Lee University announced Thursday that it will be adding women's lacrosse as an intercollegiate sport starting competition in the spring semester of 2017.
The Cleveland school has a women's lacrosse club program, and the decision to give the sport varsity status came from a recommendation by a 10-member feasibility study group headed by associate athletic director and volleyball coach Andrea Hudson. Lee's board of directors ratified the decision at its winter session last week in Florida, according to school president Dr. Paul Conn.
"We're eager to introduce this fast-growing sport to Lee University and the local community," Conn said in the announcement release. "We want Lee to be a magnet for female athletes, and lacrosse is a fast and exciting sport that young women in other parts of the country have loved for many years, and which is rapidly growing in the South."
The Gulf South Conference is about to begin its inaugural women's lacrosse season with Shorter and Alabama-Huntsville participating along with affiliate members Young Harris and Montevallo. GSC members Valdosta State and Christian Brothers also have shown interest, according to Lee's release.
Dr. Conn noted that Georgia has 108 high schools with girls' lacrosse and Tennessee has 52 and more planning to add it. NCAA Division II lists 100 members with women's lacrosse and at least 12 besides Lee joining them in the next two years.
"Women's lacrosse is the up-and-coming sport, especially in the South. We want to be part of its growth," said Lee athletic director Larry Carpenter, who with Hudson and assistant vice president Cole Strong will lead the process of hiring a coach and starting the program.
"We place a lot of emphasis on women's sports at Lee," Carpenter added. "We feel this is an opportunity to add another competitive team for our students and community to enjoy. We are excited to begin this process and look forward to our first lacrosse game next spring."
Conn acknowledged that building the program likely will "take a few years, but in time we expect women's lacrosse, like our other teams, will produce winners."
He said there is "no discussion" currently to add men's lacrosse.