Conference Changes for 2025-26

A new year begins for NCAA Division III

Author

Steve Ulrich
July 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

JULY 1, 2025 | composed by STEVE ULRICH

Welcome to D3 Lacrosse, devoted to NCAA Division III men’s and women’s lacrosse

😎  The Second Half Starts Today. It’s the start of the new fiscal year. Go ask your AD for some money.

📬️ Send to a Friend. Thank you for your support of D3 Lacrosse.

✅ Are You Enjoying D3Lacrosse? Support our work. You can also follow us on Twitter and Bluesky for the most up-to-date news

TOP STORY
1. Conference Changes for 2025-26

A new year begins for NCAA Division III as the calendar flips from June to July, signaling for many the start of FY26.

It also means that the shuffling of conference members over the past two years becomes a reality beginning today.

This special edition of D3Lacrosse takes a look at the changes for this year.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

CONFERENCES
2. Full-Time Changes

Additions

Departures

  • North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC): Hiram

  • Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC): John Carroll

  • Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC): Ferrum

  • Southern Athletic Association (SAA): Hendrix

RULES
3. NCAA Approves Expansion of July Dead Period to DI Men’s Recruiting Calendar for 2026

by Terry Foy, Inside Lacrosse

“Club lacrosse players are going to get a little more time off next summer.

And, when they do return to the field after shutting it down around the July 4 holiday, they’re likely to do so at an event owned by the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Both developments result from NCAA approval last week of a modified Division I Men’s Lacrosse recruiting calendar, which was put forward in the wake of a coaches’ vote last December to pursue the modifications.”

» Field Awareness. “For 2026, the dead period is currently set to begin on July 2 and end on July 10 (though, as IMCLA Executive Director JB Clarke says, the hope is that it will actually begin on July 1). And the publication includes this caveat: “A coach may evaluate at the events (showcase and tournament) that are held in conjunction with the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association July summer meeting.”

» What They’re Saying. “The real impetus for it was life balance, not only for us, but for the athletes. What it also does for us is allow two days on the end of that July dead period — like we have in December — to have a tournament that will be the only place our Division I coaches are allowed to recruit for those two days,” Clarke said.

» Of Note. “The women’s Division I recruiting calendar for 2026 was also released last week, and its dead period remains July 2-6, as it is in 2025.”

FEATURE
4. How Tufts Men's Lacrosse Went From Afterthought to Juggernaut

by Hayden Hundley, USA Lacrosse

“A week removed from winning a second consecutive national championship, Tufts men’s lacrosse head coach Casey D’Annolfo grabbed a shovel and started doing yard work in the backyard of his home in Andover, Mass.

He reminisced on the Jumbos’ historic 23-0 season, their 14-13 loss to Hamilton in the NESCAC quarterfinals in 2024 and losing the 2023 national championship to Salisbury — which has remained in the front of his mind.

Since taking over for the highly regarded Mike Daly in 2017, D’Annolfo has produced a 145-18 record. He’s led the Jumbos to six NESCAC titles, five consecutive championship weekend appearances and two national championships.

Some might consider Tufts a dynasty. D’Annolfo doesn’t. He thinks the Jumbos are still missing one key component.”

» Remember When? “The top priority at Tufts wasn’t always winning national championships. The program was in arguably its darkest time when 26-year-old Mike Daly took over in 1999. They had a combined record of 3-25 in 1997-98 and successful NESCAC programs like Amherst and Middlebury found a way to drop Tufts from their schedules in 1999 because of how uncompetitive it was.”

» Worth Noting. “Daly finished his career at Tufts with three national championships (2010, 2014, 2015) a 247-83 record and seven consecutive NESCAC titles. Not only do Tufts fans have Daly to thank for the program’s turnaround, but also for recruiting D’Annolfo to Tufts before 2002. He graduated from Tufts in 2006 as the only player in school history to score a lacrosse goal, throw a touchdown and score a field goal in basketball.”

» What They’re Saying. “Casey has done the same thing that coach Daly did,” Tufts alum and current Dartmouth head coach Sean Kirwan said. “He’s just a player’s coach that makes sure his guys are in the best chance to succeed and play to their strengths, which is a mark of a really smart and great coach in a lot of ways.”

📬️ Thanks for spending part of your day with us.
Please invite your friends and colleagues to sign up for D3Lacrosse