JMU field hockey joins MAC for 2024 season

Sports Desk

The Breeze

JMU field hockey will join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as an affiliate member beginning in the 2024 season, per a press release Wednesday morning.

The Dukes went 10-7 in 2022 with an independent schedule despite the Sun Belt move because the conference doesn’t currently sponsor field hockey.

“JMU has a rich field hockey tradition and will strengthen the league,” MAC Comissioner Jon Steinbrecher said. “I look forward to their entrance and the development of new rivalries in this sport.” explore sponsoring field hockey at one point in 2022, but as of now, there are no official plans to add the sport.

The Dukes join Appalachian State, Longwood and Bellarmine as affiliate members, while Ohio, Miami (OH), Kent State, Central Michigan and Ball State are full members of the MAC.

“I’m excited for head coach Christy Morgan and our student-athletes that JMU field hockey has found a home in the MAC as an affiliate conference member,” JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said in the press release. “As we pursued a conference opportunity for our program, it was important that we identified the right fit. We believe that we’ve found that in the MAC, where JMU will join a reputable group of institutions, including our full-time conference mate, Appalachian State. I’d like to thank Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher and the MAC institutions for welcoming JMU, and we look forward to great completion in 2024.”