ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH ON JUNE 10, 1980
Bentley's Al Shields (left in image above) was Named First Commissioner of NE-7.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – On this day 40 years ago, seven institutions from New England joined together and the Northeast-7 Conference was founded.
On June 10, 1980, a formal announcement was made that the Northeast-7 – a league that was described by the NCAA as, "probably the strongest Division II conference in the country" – would begin competition that fall in the sports of soccer, basketball and baseball.
American International, Assumption, Bentley, Bryant, Springfield, Stonehill and the University of Hartford were the founding member of the NE-7, a conglomerate of New England-based schools that formed the league to "provide a stimulus to the entire athletic programs of conference members."
Al Shields, the Director of Athletics at Bentley, was named the first conference commissioner and was a "founding father" of the Northeast-10, one member of a group that included Assumption's Andy Laska, Bryant's Leon Drury and Stonehill's Tom Folliard.
Shields, Laska, Drury and Folliard convinced Springfield's Ed Steitz, Hartford's Gordie McCullough and AIC's Milt Piepul to join them – and the NE-7 was born.
The benefits of the joining the league were: providing a stimulus to all sports on campus, increased attendance generated by conference standings, and increased media coverage, as well as economic and recruiting advantages.
Each institution was given a close look from an athletic and academic standpoint when the composition of the league was considered. Some of the criteria that were considered at the time, according to the NE-7's press release, included:
- Proximity to each other (to limit travel).
- Similarity of academic and athletic philosophies.
- Traditional success which comes from a commitment to athletics.
- Further commitment to enhancing athletics programs for women.
The NE-7 remained open to change, right from its founding, and was willing to accept new members in future years. What began as the NE-7 transitioned into the NE-8 just a year later in 1981 with the addition of Saint Anselm. In July of 1987, Quinnipiac and Saint Michael's joined the league to create the NE-10.
The league was formed on October 1, 1979, but required a year of planning before becoming New England's newest athletic conference. After the official announcement came the following June, the conference applied for automatic qualifying status to NCAA tournament play following a two-year probationary period.
To celebrate the league's 40th anniversary, a new logo (included in image above) will be used by the NE10 on all promotional materials for the 2020-21 season. Additionally, the conference will honor 40 Iconic Moments and 40 Outstanding Individuals throughout the school year – further celebrating the accomplishments and the people who helped shape the NE10 over the past four decades. Beginning in September, the NE10 will start to release both lists.
40 years later, the Northeast-10 has grown to 14 full member institutions and four associate members in field hockey and ice hockey. The league remains committed as ever to growing and developing its brand as a perennial power in Division II.
Help us celebrate our anniversary this year on social media by using the hashtag #NE10EMBRACE40!
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
