Oglethorpe University president Dr. Lawrence Schall and the Oglethorpe University Board of Trustees announced at the February 20 board meeting that the school will be adding both men’s and women’s lacrosse as varsity sports.
“Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports right now at the high school and collegiate levels,” said Dr. Schall. “This move allows us the opportunity to recruit in areas of the country that best feed our university.”
Men’s lacrosse will become the 15th varsity sport offered at Oglethorpe when the team begins play in the 2010-2011 academic year. The inaugural women’s lacrosse team will take the field in 2012-2013, becoming the 16th varsity sport offered at Oglethorpe.
There will not be a national search for a head men’s lacrosse coach as Oglethorpe athletics director Jay Gardiner will assume the duties of head coach. Gardiner played lacrosse collegiately at McDaniel College and has coached at both the high school and college levels.
“It’s an exciting sport to play and an equally exciting sport to watch,” said Gardiner. “Lacrosse will be an excellent addition to our athletic program.”
Four other teams in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which Oglethorpe competes in, currently have varsity men’s lacrosse teams – Colorado College, Hendrix College, Sewanee and Birmingham-Southern. In October, another member, Southwestern University, announced it will be adding men’s lacrosse in the spring of 2010.
There will be a campus-wide announcement open to the media, lacrosse coaches and athletes and Oglethorpe faculty and trustee members on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Talmage Room of the Emerson Student Center.
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