrose questioned how it would strengthen men’s basketball and keep the Metro champion from needing to play in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round, which will be played in Dayton, Ohio, and Wichita, Kan. with the tournament’s expansion to 76 teams.
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“I’m sorry I just don’t see this as a net plus but the conference has been playing defense for years and our NET rating shows that,” Ambrose posted on X. “Maybe @StonehillMBB will be a Merrimack add but what is the @MetroConfSports actual plan continuing to reach into the @NEC, locking us into a trip to Dayton???”
Mount St. Mary’s men’s basketball won the Metro championship in 2025. Merrimack won the regular-season title by three games last season before losing to Siena in the championship game in Atlantic City.
Siena has belonged to the Metro since the 1989-90 season. With Fairfield’s departure, Iona, Manhattan and Saint Peter’s are the remaining charter members from the league’s first season in 1981-82.
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This article originally published at Siena’s league adding Stonehill College for 2027-28 season.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
