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| NC A&T announce it will be adding four programs, and discontinuing its women’s swimming program. (NC A&T photo) |
GREENSBORO — The winds of change are blowing in Greensboro as North Carolina A&T announced several additions and one subtraction to its athletic department on Friday. A&T will be ending its women’s swimming program in 2014-2015 while men’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf and women’s soccer will be phased in over a seven-year period starting with the reactivation of men’s tennis in 2014-15.
NC A&T athletic director Earl Hilton explained the changes in an online release.
“We are committed to moving all of our athletic programs into a position where they can compete for conference championships because as it stands now, winning a conference title gives us our best chance to advance to an NCAA playoff,” said Hilton.
A&T will honor all swimming scholarships until that time.
“Many of our swimmers have been tremendously successful after graduating from North Carolina A&T, he said. We must, however, move our department to where every athlete has the opportunity to compete for a conference and NCAA title. I don’t see a scenario where the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will sponsor swimming in the foreseeable future.”
Men’s tennis was discontinued in 2006. A&T will initiate the start of men’s and women’s golf in 2016-17 and women’s soccer is scheduled for 2020. Hilton said the school was excited about bringing the sport back.
“We already have a history with the sport, so I don’t believe it will be difficult to reinstate the program. The changes to the structure of our department put us in line to meet some of the goals spelled out in the 2020 A&T Preeminence.”