NCAA News Archive - 2001

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Notes

Oct 22, 2001 4:55:50 PM

The NCAA News

Sports sponsorship: Citing a need to "assess athletics offerings to ensure the right scope for the institution," the University of Vermont has announced it will drop five sports at the end of the current season. "This is certainly one of the more difficult processes I've been involved with as athletics director, but knowing our need for strategic planning and our finite resources, I believe this action is necessary," said Director of Athletics Rick Farnham. Men's and women's gymnastics, women's volleyball, and men's indoor and outdoor track and field squads will complete this academic year, which will leave Vermont with 22 sports. Farnham said the move brings the school more closely into alignment with others in the America East Conference. The average number of sports offered by schools in the conference is 19. Vermont had been offering the greatest number of sports with the lowest level of financial resources and the fewest number of available scholarships. The decision to eliminate some sports dates back to October and November of 1999 when Vermont's Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, after a comprehensive review of the programs, concluded that "if sufficient additional institutional funding is not available, internal reallocation within athletics will be necessary." Among the report's recommendations was the need to "continually assess athletics offerings and operations to determine if the scope, quality, and focus of our overall program is the correct fit and size for the institution and the image we are striving to reinforce." After a thorough assessment of the report, the athletics department produced a "Framework for Change" document, which identified the criteria under which programs slated for elimination were evaluated. Included in the criteria were the program's impact on student enrollment, the sport's level of competitive success, the level of interest generated, potential for future growth, level of financial resources and the program's contribution to academic quality.

Milestones: Jerry Yeagley, men's soccer coach at Indiana University, Bloomington, won his 500th game when his Hoosiers topped Butler, 3-0, October 4. Yeagley is only the second Division I men's soccer coach in NCAA history to reach the milestone. Yeagley reached the mark at the fastest pace with the best winning percentage. His record stands at 500-92-37. "The honor goes to everyone who has ever worn a uniform, any coach, any support staff, and everyone who has supported Indiana soccer," said Yeagley afterward. "Five hundred games doesn't seem that long ago. I can still remember the first one. It seems like I have only been coaching a couple of years." Under Yeagley, Indiana never has had a losing season. The Hoosiers have won five NCAA championships and made 14 Men's College Cup appearances.

Miscellaneous: The Dayton Hockey Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization, and Miami University (Ohio) will co-sponsor the Lefty McFadden Invitational for three years beginning in 2002 at Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton. The tournament, slated for October 4-5, will be the first college hockey tournament to be played in Dayton. Joining the host RedHawks in the inaugural tournament will be Bowling Green State University, Niagara University and the U. S. Air Force Academy. The tournament is named for Ed "Lefty" McFadden, a well-respected Dayton-area sports figure. McFadden, who never played hockey at any level, served as general manager of the International Hockey League Dayton Gems from their inception in 1964 until 1973. Under McFadden, the Gems became one of the most successful franchises in all of minor-league hockey. He was named Minor League Hockey Executive of the Year by The Hockey News in 1970. Part of the proceeds from each year's tournament will benefit a Dayton-area charity. The charitable beneficiary for 2002 will be the Dayton Children's Medical Center. The money donated from the tournament will be used to aid the children's advocacy program. "This event has the potential to become one of college hockey's premier events," said Miami Athletics Director Joel Maturi.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown

National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2001