Bryant moving up to D1

[StrykerFSU]

Joining the NEC in 2012

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University announced that it has received and accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference (NEC), an 11-member Division I conference that sponsors championships in 21 sports for men and women. The announcement was made today by Northeast Conference Commissioner Brenda Weare following a vote from the NEC Council of Presidents.

"Bryant is an outstanding university that has demonstrated excellence both academically and competitively," said NEC commissioner Brenda Weare. "They are an excellent fit for the NEC, and we look forward to them joining us in the fall of 2012."

"I think this is great for the Northeast Conference," said Vice Admiral Paul Gaffney, President of Monmouth University and Chair of the NEC Membership Committee. "We were extremely impressed with the commitment of their President, trustees, and athletic department staff."

Having already filed with the NCAA, Bryant is currently in its first year of a five-year transition period for full Division I membership.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors earlier this summer had issued a moratorium for four years on schools applying to transition to Division I. Bryant had filed its paperwork before June 1 with the NCAA.

With the invitation into the Northeast Conference, Bryant will become the fourth Division I institution in the state of Rhode Island, joining Brown University, Providence College and the University of Rhode Island.

Bryant will continue its transition to Division I with full membership effective September 2012. Bryant is expected to begin playing a Division I schedule in 2008-09.

"The movement to Division I athletic competition is consistent with our strategic plan to continually enhance Bryant University's reputation as a superb educational institution," said Bryant University President Ronald K. Machtley.

"Membership in the prestigious Northeast Conference will raise our academic and athletic profiles, providing our student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level," added Director of Athletics Bill Smith.

Timeline:
1. 2007-08 Exploratory Year – Remain Eligible for DII Championships
2. 2008-09 First Year of Reclassification
3. 2009-10 Second Year of Reclassification
4. 2010-11 Third Year of Reclassification
5. 2011-12 Fourth Year of Reclassification
6. 2012-13 Eligible for NCAA Division I Championships

Located in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant University has 3,268 full-time and part-time undergraduate students from 32 states and 34 countries, and offers degrees through its the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Business. Bryant is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), a distinction awarded to fewer than 10 percent of business schools worldwide.

Recently, Bryant University was listed among the Top 20 Universities – Master's North Category by U.S. News & World Report and is listed in Barron's Best Buys in College Education and Princeton Review's "Top 366 Colleges in America."

Bryant University sponsors 22 intercollegiate sports teams: 11 men's varsity programs (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, swimming, indoor track, and outdoor track and field) and 11 women's varsity programs: (basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor track, outdoor track and field, and volleyball).

The Northeast Conference currently consists of 11 institutions: Central Connecticut State University (New Britain, Conn.), Fairleigh Dickinson University (Hackensack, N.J.), Long Island University (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Monmouth University (West Long Branch, N.J.), Mount St. Mary's University (Emmitsburg, M.D.), Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Conn.), Robert Morris University (Moon Township, Pa.), Sacred Heart University (Fairfield, Conn.), Saint Francis College (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Saint Francis University (Loretto, Pa.), and Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.).

The University of Albany (Albany, N.Y.) and Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pa.) are associate members of the Northeast Conference in football only.

[onpoint]

I think they will be a great addition to the sport at that level and it definitely shows the faith the university has in Pressler. Interesting how long it will take for the whole process to complete. I know they are not eligible for NCAA Div. I Championships for the first four years, but I wonder at what point they won't be allowed to compete for the Div. II Championship as well. There will be a four year gray area there where the players won't have anything to play for at the end of the year if I'm reading this correctly. Not that I think that will stop them from getting up to speed, but it may be an issue. (edit - oops, actually read the article. Starting next fall, ineligible for Div. II playoffs.)

How long before you see this team making noise on the Hobart level? Or is this going to be another team stuck in the Hartford/Siena/Bellarmine group?

[Gvlax]

i think with pressler as coach they will be getting some nice recruits... i can see them being a good team as long as he stays around.

[AO]

I think they will be a great addition to the sport at that level and it definitely shows the faith the university has in Pressler. Interesting how long it will take for the whole process to complete. I know they are not eligible for NCAA Div. I Championships for the first four years, but I wonder at what point they won't be allowed to compete for the Div. II Championship as well. There will be a four year gray area there where the players won't have anything to play for at the end of the year if I'm reading this correctly. Not that I think that will stop them from getting up to speed, but it may be an issue. (edit - oops, actually read the article. Starting next fall, ineligible for Div. II playoffs.)

How long before you see this team making noise on the Hobart level? Or is this going to be another team stuck in the Hartford/Siena/Bellarmine group?

That's a great question. I'd guess that Bryant will probably hover in that neighborhood of Sacred Heart/Vermont/Quinnipiac (top end of the bottom 3rd of DI) for a for a few years, before moving into the middle 3rd(?) of the pack with the likes of Binghamton/Denver/Villanova, etc.

Gvlax is right, too: as long as a name-brand like Pressler stays with the program, Bryant should stay on an upward moving track.

[echo 600]

Yeah but how long is Pressler going to stick around at Bryant? I know they gave the guy a shot when nobody else would, and for some that still counts for something. But Pressler took a pretty big pay cut leaving Duke. How long is going to be before some other high level programs come calling? And if they do, does he bolt or stay?

I don't know the guy from Adam, but he earned major points in my book for sticking up for his players, so it's obvious loyalty means something to the man. But it was well reported he was in the middle of building a house when Duke axed him. If he gets an opportunity to get back in the elite in the near future does he turn it down?

With the charges being dropped and Nifong being vilified, I think it vindicates Pressler and probably makes him an easier sell for some ADs to their Presidents when there's an opening for a job.

Anyway, just a thought.

[Jana]

Well, he stuck around Duke for 16 years, and they didn't pay him very well until pretty recently. Also, the coaching carosel is not highly active every single summer. Just speculation, but Bryant may have some incentive funds in the contract, should the team win big. And I speculate there is some gratitude for taking him on during all the turmoil.

[Zeuslax]

I think the timing couldn't have been any better (for the university to have such a qualified candidate available and for Pressler). I'm sure the topic of making the jump came up in the interview process and was a factor in Pressler taking this job.

Pressler has been telling recruits this year that if they come to Bryant they would be playing DI for him eventually. I don't think he's going anywhere for a while. We also didn't see his name involved with any of the jobs that popped up this summer.