Miscellaneous: The Division II Men's and Women's Soccer Championships recently partnered with Midwestern State University and the Greater Wichita Falls Chapter of Habitat for Humanity to benefit victims from the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. On November 29, the Midwestern State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and members of the Division II Men's and Women's Soccer Committees started construction on an 8-foot x 8-foot storage facility that will accompany a house for victims of Hurricane Katrina or Rita. In addition:

• A Habitat for Humanity video was shown at the NCAA Info Zone throughout the championships.

• 500 flyers about Habitat for Humanity and volunteer forms were provided to spectators, along with instructions on how to become involved.

• Donations for the NCAA Home Team/
  Habitat for Humanity were collected during each session of the championship.

Division II donated $1 million earlier this year to benefit hurricane victims. That funding represented two-thirds of the funding behind the NCAA's Home Team project, which supports hurricane relief through Habitat for Humanity.

Facilities: Millersville University of Pennsylvania dedicated its new artificial turf facility, Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium, on October 8. The field was named in honor of J. Freeland Chryst, an all-star lineman for the Marauder football team in the 1940s. It is a gift from his daughter Dana Chryst and employees of The Jay Group, a sales and promotion company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, founded by the elder Chryst. Construction of the main field, an eight-lane 400-meter track and competition areas for field events, began in April and was completed in time for the start of Millersville's 2005 fall season. A new scoreboard also was completed, along with a 1,500-seat visitors' section. Future renovations will include upgraded locker and training room facilities, a new press box and construction of a prefabricated weight room ... Saint Augustine's College honored a veteran coach October 7 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Coach George Williams Athletic Complex. The first phase of construction will include a nine-lane IAAF-regulated track and field, an artificial turf infield, press and coaches boxes, restrooms and storage facilities, and concession stands and seating. Since becoming track and field coach, Williams has led Falcon student-athletes to 27 Division II championships.

Sports sponsorship: Post University announced in November that it will add women's tennis as its 12th varsity sport. "This is another step forward in the university's continued commitment to the athletics department," said Athletics Director Dan Mara, who also is a member of the Division II Management Council. The coach of the new team will be Ken Nolan, who also coaches the men's team. The women's team will begin play in fall 2006.

-- Compiled by David Pickle