Sponsorship: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, athletics director Steve Hurlbut announced that women's softball will be offered as a varsity sport starting in spring 2001. After a 15-year hiatus, softball will return to the Teaneck campus in the 2000-01 academic year. The school last fielded a softball team in 1986. The university currently is conducting a search for a head coach. The return of softball will bring the number of varsity sports offered by the school to 17. The Knights' softball team will participate in the Northeast Conference, where the league champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA championships. "The reinstatement of a softball program is just another indication of the university's commitment to gender equity," said Hurlbut. "With women's soccer moving from club to varsity status next year as well, we are substantially increasing the number of opportunities for female student-athletes at FDU."

Milestones: Judi Garman, head softball coach at California State University, Fullerton, announced her retirement. Garman retires as the NCAA leader in softball coaching victories with a 913-374-4 record in 20 seasons, all at Cal State Fullerton. She led the Titans to the 1986 NCAA championship and won 50 or more games in a season nine times, including eight straight during the 1980s.

Conferences: The Patriot League announced that Georgetown University will join the league as an associate member in football. The Hoyas will begin play in the fall of 2001. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced that Georgetown will not have its football league membership renewed for the 2000 season ... The U.S. Military Academy announced that its men's ice hockey team will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in the 2000-01 season.