New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders

New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders represent New Jersey Institute of Technology in NCAA Division I and are members of the America East conference, having previously been part of the Atlantic Sun Conference and the Great West Conference. The Highlanders have a long history of competing in various sports, including basketball, soccer, and volleyball, with teams playing against rivals like Rutgers University, Princeton University, and Seton Hall University. The university's athletic program has been led by notable athletic directors, including Dan Swanstrom and Lenny Kaplan, who have overseen the development of the Highlanders' teams and facilities, such as the Wellness and Events Center and the Riverfront Stadium in Newark, New Jersey.

● History

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders have a rich history, dating back to the early 20th century, with the university's first athletic teams competing in the NCAA Division II and the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Over the years, the Highlanders have transitioned to NCAA Division I and joined various conferences, including the Northeast Conference and the Great West Conference, before becoming a member of the America East conference in 2020. The team's history is marked by notable achievements, such as winning the Great West Conference tournament in 2013 and competing in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament against teams like Kentucky and Villanova. The Highlanders have also had notable coaches, including Jim Engles and Brian Kennedy, who have led the teams to success in the NCAA Division I and have produced talented athletes, such as Tim Coleman and Damon Lynn, who have gone on to play for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.

● Athletics

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders compete in a variety of sports, including men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, and track and field, with teams playing against rivals like University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Hartford, and University of Maine. The athletic program is led by the university's athletic department, which is overseen by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and is a member of the America East conference, along with other universities like University at Albany, Binghamton University, and University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Highlanders have a strong rivalry with neighboring universities, such as Rutgers University and Seton Hall University, with whom they compete in the Garden State Hardwood Classic and other tournaments, including the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NIT Season Tip-Off.

● Teams

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders have several teams that compete in NCAA Division I, including the men's basketball team, which has played against teams like Duke and North Carolina, and the women's basketball team, which has competed against teams like University of Connecticut and Notre Dame. The Highlanders also have a strong men's soccer team, which has played against teams like University of Virginia and Clemson University, and a women's soccer team, which has competed against teams like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of South Carolina. Other teams, such as the volleyball team and the track and field team, also compete in NCAA Division I and have produced talented athletes, such as Zach Cook and Jasmine Serrano, who have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games and other international competitions, including the Pan American Games and the IAAF World Championships.

● Facilities

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders have several facilities, including the Wellness and Events Center, which serves as the home arena for the men's basketball team and the women's basketball team, and the Riverfront Stadium, which is the home stadium for the men's soccer team and the women's soccer team. The university also has a track and field stadium and a volleyball arena, which are used by the respective teams, and are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including scoreboards and sound systems, similar to those found at Prudential Center and MetLife Stadium. The Highlanders' facilities are also used by other universities and organizations, such as Rutgers University and the New Jersey Devils, for events like the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the NHL Entry Draft.

● Notable Athletes

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders have produced several notable athletes, including Tim Coleman, who played in the NBA G League for the Agua Caliente Clippers, and Damon Lynn, who played in the NBA G League for the Northern Arizona Suns. Other notable athletes include Zach Cook, who competed in the Olympic Games and the Pan American Games, and Jasmine Serrano, who competed in the IAAF World Championships and the USATF Championships. The Highlanders have also had athletes compete in other professional leagues, such as the MLS and the WNBA, including players like Santiago Castaño and Tierra Floyd, who have played for teams like the New York Red Bulls and the New York Liberty. The university's athletic program has a strong reputation for producing talented athletes, who have gone on to compete at the highest levels, including the NBA, the NFL, and the MLB, and have been recognized with awards like the Naismith Trophy and the Walter Camp Award.