Stonehill Athletics Completes Accelerated Reclassification to Full NCAA Division I Status

EASTON, Mass. (June 24, 2025) – The NCAA Division I Board of Directors accepted the recommendation from the NCAA Strategic Vision and Planning Committee to approve Stonehill College for full NCAA Division I membership, making 22 of the 23 varsity sports programs eligible for NCAA postseason competition starting this fall.
 
Originally on a four-year reclassification track after transitioning to the Division I level in the summer of 2022, Stonehill accelerated the process thanks to updated NCAA legislation passed this January. Under new guidelines adopted by the Division I Strategic Vision and Planning Committee at the NCAA Convention, reclassifying institutions can now complete the reclassification process in three years, provided they meet updated academic, financial, and operational benchmarks.
 
This decision affirms that Stonehill is well prepared to compete at the very highest level of collegiate sports and deliver a Division I caliber academic and athletic experience for each of our 23 varsity sports and 550 student-athletes," said Dean O'Keefe, Stonehill Director of Athletics. "Today is a great day for our student-athletes, as the opportunity to compete for an NCAA title is an important part of the student-athlete experience, and we are thrilled they will now be able to strive for an invitation to an NCAA Division I championship. It is a tremendous credit to the ongoing work and dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff throughout campus that Stonehill has achieved this important milestone."  
 
Stonehill successfully fulfilled all additional requirements of the accelerated reclassification process, including achieving Academic Progress Rate (APR) standards and budgetary metrics aligned with those of other Division I programs. Stonehill's successful reclassification reflects not only athletic readiness but also a continued commitment to academic excellence, as demonstrated by the College's strong Academic Progress Rate (APR) and overall student-athlete performance in the classroom.
 
"Attaining Division I membership is not only a win for Stonehill student-athletes and our varsity sports programs, it positively reflects on the overall quality of our institution," said Rev. John Denning, C.S.C., president of Stonehill College. "The NCAA conducted a thorough review, and we were pleased to meet or exceed their expectations for a DI school. This will increase the level of competition for our eligible sports teams and energize Skyhawk fans on campus and among our alumni across the country."
 
While all 23 programs have been eligible for conference postseason play, only one—women's ice hockey—had access to NCAA postseason competition during reclassification. 20 of Stonehill's teams compete in the NEC, while equestrian participates in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), and women's ice hockey in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance (NEWHA). The men's ice hockey program remains an independent Division I program. Equestrian is Stonehill's only varsity sport that does not compete in NCAA-sponsored competition or postseason.
 
The women's ice hockey team was granted immediate NCAA postseason eligibility upon its debut in 2022-23. In just its second season, the team won the 2023-24 NEWHA Championship and became the first Stonehill program to reach the NCAA Tournament, ultimately falling to Cornell in the first round.
 
With full Division I membership now secured, the remaining 21 NCAA varsity programs are eligible for all NCAA Division I postseason competitions. These include March Madness, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs, NCAA Track & Field Championships, Cross Country Championships, Swimming Championships, Soccer Championships, Tennis Championships, Golf Championships, Volleyball Championships, Field Hockey Championships, Lacrosse Championships (women's), and the Softball and Baseball College World Series.
 
This milestone follows significant institutional investment in athletics after the college announced plans for the Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena to serve as the new home for ice hockey and basketball.