As a four-year athletic program, SUNY Canton is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a competes in the Sunrise Conference in the following sports: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s softball and men’s baseball.
SUNY Canton has had a storied beginning as a four-year competing institution having transitioned from a two-year program just two years ago.
In only three years, the college has participated in four NAIA National Tournaments/meets and has been Sunrise Conference Champions or runner-ups nine times in various sports. Over the past three years, 48 student-athletes have been named to All-Conference teams and five different coaches have earned coach of the year honors.
The Sunrise Conference consists of colleges in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York. As a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, the men’s ice hockey program competes in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey League and plays a D1 schedule against other ACHA college teams in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Roughly 50,000 student-athletes participate in the NAIA at nearly 300 member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Along with conference championships, the NAIA sponsors 23 national championships in 13 sports. Over 150 colleges and universities participate in the ACHA which offers national championships and national player recognition in three divisions.
In the January 2011, the Roos will move into their new 46 million dollar athletic facility complete with a three court field house, indoor baseball/softball practice capability with year round drop down batting cages, new 5,000 sq ft. fitness center, lap pool, state-of-the-art athletic training room, dedicated team locker rooms and a dedicated study area for student-athletes with wireless computer access. Phase two of the project; a 1500 spectator ice rink is slated to be completed by the following fall.
A rich history of past athletic success from NJCAA National and Regional Championships and Academic All-Americans and a current history of new success along with a commitment towards student-athlete development and facility enhancement will keep SUNY Canton and exciting place for student-athletes to pursue their academic and athletic goals.