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| Johnson & Wales-Charlotte will join the C2C next fall but won't be a full Division III member until three years after that. JWU-Charlotte athletics photo |
The Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference is excited to welcome Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Charlotte as its newest member institution following unanimous support from the C2C Board of Directors. JWU-Charlotte will become the conference's seventh core member and begin competition during the 2025-2026 academic year.
"The C2C is thrilled to welcome JWU Charlotte as the newest member of the conference," said Mary Washington President Dr. Troy Paino, Chair of the C2C Board of Directors. "We look forward to the Wildcats' continued growth and success in the years to come."
JWU Charlotte is a private institution located in Charlotte, North Carolina. JWU Charlotte is currently in its exploratory year with the NCAA prior to submitting an application for the NCAA Division III provisional membership process later this month. The Wildcats will be immediately eligible to compete in all C2C championships and are on pace to become a full NCAA Division III member for the 2028-29 academic year.
Another JWU branch, in Providence, Rhode Island, is already in Division III. A third, JWU-Denver, was in the provisional pipeline to join D-III before closing after the 2020-21 academic year.
"Joining the C2C will elevate JWU-Charlotte by giving our student-athletes the opportunity to compete against teams nationwide, excel in academics and leadership, and strengthen our impact while reflecting our core values," said Richard Mathieu, Ph.D., president, Charlotte Campus, Johnson & Wales University.
JWU-Charlotte will sponsor the following C2C sports: men's cross country, women's cross country, men's soccer, women's soccer, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's baseball, women's softball and women's outdoor track and field. The Wildcats currently compete as a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) where they have won the last two Director's Cup titles.
"We are excited to join the Coast-to-Coast Conference, a top-notch NCAA Division III athletic conference. Not only will membership provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete for championships, but it also demonstrates how the philosophies of the other member universities align closely with JWU's values," said Trudi Lacey, director of JWU Charlotte athletics.
The C2C will consist of seven full-time members in 2025-26: UC Santa Cruz, Christopher Newport, JWU-Charlotte, Mary Washington, Regent, Salisbury and Warren Wilson.
"We are delighted to welcome JWU Charlotte to the C2C family," said C2C Commissioner Chris Roekle. "President Mathieu and Trudi Lacey are dedicated to advancing athletics on campus, and I am confident the Wildcats have a promising future ahead."