Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Per the Hartford Courant:
Quote:
The University of New Haven has hired Sheahon Zenger as athletic director and the school will explore the possibility of moving to Division I, according to a source.
Zenger, who was the athletic director at Kansas in 2011-18, will be introduced during a press conference Thursday morning.
New Haven is currently a Division II program. A move would require major facilities upgrades and various other investments and expenses. The football program would participate at the Division I FCS level.
https://www.courant.com/sports/colle...7vu-story.html
And from the New Haven Register:
Quote:
WEST HAVEN — The University of New Haven has found its new athletic director, hiring former University of Kansas AD Sheahon Zenger.
The school will introduce Zenger at a 10 a.m. press conference Thursday. The hiring of a former Division I administrator is a sign the school is upgrading athletics, which could include a move to Division I from Division II.
He will replace former NFL coach Chris Palmer, who retired in June.
“I came to interview about two and a half weeks ago. I came for two days and stayed for seven. I fell in love with the place,” Zenger told Hearst Connecticut Media Wednesday. “I was attracted to President (Steven) Kaplan, his leadership, the trajectory of the institution — all the stuff you know about. It’s easy to get excited about.”
Zenger led the Kansas athletic department from 2011 to 2018. He was fired in May 2018, as school chancellor Douglas Girod said in a letter to school staff that “progress in key areas has been elusive.”
Since then, he has worked as a consult at TCU and has coached high school football in Kansas.
https://www.nhregister.com/sports/ar...r-14413923.php
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
New Haven has had a very successful D-II program over the years and has knocked off some I-AA/FCS teams, including UConn, Lafayette, Monmouth, Robert Morris, and Villanova
Quote:
In 1997, New Haven had four freshmen starters, only seven offensive linemen on the roster and a transfer quarterback, Cazzie Kosciolek, who had been benched at Boston University for a younger player. Still, New Haven, which lost in the national semifinals in 1992, advanced to NCAA Division II championship game for the first time since the program's founding in 1973.
With head coach Tony Sparano, a future NFL head coach and current offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, putting more of an emphasis on defense, the Chargers surrendered an average of 11.6 points per game.
Meanwhile an electric offense averaged 42.8 points per game behind the passing of Kosciolek, who would finish third in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the best Division II player.
"He was a tough guy from Pennsylvania who, no matter what happened to him, was going to be resilient," said Pete Rossomando, the Chargers' current head coach and special teams' coordinator and defensive line coach in 1997.
The Chargers opponent in the title game, played at Florence, Ala., was defending champion Northern Colorado. The Bears defense was led by defensive end Aaron Smith, a future Pro Bowl selection and member of Sports Illustrated's 2000s all-decade team who later helped the Pittsburgh Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
It wasn't much of a contest. Northern Colorado's 51-0 victory was the most lopsided victory in the history of the game and the first time New Haven was shut out in 14 years.
Six years later, UNH dropped football due to budgetary issues. It returned in 2009, last season making a return to the Division II tournament.
https://www.nhregister.com/news/arti...7-11467551.php
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
So New Haven would most likely go NEC, which would then go to 12 teams and 10 for football (which is not ideal). I guess the question is this, would they tell Duquesne they need to find a new home (PL would be ideal for geographic fit, but is not on academic par with the rest of the schools) or would they be willing to play the skip game where 2 teams could finish 8-0 or go the Southland route and play a 9 conference season where schools get 4 or 5 home games in the conference and then go catch a payday at 2 other schools and potentially 3 during 12 game seasons.
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
What would happen when UNH played UNHxlolx
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CenMEBlackBearFan
What would happen when UNH played UNHxlolx
UNH would win!
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Tried to post an image, realized I am an idiot.
Anyways, would they be a good FCS addition for the Northeast?
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TheKingpin28
So New Haven would most likely go NEC, which would then go to 12 teams and 10 for football (which is not ideal). I guess the question is this, would they tell Duquesne they need to find a new home (PL would be ideal for geographic fit, but is not on academic par with the rest of the schools) or would they be willing to play the skip game where 2 teams could finish 8-0 or go the Southland route and play a 9 conference season where schools get 4 or 5 home games in the conference and then go catch a payday at 2 other schools and potentially 3 during 12 game seasons.
Yes, the NEC is the most likely landing spot if New Haven was to upgrade - and NCAA rules require a team to find a conference before they can reclassify to D-I.
That being said, this is likely a few years away, if it happens at all. Merrimack, which accepted the NEC's invitation to become the league's 11th full time member last September, began it's four-year NCAA reclassification this season and is on its way to becoming an official member of the conference in 2023-24.
Also, the NEC is not sending Duquesne away - they will be welcome for as long as they want to be an affiliate member.
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
KPSUL
UNH would lose every time!
FYP
Re: Univ. of New Haven exploring Division I /FCS
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SUPharmacist
Tried to post an image, realized I am an idiot.
Anyways, would they be a good FCS addition for the Northeast?
IMO No. Just another tiny school with a tiny football stadium, not going to bring any relevance to the FCS name brand. The real UNH won't have them as a conference mate so whatever though.