Excitement builds around Fairleigh Dickinson’s two new DI programs amidst pandemic
TEANECK, N.J. (BVM) — Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) is adding not one, but two Division I teams to its roster. The men’s volleyball team is set to begin play next year during the 2021-22 season and the women’s lacrosse team will start the year after in 2023.
While some schools across the nation are cutting programs, the Knights are seeing the value in adding more opportunities for their student-athletes. FDU is joining Princeton and the New Jersey Institute of Technology as the only three schools in the state with a DI men’s volleyball program. Women’s lacrosse is joining Monmouth, Princeton and Rutgers and together they will be the only four DI programs in New Jersey.
“The pandemic has greatly impacted colleges and universities across the country over the last year, but we are continuing to move forward and respond to student needs with important new programs,” said FDU President Christopher A. Capuano in a press release last month.
The establishment of both programs is a result of what Capuano said is their “strategic planning efforts” that have positioned the university in a spot to expand rather than cut. Capuano said the main goal is to “create greater opportunities for students to have a dynamic and fulfilling collegiate experience.”
The expansion announcement quickly gained the attention of coaches across the country who showed their support for their new competition.
“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to add another Division I program to the entire Olympic sport movement,” said John Speraw, U.S. Men’s Volleyball National Team head coach. “Boys and men’s volleyball continues to be on the rise and I look forward to Fairleigh Dickinson’s first point in January 2022.”
“What a great thing for our sport, for Fairleigh Dickinson to add during this challenging COVID time,” said Kelly Amonte Hiller, the head women’s lacrosse coach for the Northwestern Wildcats. “I’m really excited about the movement of lacrosse across the country.”
Currently with 254 student-athletes on 19 teams, FDU’s number will only increase after the conclusion of the national search for both programs’ head coaches. The process for a volleyball head coach is taking priority and the university is expected to start looking this spring for a lacrosse head coach.
FDU participates in the Northeast Conference and wants both teams to make an impact in the region during their inaugural seasons. Although they are unsure of what that’ll look like due to COVID-19, the university is hopeful for the future.
“The introduction of [these sports] illustrates the strength and continued growth of our athletics program,” said Capuano in a separate press release. “An added benefit of these two new programs is their popularity within New Jersey and the possibility of keeping more New Jersey students close to home to study and compete.”
