Just last week McNeese State announced it would be canceling its men’s and women’s golf programs after the 2021 season. Men’s golf was one of three sports canceled by the University of Akron earlier this year.
Schools across the country, like the rest of the nation, are struggling to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. One easy way to save money? Cut athletic teams.
Averett University, a private college in Danville, Virginia, is doing the opposite. On Wednesday the university announced the addition of a women’s golf program that will begin play during the 2021-22 academic year. The Averett Cougars will compete in NCAA Div. III as a member of the USA South Athletic Conference.
“We are excited to add a women’s golf program, which will help us provide additional opportunities for female student-athletes,” director of athletics Meg Stevens said in a release. “The addition of a women’s golf program here at Averett will benefit our University by reaching into a new demographic and increasing the opportunities for women to compete in college athletics, as well as positively impact our established men’s golf program.”
Current men’s golf head coach Ben Potter will be the director of both golf teams and Averett will hire a graduate assistant coach to work with both.
We also are excited to announce that men’s golf head coach Ben Potter is named director of golf for both the men’s and women’s programs as part of the addition of women’s golf. // #AverettFamily pic.twitter.com/PsZ8wby5Yt
— Averett Athletics (@AverettUCougars) December 16, 2020
“Starting the women’s golf team is a great addition to our program and is very exciting,” Potter said via the release. “I am personally excited to help the new student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the course. Averett golf has seen a lot of growth in the last several years, and the addition of the women’s team is another amazing step forward.”
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