Sacred Heart begins its last year of basketball in the NEC. 

The school announced earlier in the week it will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2024-2025. 

The pioneers have been a member of the Northeast Conference since 1999 and have won more than 70 championships during that time. 

Sacred Heart head men's basketball coach Anthony Latina says his program is excited for the opportunity down the road, but his team is laser-focused on this year.

"Going to the MAAC where it's known as a basketball league, schools with great tradition, obviously it creates an even more of a rivalry with Fairfield. Iona, Siena, and Manhattan have had great NCAA Tournament tradition and great coaches through the years, and we're excited to be a part of that."

Sacred Heart women's head basketball coach Jess Mannetti says the move to the MAAC is just another steppingstone for the program to get to the next level.