National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Jan 20, 2010 8:59:12 AM

Le Moyne announced Monday that it will add women's golf as a varsity sport beginning with the 2010 season.

The addition is the first in women's sports at the school since lacrosse in the 1993-94 academic year and brings Le Moyne's total sport offerings up to 15 (eight women's sports and seven men's sports).

"We have spent the past two years gauging the interest and ability level in women's golf at the club-sport level," said Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Matt Bassett. "Under the leadership and development of our men's coach, Joe Tesori, it is abundantly clear that women's golf would be a tremendous addition to our sport sponsorship offerings here at Le Moyne.

"At a time when other institutions are looking for ways to conserve, or in some cases cut back, we are looking for ways to be creative and become more attractive to prospective student-athletes."

Basset said Tesori will serve as the head coach of the women's program and remain in charge of the men's team. Tesori, in his third season, led the Dolphins to the 2008 Northeast-10 Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA championships that year.

"The central New York area has made tremendous strides in raising the profile of women's golf," Tesori said. "For Le Moyne to have a program that provides an opportunity for young women to play at the collegiate level is just fantastic."

A total of 135 active Division II institutions sponsor women's golf, 40 of which are in the East Region.