Excitement builds around Fairleigh Dickinson鈥檚 two new DI programs amidst pandemic
TEANECK, N.J. (BVM) — Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) is adding not one, but two Division I teams to its roster. The men鈥檚 volleyball team is set to begin play next year during the 2021-22 season and the women鈥檚 lacrosse team will start the year after in 2023.聽
While some schools across the nation are cutting programs, the Knights are seeing the value in adding more opportunities for their student-athletes. FDU is joining Princeton and the New Jersey Institute of Technology as the only three schools in the state with a DI men鈥檚 volleyball program. Women鈥檚 lacrosse is joining Monmouth, Princeton and Rutgers and together they will be the only four DI programs in New Jersey.聽
鈥淭he pandemic has greatly impacted colleges and universities across the country over the last year, but we are continuing to move forward and respond to student needs with important new programs,鈥� said FDU President Christopher A. Capuano in a last month.聽
The establishment of both programs is a result of what Capuano said is their 鈥渟trategic planning efforts鈥� that have positioned the university in a spot to expand rather than cut. Capuano said the main goal is to 鈥渃reate greater opportunities for students to have a dynamic and fulfilling collegiate experience.鈥澛�
The expansion announcement quickly gained the attention of coaches across the country who showed their support for their new competition.聽
鈥淚 can鈥檛 emphasize enough how important it is to add another Division I program to the entire Olympic sport movement,鈥� John Speraw, U.S. Men鈥檚 Volleyball National Team head coach. 鈥淏oys and men鈥檚 volleyball continues to be on the rise and I look forward to Fairleigh Dickinson鈥檚 first point in January 2022.鈥澛�
鈥淲hat a great thing for our sport, for Fairleigh Dickinson to add during this challenging COVID time,鈥� Kelly Amonte Hiller, the head women鈥檚 lacrosse coach for the Northwestern Wildcats. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about the movement of lacrosse across the country.鈥澛�
Currently with 254 student-athletes on 19 teams, FDU鈥檚 number will only increase after the conclusion of the national search for both programs鈥� head coaches. The process for a volleyball head coach is taking priority and the university is expected to start looking this spring for a lacrosse head coach.聽
FDU participates in the Northeast Conference and wants both teams to make an impact in the region during their inaugural seasons. Although they are unsure of what that鈥檒l look like due to COVID-19, the university is hopeful for the future.聽聽
鈥淭he introduction of [these sports] illustrates the strength and continued growth of our athletics program,鈥� said Capuano in a separate . 鈥淎n added benefit of these two new programs is their popularity within New Jersey and the possibility of keeping more New Jersey students close to home to study and compete.鈥�
