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This has been a very busy year. So many changes it has been a little hard to keep up; it didn't help that I moved twice since last year. You already know the three schools changing D2 conferences this year but the number of new programs scheduled to begin play in 2023 is incredible. It is by far the most in the six years I have been tracking D2 movement. Summer hasn't stopped the announcements; there was another just two days ago affecting 2024 changes.
Bluefield State moves from Independent to the CIAA. Baseball, (W) Golf, (W) Soccer, and (M) Tennis will remain Independent while (M) Wrestling affiliates with the CC. Bowling may begin play in 2023 in the CIAA.
Upper Iowa moves from the NSIC to the GLVC. (M) Soccer will move over from the GLIAC where they had been an affiliate since 2019. UIU is also dropping five sports.
Young Harris College moves from the PBC to the CC. (W) Lacrosse will move over from the GSC where they had been an affiliate since 2015.
Thomas More joins the GMAC from NAIA. (M) Volleyball will play as an Independent.
Westmont College joins the PWC from NAIA. (M) Track & Field Indoor and (W) Track & Field Indoor will play as an Independent. (W) Swimming & Diving remains in the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference.
In Memoriam: Holy Names University in Oakland, CA closes; the Hawks were PWC members in 2012-2023.
The CC and the SAC were intending for each conference to begin sponsoring (M) Wrestling. Instead, the CC adds (M) Wrestling as a championship sport adding the SAC schools (Coker, Emory & Henry College, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, and Newberry College) as affiliates. Allen and Bluefield State also affiliate with the CC, both were previously Independent; and they will be joined by the new program from Montevallo.
The ECC adds (M) Volleyball as a championship sport. They begin with ECC members Roberts Wesleyan and St. Thomas Aquinas College and affiliates Alliance and Dominican (NY); all four are new programs for 2023-24. American International College will also be an affiliate. ECC members D'Youville and Daemen will remain affiliates of the Northeast Conference.
The RMAC adds the NCAA Emerging Sport of (W) Wrestling as a championship sport. Chadron State College and Colorado Mesa will be joined by the new program from Adams State and affiliates Simon Fraser and Texas Woman's.
Logos that debuted in 2022-23.
Gannon, McKendree, Mercyhurst, and Salem (M) Water Polo move from the Collegiate Water Polo Association to the Western Water Polo Association.
Chowan Football moves from the CIAA to the GSC.
Lincoln (MO) Football moves from the MIAA to IND.
Ouachita Baptist (M) Wrestling moves from the GLVC to the MIAA.
Simon Fraser (M) Swimming & Diving, (W) Swimming & Diving, and (M) Wrestling move from IND to the RMAC.
College of Staten Island (M) Swimming & Diving and (W) Swimming & Diving move from the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference to the NE10.
Le Moyne College leaves the NE10 for the D1 Northeast Conference.
There are currently 45 schools adding 92 teams, including 15 new Emerging Sport teams. Of interest among the new team announcements was the wording by Barry about adding five teams. It gave the impression of a good possibility of the SSC adding sponsorship of Beach Volleyball. Sadly, five schools have dropped 17 teams.
Six sports have a future net gain of 5 or more new teams,
* (M) Lacrosse - 8
* (M) Swimming & Diving - 5
* (M) Wrestling - 6
* (W) Lacrosse - 8
* Acrobatics & Tumbling - 10
* (W) Wrestling - 10
New teams
New Emerging Sport teams
Dropped teams
The Membership Committee meets on July 11-12. The 2023 applicants are,
* Jessup - Pacific West
* Menlo College - Pacific West
* Roosevelt - Great Lakes
* Sul Ross State - Lone Star
* Talladega College - Southern Intercollegiate
* Vanguard - Pacific West
Bluefield State moves from Independent to the CIAA. Baseball, (W) Golf, (W) Soccer, and (M) Tennis will remain Independent while (M) Wrestling affiliates with the CC. Bowling may begin play in 2023 in the CIAA.
Upper Iowa moves from the NSIC to the GLVC. (M) Soccer will move over from the GLIAC where they had been an affiliate since 2019. UIU is also dropping five sports.
Young Harris College moves from the PBC to the CC. (W) Lacrosse will move over from the GSC where they had been an affiliate since 2015.
Thomas More joins the GMAC from NAIA. (M) Volleyball will play as an Independent.
Westmont College joins the PWC from NAIA. (M) Track & Field Indoor and (W) Track & Field Indoor will play as an Independent. (W) Swimming & Diving remains in the Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference.
In Memoriam: Holy Names University in Oakland, CA closes; the Hawks were PWC members in 2012-2023.
The CC and the SAC were intending for each conference to begin sponsoring (M) Wrestling. Instead, the CC adds (M) Wrestling as a championship sport adding the SAC schools (Coker, Emory & Henry College, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, and Newberry College) as affiliates. Allen and Bluefield State also affiliate with the CC, both were previously Independent; and they will be joined by the new program from Montevallo.
The ECC adds (M) Volleyball as a championship sport. They begin with ECC members Roberts Wesleyan and St. Thomas Aquinas College and affiliates Alliance and Dominican (NY); all four are new programs for 2023-24. American International College will also be an affiliate. ECC members D'Youville and Daemen will remain affiliates of the Northeast Conference.
The RMAC adds the NCAA Emerging Sport of (W) Wrestling as a championship sport. Chadron State College and Colorado Mesa will be joined by the new program from Adams State and affiliates Simon Fraser and Texas Woman's.
Logos that debuted in 2022-23.
 Arkansas Tech |
 Bentley |
 Bluefield State |
 Mississippi College |
 North Georgia |
 North Greenville |
Gannon, McKendree, Mercyhurst, and Salem (M) Water Polo move from the Collegiate Water Polo Association to the Western Water Polo Association.
Chowan Football moves from the CIAA to the GSC.
Lincoln (MO) Football moves from the MIAA to IND.
Ouachita Baptist (M) Wrestling moves from the GLVC to the MIAA.
Simon Fraser (M) Swimming & Diving, (W) Swimming & Diving, and (M) Wrestling move from IND to the RMAC.
College of Staten Island (M) Swimming & Diving and (W) Swimming & Diving move from the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference to the NE10.
Le Moyne College leaves the NE10 for the D1 Northeast Conference.
There are currently 45 schools adding 92 teams, including 15 new Emerging Sport teams. Of interest among the new team announcements was the wording by Barry about adding five teams. It gave the impression of a good possibility of the SSC adding sponsorship of Beach Volleyball. Sadly, five schools have dropped 17 teams.
Six sports have a future net gain of 5 or more new teams,
* (M) Lacrosse - 8
* (M) Swimming & Diving - 5
* (M) Wrestling - 6
* (W) Lacrosse - 8
* Acrobatics & Tumbling - 10
* (W) Wrestling - 10
New teams
| Barton College | Bowling |
| Emmanuel College | Beach Volleyball — (IND) |
| Alliance | (M) Volleyball — (ECC) |
| Dominican (NY) | Bowling Rowing — (IND) (M) Volleyball — (ECC) |
| Felician | (M) Track & Field Indoor — (IND) (M) Track & Field Outdoor |
| Holy Family | Baseball (M) Lacrosse |
| Virginia State | (M) Lacrosse — (IND) (W) Lacrosse — (IND) (W) Soccer — (IND) |
| Roberts Wesleyan | Field Hockey — (IND) (M) Volleyball |
| St. Thomas Aquinas College | (M) Volleyball (W) Volleyball |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State | (M) Track & Field Outdoor |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State | (W) Golf |
| Grand Valley State | (M) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Lake Superior State | (M) Swimming & Diving (W) Swimming & Diving |
| Wisconsin-Parkside | (W) Golf |
| Rockhurst | (M) Swimming & Diving (W) Swimming & Diving (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Track & Field Outdoor |
| William Jewell College | (M) Lacrosse (W) Lacrosse |
| Malone | (W) Lacrosse |
| Tiffin | (M) Lacrosse |
| Trevecca Nazarene | (W) Lacrosse |
| Montevallo | (M) Wrestling — (CC) |
| St. Edward's | (M) Soccer |
| Nebraska-Kearney | (M) Tennis |
| Frostburg State | (M) Wrestling |
| Notre Dame College | (M) Cross Country (W) Cross Country (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Track & Field Outdoor |
| West Virginia State | (M) Cross Country (W) Cross Country (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Track & Field Outdoor |
| Assumption | (M) Swimming & Diving (W) Ice Hockey — (New England Women's Hockey Alliance) |
| Saint Anselm College | (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Track & Field Outdoor |
| Augustana | (M) Ice Hockey — (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) |
| Sioux Falls | (M) Wrestling |
| Chaminade | Baseball Beach Volleyball — (IND) |
| Concordia-Irvine | (M) Lacrosse |
| Dominican (CA) | (M) Lacrosse — (IND) (W) Lacrosse — (IND) |
| Fort Lewis College | (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor |
| Emory & Henry College | (W) Lacrosse |
| Virginia-Wise | (M) Track & Field Indoor (W) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Track & Field Outdoor |
| Edward Waters | (W) Tennis |
| Barry | Beach Volleyball (M) Cross Country (W) Cross Country (M) Swimming & Diving (W) Swimming & Diving |
| Nova Southeastern | Rowing |
New Emerging Sport teams
| Barton College | Acrobatics & Tumbling |
| Erskine College | Acrobatics & Tumbling |
| Francis Marion | Acrobatics & Tumbling |
| Felician | Acrobatics & Tumbling — (IND) |
| Georgian Court | Acrobatics & Tumbling — (IND) |
| Holy Family | Acrobatics & Tumbling — (IND) |
| D'Youville | (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Roberts Wesleyan | Triathlon — (IND) |
| Frostburg State | (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Grand Valley State | (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Lake Superior State | Triathlon — (IND) |
| Sioux Falls | (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Adams State | (W) Wrestling |
| Wingate | Acrobatics & Tumbling— (CC) |
| Allen | (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
Dropped teams
| Upper Iowa | Bowling— (GLVC) (M) Cross Country (M) Track & Field Indoor (M) Track & Field Outdoor (W) Tennis |
| Simon Fraser | Football — (LSC) |
| Academy of Art | Baseball |
| Limestone | (M) Volleyball — (IND) (W) Wrestling — (IND) |
| Saint Leo | (M) Cross Country (W) Cross Country (M) Swimming & Diving (W) Swimming & Diving (M) Track & Field Indoor — (IND) (W) Track & Field Indoor — (IND) (M) Track & Field Outdoor — (IND) (W) Track & Field Outdoor — (IND) |
The Membership Committee meets on July 11-12. The 2023 applicants are,
* Jessup - Pacific West
* Menlo College - Pacific West
* Roosevelt - Great Lakes
* Sul Ross State - Lone Star
* Talladega College - Southern Intercollegiate
* Vanguard - Pacific West
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