Facilities: The University of Richmond's on-campus soccer facility will be renamed First Market Stadium as a result of a major gift from First Market Bank. University officials said part of the gift will be used to upgrade the stadium. The remainder will be used to support men's and women's soccer, basketball and golf at Richmond. A formal recognition of the gift and the official naming of the stadium, located next to the Robins Center, will take place during the coming soccer season.

Sports sponsorship: Marshall University will add women's golf and women's swimming and diving for the 2002-03 season. The addition pushes to 18 the total of varsity sports at the school. "These two sports fit into our niche perfectly," said Marshall Athletics Director Lance West. "We have the facilities for the swimming and diving team, as well as bringing back one of our better women's sports in golf. Also, those two sports tie into academics well and both sports are already offered in the Mid-American Conference." Women's golf returns to Marshall after financial reasons forced discontinuation of the program after the 1982 season. With the addition, current men's golf coach Joe Feaganes will become the director of both golf programs. A search will began immediately for a full-time assistant. The school hopes to have both a head coach and an assistant named for the women's swimming and diving program by October.

Conferences: The Patriot League has accepted American University as the league's eighth full member and Georgetown University as a football-playing associate member. American joins Bucknell University, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy as full members of the Patriot League. Georgetown joins Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham University, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Towson University as football-playing members. American will begin competing in a full league schedule in 18 sports this fall. Georgetown will begin football competition this fall. "Both institutions have a strong tradition of excellence in academics and Division I athletics and reflect the core values of the Patriot League. Each will be an excellent complement to our league," said Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich ... The Mid-Continent Conference will return to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the War Memorial Coliseum for both its men's and women's basketball tournaments in March 2002. The league voted to keep its top event in the northeast Indiana city for the third straight year, while also agreeing that the league will then accept bids for the two tournaments beginning with the 2003 championships.

Milestones: University of Akron softball coach Deanna Parks won her 200th game this past season.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown