Inside College Hockey | RIT To Division I, Atlantic Hockey

December 11, 2004
Report: RIT To Division I, Atlantic Hockey

By Mike Eidelbes

Rochester Institute of Technology will announce its intention to elevate its hockey program to NCAA Division I status, according to a report from a Rochester cable news outlet.

R News says the university will make a formal announcement Wednesday. School officials are also expected to confirm that RIT will join the Atlantic Hockey Association for the 2005-06 season, becoming the league's tenth member. Atlantic Hockey loses Quinnipic after this season – the Bobcats are jumping to the ECACHL to replace Hockey East-bound Vermont.

Other sources tell Inside College Hockey that RIT's move wouldn't take place until the 2006-07 season.

RIT currently plays at the NCAA Division III level. The Tigers have been members of the ECAC West since 1989. The school has two national titles to its credit – it won the D-III crown in 1985, and captured the now-defunct NCAA Division II championship in 1983.

RIT would become the 59th team in Division I and the second, along with Robert Morris, to join the ranks in a span of three years.

The Tigers are coached by Wayne Wilson, the all-time leader NCAA hockey coaches in winning percentage with a 111-25-12 record (.791) as of Friday. A four-year letterwinner at defense at Bowling Green, Wilson captained the Falcons to a national championship in 1984. While at BGSU, he played under current Boston College head coach Jerry York and was a teammate of Clarkson bench boss George Roll.