Montclair State University announced plans Friday to reorganize its athletics and recreation programs. That plan includes moving the men’s and women’s lacrosse programs to club status in 2025.
“The innovative new model will make athletics more accessible to students at all levels,” Montclair State University said in a release. Despite eliminating two varsity programs, Montclair State University plans to add women’s flag football as a varsity sport in the fall 2025 semester.
“Student-athletes participating in all discontinued programs will have the opportunity to try out with existing NCAA teams or participate in expanded club sports,” the release states. “The university will also review their individual circumstances to ensure they receive all the financial aid they are eligible for.”
Montclair State University, a Division III program, has had considerable success in lacrosse.
Their men’s program won the Skyline Conference every year from 2009 to 2017, going an impressive 53-1 in conference play during that time. The program reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
The women’s lacrosse team was discontinued after the 1985 season, but returned after an 11-year hiatus and re-debuted in 1997. From 2006 to 2013, the team won the Skyline Conference in every season except 2009. In 2009, he played in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 2007 and 2012.
Montclair State is not the first competitive small school program to be discontinued in recent years. Cabrini, a highly successful Division III program, closed for good in May. Lindenwood cut its men’s lacrosse program before the 2024 season after deciding to move up from Division II to Division I.
Some of the layoffs can be attributed to financial difficulties in the post-pandemic university environment. Fast-growing sports like flag football could also be part of the decision.
