Presbyterian College announced Monday that its men’s lacrosse program will be eliminated as a varsity sport at the end of the 2011 school year. The decision was made at the Board of Trustees meeting Feb. 23, 2011.
The Presbyterian College Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of college president Dr. John Griffith and director of athletics Brian Reese, voted to discontinue the sport, which will complete its final season this spring.
Presbyterian College is a member of the Big South Conference, which does not include men’s lacrosse as a conference sport and, according to officials, is not expected to add it in the future. This was the overriding reason that the college decided to drop men’s lacrosse as a varsity sport, Reese said.
“This was a very difficult decision to make,” Reese said. “But we believe it is appropriate under the circumstances to make our program stronger and improve competition in all of our other conference sports.”
Reese noted that women’s lacrosse, while not currently a Big South Conference sport, is being played as a varsity sport at several conference schools and is likely to be made a conference sport in the future.
Numerous entities on campus were brought into the discussion to gather information and look at the effect of discontinuing the sport, he added. After careful review of several options, Reese said this decision balances sustainability and competitiveness for the remaining 15 Big South Conference sports.
The Men’s Lacrosse team began play in 2006 and has compiled a 9-57 record, including a 1-4 mark this season. The Blue Hose earned their first win as a Division I program in 2009 with a 15-12 decision against Detroit Mercy.
PC will honor athletic scholarships and grant-in-aid awards to men’s lacrosse student-athletes based on the remaining years of lacrosse eligibility they have until graduation. Student-athletes who wish to transfer will be granted a release according to the NCAA’s “discontinued/non-sponsored sports exception.”
