New York City Tech had 130 students participate in intercollegiate athletics in the 2010-11 season. NYC Tech athletics file photo

By Pat Coleman
D3sports.com

New York City College of Technology is dropping intercollegiate athletics effective immediately, D3sports.com has learned.

The school, in New York City, sponsored 14 sports this past academic year, just above the minimum required by the NCAA for a school of its size in Division III. 

"We're still formulating what's going to go on for September, but what we're looking at is forming an extensive intramural program that would allow more of our students to participate," Joe Lento, assistant executive director of student affairs, told D3sports.com. NYC Tech has 16,000 students, but more than two-thirds of them are enrolled in two-year degree programs. The school may attempt to reorganize as a junior college athletically for 2012-13, Lento said.

The Yellow Jackets went through a five-game unbeaten stretch last fall in which they outscored opponents 18-3. NYC Tech athletics file photo

The late decision will leave opponents, especially in the fall sports of men's soccer and women's volleyball, scrambling to fill open dates. The City University of New York Athletic Conference would not be in danger of losing its automatic bid in men's soccer, men's and women's basketball or women's volleyball, as the league remains above the minimum number of participating schools. The CUNYAC should also still have an automatic bid for the first Division III men's volleyball championship next spring.

"Obviously we are saddened to have one of our members drop their athletic program, but we will work diligently with City Tech in order to have them rejoin the membership once their facilities are completed," said Zak Ivkovic, CUNYAC commissioner. "Clearly, not having any outdoor facilities and losing their gymnasium makes it impossible to run an adequate program. Our conference members and CUNYAC staff are working extra hard to adjust at this time and help ourselves and anyone on City Tech's schedules for 2011-12 so as to not lose any games nor leave holes in sports schedules."

"We are also waiving our intra-conference transfer policy for any City Tech student-athlete that wishes to continue their collegiate athletics career at another CUNY institution (the policy normally requires a year in residence for transfers with some exceptions)."

NYC Tech went 0-17 in women's volleyball, 5-19 in men's basketball, 3-21 in women's basketball and 5-6-2 in men's soccer last season. The Yellow Jackets were 2-26 in softball. NYC Tech also sponsors teams in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and men's and women's tennis.