Towson University has announced a restructuring of its intercollegiate athletics program that will enhance its competitive opportunities within the Colonial Athletic Association and the Atlantic-10 Football Conference. Towson’s membership within the CAA began in 2001, and its affiliation in football with the A-10 begins this fall.
Under the new plan, the university’s current 23-sport athletics program will be reconfigured to include seven men’s sports and 13 women’s sports. The offerings for men will include baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer and swimming. The university will sponsor basketball, cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor track, outdoor track and volleyball for women.
Women’s golf will be added as a varsity sport in fall, 2006. That addition will bring the number of women’s sports at Towson to 13, which represents a continued enhancement of women’s programs.
Men’s cross country, men’s indoor and outdoor track and men’s tennis will be discontinued, effective at the end of the current academic year, reducing men’s sports to seven.
Women’s gymnastics will realign with those schools in the Colonial Athletic Association that sponsor gymnastics under the umbrella organization of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
Scholarship commitments to student athletes in the discontinued sports will be continued throughout their respective years of eligibility. Those who wish to transfer to other institutions would be eligible to compete immediately.
“These changes will allow us to focus our athletics program and use our resources in ways that will strengthen the overall program,” said Director of Athletics, Dr. Wayne Edwards. “We want to be competitive in all of our sponsored sports and this restructuring effort is an important step toward realization of this goal.”
The plan being announced today is a result of a year-long program evaluation that included self-study by athletic department representatives and university oversight groups, as well as reviews by outside consultants.
The restructuring is part of a five-year strategic plan for the athletics program which also includes facility enhancement, coaching staff additions, expanded academic support services, additional scholarship funding and recruiting support, and increased marketing and fundraising initiatives.
“This change of priorities will position Towson University to achieve the athletic success which is among our goals for the future,” said President Robert L. Caret. ?I’m confident we’ve made the right decisions. We look forward to the contributions of our athletics program to our chosen conferences, to the mission of the university, and to the greater Towson community.?
