By Marc Meyers, sports information director (Winter 2008 issue)

Director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation Julie Davis announced in October that women’s golf, women’s lacrosse and men’s lacrosse will join the UMF varsity athletics program.

“We have been talking about expanding our offerings since I have been here,” said Davis, who took over the post in 2000. “We have a core of quality programs; however, we haven’t been as balanced or broad based as we think appropriate for our student body.”

Originally, the athletics department announced in April 2007 that women’s golf, women’s lacrosse and men’s volleyball would be added to the UMF offerings. Due to a last-minute shift in North Atlantic Conference membership, the men’s volleyball program is pursuing a collegiate club track and men’s lacrosse moves into the additional varsity position.

“It impacted not only us, but other schools in other conferences, so we have been working together to assemble a compatible list of offerings,” Davis said.

The three new sports increase the UMF roster to 14 offerings. UMF currently offers men’s and women’s soccer, cross country and basketball; men’s golf and baseball; and women’s field hockey, volleyball and softball.

Under the direction of head coach Bob Timmins, the women’s golf program became available this fall and is designated as “mixed” with the men’s program. Women have opportunities to play for position in the men’s scoring and compete against other female golfers without full teams. The athletics department’s goal is to get enough participants and opponents for the program to operate as a separate entity.

There is already a women’s lacrosse developmental club team poised to become varsity in 2008-2009. The men’s program will follow a similar startup plan with varsity competition scheduled for 2009-2010.

“Gone are the days when a university can field teams with whoever shows up on campus,” Davis said. “To gain parity in level of competitiveness with other programs in the conference, we need two years of recruiting, and we’re recruiting for the whole package: students who will be successful academically, those who will contribute as campus leaders and those who will be committed to the sport.”

While the new programs will enrich the residential college experience for students, UMF’s athletics facilities will be further stressed.

“We’re already bursting at the seams for indoor practice space,” said Davis, referring to Dearborn Gymnasium. And come late winter, every inch of that facility will be teaming with athletes, as men’s and women’s basketball wrap up their seasons while baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse ready for spring.

But Davis said the investment in adding programs and future outlays for expanded facilities will yield an important dividend for students and the University.

“Offering a broad-based athletics program promotes student retention,” she said. “Students who participate in varsity athletics programs graduate on time and achieve academic success at a rate higher than those who don’t participate.”