Terra State Reinstates Athletics
Starting this fall, Terra State will officially be taking the court in women’s volleyball and basketball, as well as men’s basketball. The Terra State Board of Trustees approved all three sports last night at its monthly meeting.
“I think what athletics will do for this campus will provide a sense of community, some excitement on campus and it will really bring our students, faculty and staff together,” said Terra State President, Dr. Ronald Schumacher. “I’m pretty excited to have athletics back.”
Athletics were put on hold last year by President Schumacher after being approved by the board in October 2017, to aid in stabilizing the budget.
Research for the validity of athletics at Terra State was completed over the past year by a committee, headed by faculty member John Cipiti, and previous staff member Patrick McCauley.
Also approved were the hiring of an athletic director, rejoining the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) and three head coaching positions—one for each sport.
Coaching and recruiting will be the immediate focus after the hiring of an athletic director, as the College aims to start team volleyball practice on August 1, 2019, with both basketball teams starting in October.
“We would like to find multitalented individuals who can not only coach, but also do something else on campus where it provides us an opportunity to fill some of the holes we currently have,” said President Schumacher.
According to President Schumacher, Terra State also has the potential to benefit from this addition. “I believe athletics will help our overall mix and blend of the campus. Does it help us as a college? Absolutely. It helps us build in other capacities. We need to do the same thing in academics. Athletics will enable us to invest in other areas on campus. I think this is a start.”
Terra State will prepare the Student Activities Center for intercollegiate sports through a one-time capital allocation of $60,000 - $90,000. Between current income projections and estimated expenses, the College looks to gain close to $40,000 per year by filling the rosters.
A quote from Julie Foudy, retired soccer Olympic Gold Medalist for Team USA, was shared during the board presentation and illustrates the reason why the College is taking this step to bring on athletics: “Sports build good habits, confidence and discipline. They make players into community leaders and teach them how to strive for a goal, handle mistakes, and cherish growth opportunities.”