Kutztown University to Reinstate Men’s Swimming in 2024-25
Kutztown University in Pennsylvania will reinstate men’s swimming as a varsity sport for the 2024-25 academic year, the school announced Monday.
Men’s swimming makes its return after being axed in 2009 due to “university-wide financial cuts.” The men’s program had begun in 1970-71. Women’s swimming survived that cut.
Kutztown will join seven other men’s programs in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), comprised of Division II public schools in the Commonwealth. Kutztown will join 77 other Division II schools.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring more student-athletes to our campus,” Kutztown president Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson said in a university statement. “We have been growing our enrollment through athletics for the past few years through the addition of women’s acrobatics and tumbling in 2020, and the commitment to men’s swimming for the 2024-25 season. Our student-athletes continue to persist and retain at a high level, and their grade point averages remain at or above that of the overall student body. Men’s swimming will certainly contribute to those numbers, as well as support recruitment and retention for our women’s swim team.”
Tim Flannery, who coached the men’s team for its final 14 seasons and is in his 26th season coaching the women’s team, will oversee the rebuild of men’s swimming. Kutztown will offer 23 varsity programs (14 women’s, nine men’s).
Kutztown jettisoned a respectable swimming history in 2009. The Golden Bears had had 22 winning dual-meet seasons, 11 All-Americans and one national champion. They placed as high as 12th nationally on two occasions (1977-78 and 1995-96) and peaked at third in the PSAC Championships.
“I am so excited for our men’s swimming alumni and our women’s swim team,” Flannery said. “It was devastating to lose our men’s program in 2009. There is no question having a men’s program will help our women’s team. The biggest and best swim programs sponsor both teams. The swimmers from both teams tend to form strong bonds and push each other to be better student-athletes on many levels. I am thankful to our administration for making this decision and understanding the value of intercollegiate athletics in general.”
The inaugural men’s swimming roster will begin with 12 swimmers. The women’s roster is slated to grow from 15 to 20 members, adding 17 new spots by 2024.
“We feel this is the right time to reintroduce men’s swimming,” Kutztown athletic director Renee Hellert said. “The university’s efforts toward Title IX are optimal through roster management, the addition of women’s acrobatics and tumbling, facility enhancement and the growth of the women’s coaching staff. I am excited for coach Flannery and our swimming alumni about the return of men’s swimming, but even more so, I am happy for our women’s swimmers who will receive an enhanced experience as Golden Bear student-athletes.”
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