DANBURY, Connecticut — Western Connecticut State University has added new NCAA team sports and made changes to others, WestConn Director of Athletics Lori Mazza announced today.
“In keeping with its tradition of relentless pursuit of excellence and growth, Western Connecticut State University is set to unveil plans to expand its NCAA sports lineup, introducing seven new teams over the next two years,” Mazza said. “The addition of new intercollegiate sports will increase the total number of intercollegiate teams at WestConn to 23. The additions include women’s golf, men’s and women’s ice hockey, and both indoor and outdoor track & field for men and women. The recruitment of athletes for these teams will commence immediately.”
Starting in fall 2024, women’s golf will be paired with the existing men’s team at the Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury. The men’s and women’s track & field teams will participate in the Little East Conference (LEC) during the winter and spring. These teams will train at the Bethel Track and Field Training Center. The existing intercollegiate men’s and women’s cross-country teams will benefit from a full academic year of competition.
The men’s ice hockey team, currently playing successfully at the club level, will step up to join the NCAA and compete in the inaugural season within the LEC, starting to compete in the 2025-26 season. The women’s team will start at the club level in fall 2024, with plans to achieve NCAA status by 2026-27. Both ice hockey teams will use the Danbury Ice Arena near the Midtown campus for practice and home games.
Adam Lanehart, currently the WestConn men’s golf coach, will also lead the women’s team starting fall 2024.
A national search is set to begin for the recruitment of staff to coach athletes participating in the upcoming sports.
“As we usher in a new chapter for WestConn Athletics, we’re excited about the enhanced opportunities awaiting our community,” Mazza said. “Given the growing interest from prospective and current students in these sports, we are eager to not only fulfill this demand, but also to help further boost enrollment at our university. It’s the perfect moment to expand into sports such as ice hockey, track and field, and women’s golf. We’re committed to sustaining a dynamic and competitive sports program, bolstered by ongoing strategic support from our administration, ensuring that athletics continue to be a pillar of the student experience here. We appreciate our community partners, and look forward to the future of WestConn Athletics, our university, and our community.”
For more information, contact WCSU Communications and Marketing at pr@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.