Stonehill College to Add Men’s Swimming and Diving
Stonehill College will add men’s swimming and diving to its Division I athletic offerings, starting with the 2026-27 season, the school announced Monday.
Stonehill is a member of the Northeast Conference, joining Howard, Le Moyne, LIU and Wagner as league schools offering men’s swimming. The Skyhawks’ women’s team was started for the 2021-22 academic year, and it added diving for the first time this season.
Both teams will be headed by current women’s head coach, Matthew Distler, who was hired in 2022.
“I am extremely excited to build a new men’s program and to add diving to our now combined programs,” Distler said in a press release. “This is also a great opportunity to add another men’s program to our sport. I’m grateful to Stonehill, especially to Dean O’Keefe and Tim Williamson for trusting me with this responsibility and for believing in swimming and diving. I look forward to being able to positively impact more student athletes here on the Hill.”
“We are thrilled to announce that Stonehill College will expand our NCAA Division I athletic offerings with the addition of men’s swimming & diving,” said Dean O’Keefe, Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics. “Since our recent reclassification to NCAA Division I status, the interest in varsity sports at Stonehill has reached unprecedented heights, with prospective student-athletes from around the world seeking an opportunity to earn a Stonehill degree and compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics. Our women’s program has enjoyed tremendous success under the leadership of Coach Distler, and I am excited to see both the men’s and women’s teams continue to rise together.”
The addition of men’s swimming gives Stonehill 24 varsity programs (21 in the NEC). It’s the first addition to its athletic offerings since women’s hockey was founded in 2022-23.
“By adding men’s swimming and diving, Stonehill is helping drive the continued growth of the sport within the NEC,” NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris said. “Their investment creates new opportunities and will enrich the overall championship experience for all our student-athletes.”