May 7, 2010

CONWAY, S.C. -- The Coastal Carolina University Department of Athletics will add women's lacrosse to its sport programs, Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek announced today. The team will begin play during the 2012-13 academic year and be the 18th sport that the Chanticleers will compete again.

"This is a great opportunity for us to continue to expand and grow our successful athletic program while also meeting the needs and interest of our female student body," Yurachek said. "Delaying the start of this for two years will give us the opportunity to raise the funds to properly support this program and success right out of the gate."

"I'm excited about expanding our female sports programs at Coastal," Associate Athletics Director Cari Rosiek commented. "We are looking forward to adding a new experience for our students with the addition of a very popular sport on the East Coast."

The Chanticleers will look to start the program with the hiring of a head coach at the start of the 2011-12 academic year, followed by an assistant coach during the school year. The team will then report to campus in August 2012 and begin its first collegiate season in the spring of 2013. The conference affiliation is yet to be finalized, but Coastal will be the fourth Big South Conference school to sponsor women's lacrosse, joining Liberty, High Point and Presbyterian.

The move will also continue to address Title IX within the department. The sport received widespread interest from the female student population at the University and will not only expand the number of female student-athletes at Coastal but also assist with the proportionality requirements of Title IX.