Northeastern began a new chapter in its history in 2005 when the Huskies joined the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Colonial Athletic Association has produced 16 national team champions in five different sports, 33 individual national champions, 11 national coaches of the year, 11 national players of the year and 12 Honda Award winners. Even more impressive, however, are the honors accumulated away from competition, which include five Rhodes Scholars and 16 NCAA post-graduate scholars. In 2004-05, the CAA had seven ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and more than 1,500 student-athletes posted at least a 3.2 grade point average while lettering in a varsity sport and received the CAA Commissioner's Academic Award. The Huskies competed in most sports in the America East Conference from 1979-2005.

The Northeastern football team competes in the toughest Div. I-AA league in the country, the Atlantic 10 Conference, and the men's and women's hockey teams compete in Hockey East, the nation's premier league. The Atlantic 10 football conference is the home to two of the last three national champions: Delaware in 2003 and James Madison in 2004. The Atlantic 10 football conference will become part of the CAA in 2007, further solidifying Northeastern's association with other premier athletic and academic institutions. The Hockey East Association is consistently labelled the strongest men's hockey conference in the nation from top to bottom. Over the last 14 seasons, Hockey East has earned 22 of the 54 berths in the NCAA Frozen Four championship tournament and boasted four NCAA title winners: the University of Maine in 1993 and 1999, Boston University in 1995 and Boston College in 2001. The 2002-03 season brought the inaugural year of women's Hockey East play.

NU plays host to some of the biggest collegiate events. Northeastern, along with Harvard, successfully hosted the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. Northeastern also hosted the Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship at Franklin Park in 2003 and 2005. Northeastern hosted the NCAA field hockey championship at Parsons Field in 1994 and 1999. The 2001 Women's Hockey National Championship was played at Matthews Arena. NU hosted the 2002 America East Men's Basketball Championship at Matthews Arena and then co-hosted the 2003 event with Boston University at Walter Brown Arena.

All intercollegiate teams welcome new members to try out. To qualify, students must be in good academic standing and making acceptable progress toward the completion of a degree. Potential student-athletes must also be registered as a full-time student at Northeastern. This means they must be carrying a minimum of twelve quarter-hours of credit during an academic quarter, or working on a co-op assignment, doing student teaching, or performing clinical work. Students also must follow all regulations and rules of the NCAA and the college in which they are enrolled. Student-athletes must maintain the required Quality Point Average and remain in good academic standing as defined by your degree program. Their anticipated graduation date cannot have changed due to poor academic performance. Specific policies and guidelines relating to academic eligibility for athletics are distributed in writing to all student-athletes.

Northeastern Athletics Quick Facts
• The Northeastern athletic teams had their finest collective performance ever in the 2002-03 season. The Huskies sent four teams to the NCAA playoffs and won a total of seven conference titles, Northeastern's most ever in both categories. NU competed in 14 sports offered by the America East Conference and won six championships, or 43 percent. The Huskies were the runners-up in two other sports. In addition to its America East success, NU won a share of its first ever Atlantic 10 football title. NU's athletics program is clearly on the rise as the total of seven conference titles breaks the mark of six set just in the 2001-02 season. The 13 championships in the the two-year stretch is more than the previous four seasons combined (10).

• The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament seven times. During its time in the America East Conference, Northeastern was invited to the tournament more than any other school in the conference.

• The women's basketball team has earned four conference titles, and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1999.

• The men's hockey team has made three NCAA championship appearances, and has won four Beanpot titles, one ECAC and one Hockey East title. NU competes in the top conference in the nation, the Hockey East Association.

• The women's ice hockey team, a pioneer in the growing sport, won three ECAC titles, at the time the equivalent of the national title. The team has also won 14 Beanpots. The Huskies now compete in Hockey East.

• The football team has completed three undefeated seasons. NU set a school record with 10 wins, won a share of its first Atlantic 10 title and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first time in 2002.

• The field hockey team has qualified for 14 NCAA tournaments, including three final four appearances. The team won 10 America East championships and advanced to the title game in 14 of 15 years in the conference.

