By: by Mark Toma
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State University has completed its transition to Division I, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
The four-year transition from Division II into collegiate athletics’ top tier now enables all 16 of KSU’s varsity sports teams to compete at the Division I level n the Atlantic Sun Conference beginning in August 2009. KSU received the word from the NCAA in July that it had met all requirements for Division I status.
“This is a milestone for KSU that will energize our student body and the entire campus community,” said KSU President Daniel S. Papp. “Now as an NCAA Division I institution, we can provide our student-athletes with opportunities to compete at the highest levels — while continuing our tradition of emphasizing both athletic accomplishment and academic achievement.”
KSU’s varsity sports programs –– including academic support for student-athletes –– have been transformed since the university started its move from Division II during the 2005-2006 academic year. Over the past four years, the university has increased the number of athletic scholarships awarded, enhanced academic advising for its 235 student-athletes, upgraded its sports facilities, and added two new sports: women’s volleyball and men’s tennis.
Dave Waples, director of athletics for Kennesaw State for more than two decades, acknowledged the teamwork that helped the program attain Division I status. “The four-year process has been a learning experience for everyone in the athletics program,” he stated. “We are proud to say it was a university-wide collaboration.”
KSU underwent a multi-year accreditation process to assure compliance with the NCAA’s rigorous academic requirements and other regulations.
“The university has attracted higher caliber student-athletes. This academic year, the KSU athletics program had its best cumulative grade-point average, with a 2.97 G.P.A. for all 16 teams,” Waples said.
As it moved up the ranks, KSU also upgraded its sports-program facilities. New suites for basketball coaches, renovated locker rooms, baseball and softball lounge rooms with computers and big-screen TVs are some of the improved amenities. In addition, there is a 6,000-square-foot student-athlete advising center and an all-sports indoor practice facility that opened this year.
“The ‘wow’ factor for our recruits is such a great asset,” said Rhyll Brinsmead, KSU’s head women’s golf coach. “Our space here rivals those you’ll find at schools like Georgia, Florida or Alabama.”
Plans also are under way to convert 88 acres of land recently purchased by the university into intramural, club and competitive sports fields and facilities, further enhancing KSU’s athletics resources. The new land will have as many as nine competition fields, jogging trails, sand volleyball courts, and, possibly, a track, tennis courts and a multi-use stadium.
This season, which begins August 21, KSU will play other Division I teams, including Clemson University, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee.
Since beginning the transition to Division I in 2005-2006, KSU teams have won six Atlantic Sun Conference championships in five sports, including men’s indoor and outdoor track, women’s soccer, softball and cross-country.
