On July 1, 2015, the New Jersey Athletic Conference officially welcomed Christopher Newport University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University, and Wesley College as new associate football members. On the same day, Southern Virginia University became the first institution in the history of the conference to transition its institutional membership from affiliate to associate status.

"We were excited about the future of our football conference at the time of the agreement with the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), and today represents the fact that the future is now in terms of our NJAC football expansion," said Terry Small, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. "Our Presidents and athletic administrators have always sought stability in terms of our football membership, and we now believe that we have assembled one of the strongest football conferences in all of NCAA Division III. I personally would like to thank my colleague Tom Byrnes, the Commissioner of the CAC, for his leadership throughout this whole transitional process. While we still have work to do in the 65 days leading up to the kickoff the 2015 season, Tom has worked diligently to help make today a reality, and I am very grateful."

The expansion of the NJAC football membership became possible due to an innovative partnership which was developed between the presidents of both conferences. The College of New Jersey President Dr. Barbara Gitenstein and Frostburg State University President Dr. Jonathan Gibralter took on leadership roles in conjunction with the other presidents of the football-playing institutions in both conferences. Collectively, the two presidential groups developed an agreement that continued to feature many of the core values and principles associated with NJAC athletics, including conference-wide academic progress standards and standardized football roster rules.

"The NJAC is proud and honored to partner with the CAC to further enhance our strong football programs while respecting the academic priorities of our institutions," said TCNJ President Barbara Gitenstein. "Dr. Gibralter and all of the CAC institutions and presidents have been extraordinary professionals throughout this process. I am confident that the partnership developed with our scholar-athletes in mind will yield tremendous benefits for our institutions beyond the playing fields and goalposts."

"It was an honor and privilege to represent the CAC and to work with Dr. Gitenstein to refine the athletic and academic model for NJAC football that will prioritize the academics of each institution with qualify athletics," said Frostburg State University President Jonathan Gibralter at the time of the agreement. "The CAC presidents unanimously supported the ideals that were developed. I believe this is a budding partnership with the NJAC institutions that can be strong and last for a long time."

Christopher Newport University, which first sponsored football in 2001-02, was a dominant program in the USA South Athletic Conference since its inception. The Captains claimed 10 USA South championships in the 14-year history of their program. As the only head coach in program history, CNU's Matt Kelchner has guided his squad to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure.

Frostburg State University, led by head coach DeLane Fitzgerald, has sponsored the sport of football since the 1961-62 academic year. The Bobcats previously claimed three Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) championships and earned a berth in the 1993 NCAA Tournament.

Salisbury University, which has claimed four conference championships in two different leagues during the past decade, first sponsored the sport of football in 1973-74. Now in his 17th year as the head coach of his alma mater, Sherman Wood has guided the Sea Gulls to a pair of league crowns in both the ACFC (2004 & 2005) and the Empire 8 Conference (2011 & 2012). In total, the Sea Gulls have made nine NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.

Wesley College, one of the most successful collegiate football programs in NCAA Division III over the course of the past decade, first sponsored the sport of football during the 1986-87 academic year. Director of Athletics and head football coach Mike Drass has guided the Wolverines to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including national tournament berths in each of the last 10 seasons. Wesley claimed eight ACFC titles during the conference's existence, including six straight from a period of 2005 to 2010.

The additions to the New Jersey Athletic Conference will increase the league's football membership to 10 institutions, including full-conference members Kean University, Montclair State University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University. In total, the 10 programs that will compete in NJAC football during the 2015-16 academic year have combined for 74 conference championships and 64 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The first NJAC conference contest of the season will take place on Friday, September 4 when TCNJ travels to face Christopher Newport.