• The men's and women's crew programs are some of the finest in the country. The men's team has won four national titles and the women are annually among the elite in the nation.

• The baseball team has competed in one College World Series and played in the NCAA regionals seven times, including the 2003 season after winning the America East title for the third time. NU won back-to-back America East regular season titles in 2004 and 2005.

• The men's and women's soccer teams are both on the rise. The men's team won the America East title for the first time in 2002 and earned its first NCAA berth. The women's team made the conference playoffs for the first time in 2002 and followed that up with appearances in 2003 and 2004.

• The volleyball team is quickly becoming a regional power. The Huskies won the America East title and earned their first trip to the NCAA playoffs in 2001.

• The women's swimming and diving team won five straight America East championships from 2000-04. The Huskies regularly send individual competitors to the NCAA championship.

• The men's track team is one of the best in the history of New England. The Huskies have won 24 New England indoor and outdoor titles since 1969 and won 17 America East indoor and outdoor championships from 1989-2005. In the Huskies' inaugural CAA season in 2006, they took home three individual titles. Hammer thrower Boris Djerassi is Northeastern's only NCAA champ in any sport, as he won the title in 1975.

• The women's track team has long been a regional power and is now moving onto the national scene, as the Huskies have had seven NCAA qualifiers over the last three seasons. While in the America East conference from 1989-2005, the Huskies won 20 America East indoor and outdoor championships, more than all other schools combined. At their first CAA championship in 2006, the Huskies won three individual titles.

• Northeastern athletes have played in Super Bowls, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Championships.

• Reggie Lewis ('87) led NU to four straight America East titles and four straight NCAA appearances, and then went on to become an NBA All-Star and captain of the Boston Celtics.

• Thirteen Northeastern athletes have competed in the Olympics.

• Dan McGillis ('96), an All-America hockey player at NU, is in the midst of a standout pro career that began in Edmonton and has taken him to Philadelphia, San Jose, Boston and New Jersey.

• Several Huskies in recent few years have gone on to sign professional contracts: Jim Fahey (San Jose Sharks/NHL), Graig Mischler (San Jose Sharks/NHL), Francois Bouchard (Toronto Maple Leafs/NHL), Dave Klemic (Kansas City Chiefs/NFL), Matt Comella (New York Jets/NFL), Liam Ezekiel (Buffalo Bills/NFL), Ryan Gibbons (Jacksonville Jaguars/NFL), Justin Hedrick (San Francisco Giants/MLB), Matt Keating (San Francisco Giants/MLB), Greg Montalbano (Boston Red Sox/MLB), Carlos Pena (Texas Rangers/MLB), Jordan Thomson (San Francisco Giants/MLB) and Luke Carlin (San Diego Padres/MLB). Pena, in fact, was the 10th overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft by the Rangers. He is now in the New York Yankees organization.

• In 2006, a Northeastern had four players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, highlighted by RHP Adam Ottavino's first round selection (30th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals. Also drafted were junior Dave Pellegrine (Los Angeles (A)/11th round) and seniors Matt Morizio (Kansas City/17th round) and Chris Emanuele (Toronto/26th round).

• Former women's hockey standouts Chanda Gunn ('05) and Shelley Looney ('95) helped the United States to its first ever World Championship in 2005. Gunn shut out Canada in the final. Looney, Hilary Witt ('00) and Brooke White ('03) were members of the 2001 U.S. National Team. Looney was the first Husky to win a gold medal, which she did as a member of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Hockey Team. Looney scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game. Gunn also helped the United States to the bronze medal at the 2006 Olympics. Current head coach Laura Schuler ('94) won a silver medal as a member of Team Canada.

• Diana Nelson ('05) is a member of the U.S. Field Hockey National Team and has competed in international competitions. Sarah Broderick ('04) was a member of the 2001 U.S. Field Hockey Under-21 Team. Broderick and classmate Fior Arrindell also competed for a spot on the 2002 U.S. National Team.