From the desk of Cary McConnell, Director of Athletics at Suffolk University:

Today I write to you with some disappointing news. Due to ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suffolk University will not be able to compete against other conference institutions during the fall of 2020.  

Below is the statement from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC):

Commonwealth Coast Conference Statement on Fall 2020 

In the face of unprecedented challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) has remained unchanged: to provide the safest possible environment for our student-athletes in all sports so that intercollegiate athletic competition may safely resume at the appropriate time. 

Despite the strong desire to provide our talented athletes the opportunity to play competitively in the sports at which they excel, the CCC Board of Directors has made the extremely difficult decision to suspend CCC intercollegiate athletic competition for the Fall 2020 semester. 

With improved public health conditions and relevant NCAA guidance, we hope to begin competition for winter sports athletic competition as early as January 1, 2021. Spring sports currently remain on schedule as planned, with the exception of canceling their non-traditional fall play date. In addition, should NCAA legislation permit fall sports teams to conduct athletic activities and competition in the Spring 2021 semester, CCC schedules and championships may be adjusted accordingly.

The decision to suspend CCC play in the Fall 2020 semester does not preclude individual CCC institutions from making institutional decisions to schedule some athletic competition.

I know this is not the news you had hoped for. The last thing an athletic department wants to do is to cease competition. But our ability to keep you, your teammates, and your coaches healthy, is our main focus. We will organize smaller groups (pods) of athletes to practice and participate in strength and conditioning opportunities and provide COVID testing twice a week for participating students.

Student athletes are not required to participate in these athletic opportunities and will not be penalized for not participating when the full teams are able to practice and compete.

If there are questions, please contact me directly. At this moment, I share your disappointment regarding this news related to the fall of 2020, and I look forward to when we can resume competition.

Sincerely,

Cary