Hobart William Smith Colleges to Add 12 Sports, Including Men’s Swimming and Diving
Hobart William Smith Colleges last week announced plans to add 12 varsity sports offerings, including men’s swimming and diving.
The new programs will be phased in over the next four years, with men’s swimming and diving beginning in 2022-23. It brings the colleges’ athletic offerings to 35 varsity programs, expanding the number of student athletes from approximately 575 to 750.
“Hobart and William Smith have a nearly 200-year history of engaging students at the highest levels as scholars and athletes,” President Joyce P. Jacobsen said in a university statement. “At a time when other colleges and universities are pulling back on sports or even dropping programs, we are doubling down on our commitment to athletics and the experiences our students have as athletes. These new and revived sports, and the coaches and students they will attract, will add to the vitality of our already thriving athletics program and to our campus community. I’m very much looking forward to cheering them all on in the years to come.”
William Smith College has long had women’s swimming and diving, the school in Western New York competing at the Division III level. Men’s swimming and diving was instituted in 1966 but dropped in 1995. Among its famous swimming alumni is Notre Dame head coach Mike Litzinger.
The Statemen swim team will join William Smith in the Liberty League and will be coached by current Herons head coach R.C. Weston.
In addition to swimming and diving, Hobart will add alpine skiing and baseball in 2022-23, followed by volleyball in 2023-24 and indoor and outdoor track and field the following year. William Smith will add alpine skiing, bowling and volleyball in 2023-24, with track and field following in 2024-25. Like men’s swimming, baseball was dropped by Hobart in 1995, while skiing (1937-56) and volleyball (1962-74) have histories at the schools.
“This is an exciting time in Hobart and William Smith athletics history,” Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Deb Steward said. “Our coaches have proven that they are outstanding recruiters of high-achieving student-athletes and we look forward to welcoming more quality student-athletes to our campus. We will also add coaches and staff to teach and lead this meaningful experience for our Statesmen and Herons.”
.jpg "NCAA Division III Coverage - logo"){kind=logo}