MAAC Elevating Lacrosse to Core Sport

MAAC Shakeup

This is somewhat-old news, but I just stumbled across it, and it’s relevant to an in-state program. The MAAC will elevate men’s and women’s lacrosse to “core sports” in the near future.

Another major component of the strategic plan is to elevate men’s and women’s lacrosse to core sports beginning in 2014-15. At that time, the league’s members will begin a multi-year plan to increase funding for lacrosse, which will include an increase in full-time coaching positions and scholarships.

“The decision to elevate the sport of lacrosse to the level of a core sport in the MAAC is a tremendous opportunity for our conference,” said Bill Maher, Director of Athletics at Canisius College. “The growth of lacrosse nationally over the past 10 years has been remarkable and this will position our member institutions to build the MAAC into one of the top leagues in the country”.

Detroit plays lacrosse in the MAAC (men’s only – the women compete in the NLC), so changes could impact the Titans down the road.

I’ve touched on this in the past, but two full members of the conference (Loyola and Fairfield) choose not to play their lacrosse in the MAAC, instead opting for the ECAC. Might a re-dedication to the sport convince those two schools that they can play a competitive brand of lacrosse in their home conference? Or, could the MAAC even force their hand to join the league in lacrosse, now that it’s a core sport?

I could see the Stags and Greyhounds leaving the ECAC – though not anytime soon – and it would also be possible for the current ECAC teams to see Detroit as a geographic fit for their conference. In all, it’s possible nothing changes, but this seemingly insignificant move could lead to a rebirth of the Great Western Lacrosse League.