Bridgewater, NJ -- VMI has accepted an invitation from the NEC Council of Presidents to join the league as an associate member in men’s and women’s swimming and diving beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.

It was also announced that VMI will serve as host for the 2027 NEC Swimming and Diving Championships at the state-of-the-art VMI Aquatic Center in Lexington, VA. The championship is scheduled for February 17–20.

“We’re thrilled to welcome VMI to the NEC men’s and women’s swimming and diving family,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “Their presence adds depth to both championship fields and reflects the continued growth of the sport across the conference. We’re especially appreciative that VMI will host the 2027 NEC Championships in Lexington, providing a first-class setting and experience for our student-athletes.”

The addition of VMI brings NEC women’s swimming and diving membership to seven programs for the 2026–27 season. The Keydets will compete alongside NEC core members CCSU, Le Moyne, LIU, Stonehill and Wagner, as well as associate member Howard.

On the men’s side, VMI’s addition brings NEC swimming and diving membership to five programs. The Keydets will join Le Moyne, LIU and Wagner, along with associate member Howard.

"We are excited to join the NEC as our swimming and diving programs continue to improve each year," said Jamaal Walton, VMI Director of Athletics. "As a cadet, I vividly remember our swimming and diving program capturing back-to-back NEC Invitational championships in 2006 and 2007. These programs have a championship mindset, and I love our chances heading into the NEC this upcoming season."

VMI is no stranger to NEC swimming and diving. The Keydets competed in the conference as an associate member in the early 2000s, with the women's program spending its first two varsity seasons in the NEC after the sport was introduced at VMI in 2006. On the men's side, VMI captured NEC Men's Swimming and Diving Invitational titles in 2006 and 2007, prior to the conference officially sponsoring the sport. The Keydet men also enjoyed considerable success during their time in the Southern Conference, winning nine league championships.

VMI joins the NEC after spending the past nine years as an affiliate member of the America East Conference in men's and women's swimming and diving.

VMI's men's lacrosse program has competed as an NEC associate member since 2025.
 
About The NEC

Now in its 45th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.