NJIT to Join the Atlantic Sun in 2015-16

The nearly decade long trip for the nomadic tribe known as the NJIT Highlanders is over. The Atlantic Sun Conference announced today that they will add NJIT as it's eighth member replacing Northern Kentucky, who recently bolted for the Horizon League.

NJIT began playing a Division I schedule in the 2006-07 season and accrued a 6-83 mark their first three seasons, including a winless 0-29 campaign in 2007-08. Jim Engles took over the team in 2009 and has since gone 90-94 since his inaugural campaign. The Highlanders popularity reached a peak this year after knocking off Michigan 72-70 in December on the road. NJIT finished the season with a 21-12 mark making it to the semifinals of the CIT.

The Highlanders were a member of the Great West conference from 2009 to 2013 but that was more of a scheduling alliance for Division I Independents and did not carry an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

NJIT's traveling won't get too much easier in the A-Sun with it's member base in South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The conference is rumored to be be also considering adding current Division II members to help bolster conference membership.

The move will for NJIT will be immediate and the Highlanders will compete in the conference for the 2015-16 season.