The New Jersey Athletic Conference was founded in 1985 when the New Jersey State Athletic Conference, a men’s sports conference, merged with the corresponding institutions in the Jersey Athletic Conference, a women’s sports conference. New Jersey City University, formerly Jersey City State College, was an original founding member of both the NJAC in 1985 and formerly the New Jersey State Athletic Conference in 1957.

”The return of New Jersey City University to the New Jersey Athletic Conference represents an extremely positive development for our conference,” NJAC Commissioner Terry Small said. “The contributions NJCU has made to the NJAC over the years are numerous, and our membership is excited about NJCU’s decision to return.”

The return of NJCU will bring the conference back to 10 full members including: Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, Richard Stockton College, Rowan University, Rutgers University-Camden, Rutgers University-Newark, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University. In addition, the conference is comprised of two affiliate members in the sport of football - Cortland State University and Western Connecticut State University.

”We appreciate the NJAC membership’s unanimous support for our readmission to the conference and look forward to resuming competition in the 2005-06 season,” said Larry Schiner, NJCU’s Director of Athletics.