Hood and Stevenson will remain conference opponents, although most of their games will be played north of campus in the MAC. Hood athletics photo

Stevenson and Hood have accepted invitations to join the MAC Commonwealth for 2012-13, the schools announced today, bringing the total number of schools in the conference to 18.

Stevenson will already be an associate member of the conference in football when its first team takes the field this fall. The MAC now has 18 members in four states: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

Each are currently members of the Capital Athletic Conference. Hood has been a member of the CAC since 2005, Stevenson since 2007. 

"Hood will not only strengthen our conference as one of the best Division III conferences in the country but improve our regional exposure in the south," said Ken Andrews, MAC’s executive director. "Hood’s presidential leadership, sport sponsorship, athletic facilities, competitive prowess, and academic reputation mesh well with our 16 current members. Most importantly, we share similar values about the role of intercollegiate athletics as a component of the educational experience for our students. I look forward to working with Hood’s staff and administration as they make the transition to our conferences over the next year."

"I am very pleased that Stevenson University is joining the MAC," said Steve MacDonald, Lebanon Valley president and chair of the MAC presidents. "Stevenson is an institution with a strong academic tradition and athletic programs that complement these traditions in ways that embody the ideals of Division III athletics. This school will strengthen the MAC, and we’re delighted to have them as our partners."

The moves continue a time of great upheaval in the Mid-Atlantic Region and the MAC in general, which has seen its membership change significantly in the past decade, with seven schools joining the league as full members, one holdover member switching leagues and other new members shifting before settling in their current league. New members are in bold below:

Stevenson currently sponsors 22 NCAA Division III sports, 11 men’s and 11 women’s, and all but men's volleyball will compete in the MAC. Football and women's golf are already associate members of the MAC. Hood sponsors 20 sports, but not baseball or football.