The University of Akron Athletics
Zips To Add Women's Soccer for 2000-2001
July 20 | Women's Soccer
Akron (July 14, 1999) -- University of Akron athletic director Dennis Helsel today announced the addition of women's soccer to the Zips' intercollegiate athletics program for the 2000-2001 academic year. (The athletic department later decided to delay the start of women's soccer until the fall of 2001)
This brings to nine the number of women's teams in UA's program. Akron also sponsors eight men's sports and rifle which is a co-ed sport. The Zips added women's swimming & diving for the 1998-99 school year and dropped men's tennis following the 1998 spring season.
We're working to improve the balance of opportunity for men and women in our athletics program, explained Helsel. Soccer is the fastest growing women's sport, and in fact, with this addition, all 13 Mid-American Conference universities now sponsor the sport.
The Zips plan to name a coach for the team by early January
2000. UA will compete as an independent in 2000 and play a full MAC
schedule in 2001. Helsel indicated plans to award 40 percent of the
NCAA scholarship limit for women's soccer (which is 12) in the
first season (2000-01), then 60 percent the second year and 80
percent the third year. In addition, the team's total budget
(including salaries & benefits, operating expenses and
scholarships) for its first five years of existence is projected to
be $1.25 million.
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Akron has a great tradition in soccer. Coach Ken Lolla and the Zip men have won the MAC regular-season title four times in the last six years, and last fall swept MAC laurels by winning the league tournament as well. Akron has enjoyed 12 trips to the NCAA Division I Tournament, including a runnerup finish in 1986. The Zips have produced 34 All-Americans.
UA Sport Offerings 2001-02
Women's: Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country,
Basketball, Swimming & Diving, Indoor Track & Field,
Softball, Outdoor Track & Field, Tennis.
Men's: Football, Soccer, Cross Country,
Basketball, Indoor Track & Field, Baseball, Outdoor Track &
Field, Golf. M's/W's: Rifle.
