What US Lacrosse Can Learn from USA Triathlon

Earlier this week, Wagner University, a Division I school in Staten Island, NY, announced the addition of varsity Women’s Triathlon to its school’s athletic offerings. Triathlon, over the last two years, has become one of the fastest growing sports of the NCAA’s Emerging Sport offerings, which has also included the likes of Equestrian, Sand Volleyball, and Rugby.

But what has made a sport such as Triathlon the apple of so many athletic director’s eyes? There are likely several reasons, most significantly the NCAA now recognizes it as a women’s sport, and the addition of Women’s Triathlon can be counted towards satisfying Title IX roster equity requirements. Additionally, the cost to outfit a varsity triathlon team is relativity low, with equipment costs minimal, especially if a university has an existing pool and track facility.

But there have been other low-cost women’s sports that were at one time labeled an NCAA Emerging Sports (Archery, Badminton) but have failed to take off with NCAA institutions. So what makes Triathlon different than those sports? For one thing, the sport’s governing body, USA Triathlon, has been paying millions of dollars to schools to add the sport. In fact, below is a list of schools that have added varsity Triathlon over the last two years, each of them receiving commitments from USA Triathlon ranging from $70k-$150k (press releases linked)

Arizona State University
Belmont Abbey College
Black Hills State University
Centenary College
Concordia University Wisconsin
Colorado Mesa University
Daemen College
Davis & Elkins College
Drury University
East Tennessee State
Millikin University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
North Central College
St. Thomas Aquinas College
University of South Dakota
Southern Wesleyan University
Transylvania University
Trine University
Wagner University
University of West Alabama

Is there anything wrong with this approach? Not at all. In fact, USA Triathlon should be applauded for taking this proactive approach to growing their sport. The question is, why is US Lacrosse not taking the same approach? US Lacrosse does have grant programs, but they are mostly directed towards youth and PE programs. All noble causes, but why is there no focus on collegiate level growth? On the men’s side, especially at the Division I level, is where growth has been the most stagnant, so should there not be grants to help stimulate growth in this area? Unfortunately, at the current growth rate, all these youth players that US Lacrosse is investing in are going to grow up someday and realize that there are very few high level college roster spots or scholarships available for them.

US Lacrosse should consider fundraising for, and establishing, an endowment that annually would support grants that incentivize the addition of lacrosse as a collegiate varsity sport. Additionally, they should hire someone who’s job is not only to manage this grant program, but someone who can also meet with schools considering adding lacrosse and discuss the required costs and investments needed to support a team at the varsity level.  This person would serve a similar role that Dave Cottle served when Marquette was considering adding lacrosse, but would be a US Lacrosse employee and able to answer questions, emails, phone calls and hold meetings at a whim with any school even remotely considering adding the sport.  This person should also be proactive, and reach out to colleges that have yet to consider adding lacrosse, and educate them on why the sport would be a good fit for their institution, and how US Lacrosse can support them on the road to varsity sponsorship.

If US Lacrosse won’t take the lead in this area than perhaps it is time for someone in the lacrosse community to start their own organization. For example, a similar approach has been taken by MotorMVB, a private non-profit with the goal of creating opportunities for male volleyball players. Like USA Triathlon, MotorMVB has been focused on the collegiate growth of Men’s Volleyball, and has also distributed grants to schools willing to add varsity Men’s Volleyball.

The sport of volleyball has a drastic difference in the number of Division I schools that sponsor Women’s Volleyball (334) vs Men’s Volleyball (43). While the difference is not as drastic for lacrosse (112 teams for Women and 71 for Men) there is still a gap that many would like to see closed, and perhaps the grant-incentive approach that USA Triathlon and MotorMVB have taken could help close this gap. Here’s hoping that our sport's leadership can learn from these two programs and the successes they have had at growing their sports at the collegiate level.

Posted in: US Lacrosse,Viewpoint

Marian University (D3 WI) Adds Women's Lacrosse

FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Marian University director of athletics Jason Bartelt has announced the addition of women's lacrosse to Marian and the hiring of David Pomeroy to head the program which will begin competition during the 2018-19 academic year.

 "I am proud to announce the addition of women's lacrosse to our athletic department," commented Bartelt on the addition of women's lacrosse. "This addition provides another athletic opportunity for student-athletes looking to continue their passion for sports while achieving a higher education at Marian." Women's lacrosse becomes the 21st varsity sport at Marian University with the addition of men's lacrosse who will open their inaugural season later this year. The home opener for the men's lacrosse program is set for Thursday, March 8 when Marian welcomes Calvin to Smith Field. The addition of women's lacrosse in 2018-19 will cap off a run of four consecutive years Sabre athletics will have a varsity sport play their inaugural season; men's volleyball (2015-16), ACHA hockey (2016-17), men's lacrosse (2017-18).

 "I am very excited to be adding women's lacrosse to the lineup of Marian athletics teams," commented Marian University president Andrew Manion. "Coach Pomeroy has a strong history of getting collegiate teams started and I think he will make a great addition to our coaching staff."

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Allegheny College (D3 PA) Adds Men's Lacrosse

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny College Board of Trustees has authorized the addition of field hockey and men's lacrosse to the school's varsity athletic offerings.

 "We are very excited to add field hockey and men's lacrosse to Allegheny's athletic program," stated Allegheny College President Dr. James H. Mullen, Jr. "These two sports will afford opportunities for excellent student-athletes from across the country to be part of a nationally-recognized academic community, and contribute to a proud athletic tradition that extends back to the founding of the NCAA."

 Field hockey will begin play in the fall of 2019, while the inaugural season of Gator men's lacrosse will be spring of 2020. The search for a head coach for each program will begin immediately. "Men's lacrosse and field hockey have been on our radar for several years," said Portia Hoeg, Allegheny Director of Athletics and Recreation. "However, we did not have the proper resources in place to create a solid foundation for additional sports."

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American Athletic Conference to Sponsor Women's Lacrosse, Big East Responds with Realignment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced the addition of women’s lacrosse as the Conference’s 22nd sport beginning in 2019. The six-team league will be comprised of current conference members University of Cincinnati, University of
Connecticut, East Carolina University and Temple University, as well as the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University as affiliate members.

The American becomes the 16th Division I conference to sponsor women’s lacrosse. Cincinnati, UConn, Temple, Florida and Vanderbilt are current members of the Big East Conference in women’s lacrosse, while ECU begins its first season of intercollegiate competition in 2018 after the addition of women’s lacrosse to its sports roster in March 2016. Women’s lacrosse is the first sport addition to the conference since its reinvention in 2013. The American will now sponsor 10 men’s and 12 women’s sports. The conference will conduct its first women’s lacrosse championship in 2019 with the site and dates still to be determined. The American will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.

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In a move that was on the horizon for over a year, the Big East announced on Wednesday that women’s lacrosse would go from ten teams to six teams beginning with the 2019 season. After one fina

l season at its current 10 team configuration in the spring of 2018, the Big East will have a six team league the following season. Core Big East members Butler, Georgetown, Marquette, and Villanova will be joined by current affiliate member Denver and incoming affiliate member Old Dominion. Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Temple, and Vanderbilt will depart the Big East to form a new league under the banner of the American Athletic Conference, along with core AAC member East Carolina, who will play their first season of Division 1 women’s lacrosse as an independent in 2018.

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Posted in: College,Conferences,Division I