At a glance
“We are honored and excited to be accepted into the SUNYAC, a conference that sets a high standard for both athletic competition and academic achievement in NCAA Division III. This is a significant milestone for Alfred State, and a testament to the commitment shown by our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration in building a strong and balanced program."
Jason Doviak
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) will expand to a dozen full-time members in 2026-27 while welcoming four new associates in two different sports for the upcoming year.
The announcement was made on Thursday, June 5, by Commissioner Tom DiCamillo following unanimous approval by the SUNYAC Presidents Council during the conference’s annual meeting on June 4 in Syracuse, N.Y.
Alfred State, SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Delhi will join the SUNYAC as full-member institutions beginning in the fall of 2026. All three institutions are associate members in track and field with Cobleskill and Delhi participating as associates in cross country this coming fall for the first time.
Also beginning this fall, Penn State Altoona, Penn State Behrend and Pitt-Bradford will become associate members of the conference in the sports of men’s and women’s swimming & diving, while Elmira has been accepted as the ninth SUNYAC men’s wrestling program in the league.
“The unprecedented growth by the SUNYAC over the last 21 months firmly entrenches the conference as a destination for NCAA Division III student-athletes,” Alberto Cardelle, the president of SUNY Oneonta, chair of the SUNYAC Presidents Council, and a member of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council stated. “The SUNYAC student-athlete experience combines challenging intercollegiate competition in 22 sports with an array of academic opportunities aligned with the careers of the future.”
This marks the sixth round of SUNYAC expansion since October 2023 and sets the conference membership at 12 full members and 13 associates beginning with the 2026-27 campaign. The 13 associates will field 24 teams in nine different sports, and as a conference, the SUNYAC will boast 25 different member institutions.
“This addition of Alfred State, SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Delhi as full member institutions will register as a pivotal moment in the history of the SUNYAC,” Commissioner Tom DiCamillo said. “In the proverbial shifting sands of today’s world of intercollegiate athletics, the SUNYAC is stable, powerful and has positioned itself as an NCAA Division III leader for the foreseeable future.”
The SUNYAC is in the process of reimaging championships and league schedules to adapt to the expanding conference membership. That work will continue throughout the summer months as committees review an array of options and opportunities.
A current member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, Alfred State is excited about aligning with its sister SUNY institutions. The Pioneers sponsor 16 SUNYAC programs that include the following:
- Baseball
- Basketball (Men’s & Women’s)
- Cross Country (Men’s & Women’s)
- Lacrosse (Men’s & Women’s)
- Soccer (Men’s & Women’s)
- Softball
- Track & Field – Indoor & Outdoor (Men’s & Women’s)
- Volleyball (Women’s)Wrestling (Men’s)
Men’s diving program will compete at the 2025-26 SUNYAC Championship during its final season of intercollegiate competition.
“More than 400 student athletes choose to attend Alfred State every year to get a high-quality education and compete in sports,” Dr. Steven Mauro, president of the institution, said. “The move to the SUNYAC conference represents our latest effort to continue to invest in the development of these students both on and off the field of play. The SUNYAC is well known in New York State and across the NCAA for its high caliber of competition, and we are looking forward to being a part of that.”
Jason Doviak, the director of athletics for the Pioneers and a member of the NCAA Division III Championships Committee, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the SUNYAC that reflects Alfred State’s growing program.
“We are honored and excited to be accepted into the SUNYAC, a conference that sets a high standard for both athletic competition and academic achievement in NCAA Division III,” he stated. “This is a significant milestone for Alfred State, and a testament to the commitment shown by our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration in building a strong and balanced program. Joining the SUNYAC will challenge us to elevate our performance during competition while continuing to prioritize academic excellence. We’re eager to compete at this level and to represent Alfred State among such highly regarded institutions.”
The college’s proximity in Western New York aligns with the locations of Buffalo State and Fredonia – the two most western members of the SUNYAC.
“The growth in the SUNYAC has been unprecedented and illustrates the strength of the league and its position as one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences,” DiCamillo said. “There is no doubt we are stronger than ever.”