Joining the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) will usher in a new era of athletics at Neumann. That is the firm belief of Athletic Director John Krimmel, who is eager for the conference affiliation to begin this fall.

Krimmel believes that the benefits of joining the MAC are many. The move will bring all 20 of Neumann’s NCAA teams under one umbrella; membership in a conference with a higher profile positions the coaches to recruit a broader array of talented student athletes; and the MAC can earn multiple bids to NCAA tournaments, a feature that is attractive to high school prospects.

“Joining the MAC allows us to offer the best possible experience for our student athletes,” he says.

The proximity of Neumann’s new conference rivals will also reduce travel expenses by eliminating games in New York and Virginia. The 18-school MAC consists of the Commonwealth and Freedom Conferences, each with more members than the Atlantic East Conference, Neumann’s former athletic home. Neumann is in the Commonwealth group, which has nine members:

• Albright College (Reading, PA)
• Alvernia University (Reading, PA)
• Eastern University (St. Davids, PA)
• Hood College (Frederick, MD)
• Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, PA)
• Neumann University
• Stevenson University (Owings Mills, MD)
• Widener University (Chester, PA)
• York College (York, PA)

Freedom Conference members are Arcadia University, Delaware Valley University, DeSales University, Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus, King's College (PA), Lebanon Valley College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

The announcement about the conference transition was made in April of 2025. Since that time, MAC presidents, conference administrators, and Neumann staff have been working behind the scenes to make the integration of the Knights’ programs as seamless as possible.

“Athletic directors and senior women’s administrators have been meeting regularly,” Krimmel explains, “to discuss scheduling procedures, conference championship logistics, the benefits of adding new technologies, and other topics.”

Krimmel’s staff have also integrated MAC branding into the university’s website and facilities.

Regarding traditional rivalries, Immaculata and Gwynedd Mercy have been scheduled as non-conference games for Knights’ teams whenever possible. A new rivalry with close neighbor Widener, already a member of the MAC, is likely to grow in the coming years.

For the men’s and women’s ice hockey squads, the conference switch will not cause any wrinkles. Both teams have been part of the MAC for two years. Krimmel notes that the men’s team won the MAC championship last year.

“I think our fall teams will be very competitive in the MAC,” he predicts.

More good news came recently when the MAC decided to add flag football. Neumann, Marywood, Albright, and Eastern will begin play in the spring of 2027 with more teams set to join them in the spring of 2028.

The conference transition will not affect club sports at Neumann. Roller hockey and club ice hockey will continue affiliations with their current sports organizations.

The new era for Neumann athletics launches on September 23 at 7 p.m. when the women’s volleyball team hosts Stevenson, the Knights’ first official conference home game as a full member of the MAC.