ALBANY - The big news on Thursday was the addition of UMass Lowell to the America East.

On Friday, University at Albany coach Will Brown was asked his thoughts of a new program joining the league.

“I think our commissioner (Amy Huchthausen) did a tremendous job of adding UMass Lowell to the league," Brown said. "With all the realignment going on, you don’t want to be left behind. We had nine teams, we lost one to get down to eight and less than a year later, we’re back at nine."

Brown is referring to Boston University, which is in the midst of its final year in the America East before heading to the Patriot League.

"I think we’re trying operate from a power of strength, trying to add and not just be one of those leagues that fall aparat or falls behind."

Lowell is the first addition to the league since 2003-04, when UMBC joined and they are elevating their athletic programs (except hockey, which already is Division I) from the Division II level. They had been competing in the Northeast-10 Conference, which is the league that The College of Saint Rose competes in.

"Obviously, Lowell’s made the commitment to the America East and the Division I level," Brown said. "So I’m sure they’re going to have the resources and the facilities to be successful.”

Brown said that from talking to other coaches, the fact that the league is adding teams is, in his mind, a positive.

"Its nice that we’re going in the right direction with it,” he said.