Big North Conference

Big North Conference is a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) conference consisting of 24 high schools in Bergen County and Passaic County. The conference was formed in 2009, following the dissolution of the Bergen County Scholastic League and the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League. The Big North Conference is divided into several divisions, including the Liberty Division, Freedom Division, National Division, and United Division, with schools such as Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Bergen Catholic High School, and Paramus Catholic High School. The conference is also affiliated with the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJIAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

● History

The Big North Conference was established in 2009, with the goal of creating a more competitive and balanced athletic conference in Bergen County and Passaic County. The conference was formed through the merger of several smaller leagues, including the Bergen County Scholastic League and the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League. The conference has undergone several changes since its inception, including the addition of new schools such as Ridgewood High School and Northern Highlands Regional High School. The conference has also produced several notable athletes, including Malik Jackson, a former University of Tennessee football player, and Kyle Anderson, a former University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball player. Other notable schools in the conference include Hackensack High School, Teaneck High School, and Fair Lawn High School, which have all produced talented athletes who have gone on to compete at the NCAA level, including Rutgers University, University of Michigan, and University of Southern California.

● Member Schools

The Big North Conference consists of 24 member schools, including Bergen Catholic High School, Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Paramus Catholic High School, St. Joseph Regional High School, and DePaul Catholic High School. Other member schools include Ridgewood High School, Northern Highlands Regional High School, Ramapo High School, and Indian Hills High School. The conference also includes schools such as Fair Lawn High School, Hackensack High School, and Teaneck High School, which are all located in Bergen County. Additionally, the conference includes schools from Passaic County, such as Clifton High School, Passaic High School, and Paterson Kennedy High School. These schools compete against other member schools, including Wayne Hills High School, Wayne Valley High School, and West Milford High School, in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball, with some athletes going on to compete at the Olympic Games and in professional leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB).

● Conference Divisions

The Big North Conference is divided into several divisions, including the Liberty Division, Freedom Division, National Division, and United Division. The Liberty Division includes schools such as Ridgewood High School, Northern Highlands Regional High School, and Ramapo High School. The Freedom Division includes schools such as Fair Lawn High School, Hackensack High School, and Teaneck High School. The National Division includes schools such as Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Bergen Catholic High School, and Paramus Catholic High School. The United Division includes schools such as Clifton High School, Passaic High School, and Paterson Kennedy High School. These divisions are designed to promote competitive balance and to allow schools to compete against other schools of similar size and athletic ability, with some divisions competing against schools from other conferences, such as the Super Essex Conference and the Secaucus High School-led Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League.

● Sports Championships

The Big North Conference offers championships in several sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. The conference has produced several state champions, including Don Bosco Preparatory High School, which has won multiple state championships in football and basketball. Other schools, such as Bergen Catholic High School and Paramus Catholic High School, have also won state championships in various sports, including wrestling and track and field. The conference has also produced several athletes who have gone on to compete at the NCAA level, including University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, and University of Michigan. Additionally, the conference has sent athletes to compete in the New Balance Nationals, the Penn Relays, and the New Jersey Meet of Champions, with some athletes earning All-American honors and being named to the USA Today All-USA team.

● Notable Alumni

The Big North Conference has produced several notable alumni, including Malik Jackson, a former University of Tennessee football player, and Kyle Anderson, a former University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball player. Other notable alumni include Mike Teel, a former Rutgers University football player, and Brian Cushing, a former University of Southern California football player. The conference has also produced several athletes who have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games, including Carl Lewis, a former University of Houston track and field athlete, and Mary Decker, a former University of Colorado track and field athlete. Additionally, the conference has produced several coaches, including Greg Schiano, a former Rutgers University football coach, and Ben Howland, a former University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) basketball coach, who have gone on to coach at the NCAA level and in professional leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). Category:Sports leagues in the United States