SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida has been accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a full member of The Sun Conference, effective on July 1, 2024. New College added intercollegiate athletics earlier this year, adopting the mascot and moniker Mighty Banyans, recruiting more than 150 scholar-athletes, and fielding six varsity sports teams for 2023-2024. Additional sports are planned for 2024-2025 and continued growth is projected in the years ahead.
The approval of New College’s addition received unanimous support from The Sun Conference Council of Presidents and the NAIA Membership Committee.
“The Sun Conference’s history of producing high-character scholar-athletes who impact our communities was a significant factor for New College applying for membership,” said New College Interim President Richard Corcoran. “Our goal to become the nation’s top liberal arts college will be enhanced by joining the prestigious institutions in the NAIA Sun Conference.”
“The Sun Conference leadership is second to none,” New College Athletic Director Mariano Jimenez, Jr. said. “We are humbled that they selected us to join their conference, and we look forward to enhancing our scholar-athletes experience with exceptional institutions that truly put students first.”
New College is the 10th full member of the Sun Conference and the first new member since 2017.
New College also recently launched its new athletics website, GoMightyBanyans.com, which serves as a hub for all things Mighty Banyans athletics, including schedules, scores, and team rosters.
The NAIA’s announcement is available at this link: https://www.naia.org/general/2023-24/releases/NAIA_NewMembersFall_10_2_2023
The Sun Conference’s announcement is available at this link: https://thesunconference.com/news/2023/10/2/general-new-college-of-florida-to-join-sun-conference-in-2024-25.aspx
