HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University is adding six new sports teams, the school announced Wednesday.
NKU's Board of Regents voted to add men's and women's swimming, men's and women's triathlon, men's volleyball and women's stunt teams in the next two years.
"The addition of these programs furthers our commitment to providing diverse opportunities for students and enriching the overall collegiate experience at NKU," Athletic Director Christina Roybal said in a release.
The swimming, triathlon and stunt teams will join the Norse varsity sports lineup during the 2024-25 academic year. Men's volleyball will be added the following year.
"Our triathlon head coach, our swim coach, beginning January, February is when we would want them to start as well as our stunt coach, so they get the opportunity to recruit all spring semester," Roybal said. "Boy’s volleyball is a spring sport so hiring a men’s volleyball coach come June, July."
She said they started thinking about adding sports last spring, looking at nearly 20 sports before narrowing it down to six.
All of the programs, NKU said, will be using already existing facilities for practice and competition to minimize startup costs. Grants have also been secured for some of the sports. Men's volleyball and women's stunts will be ticketed, adding revenue.
In addition to the new teams, NKU said it has already doubled the size of its track and field teams, as well as expanded its dance, cheerleading and pep band programs.
“Having more students coming to campus that could really help out with enrollment, increase tuition dollars and revenue, so that is the hope that this venture really can accomplish that, and I think that it absolutely will," Roybal said.
Board Chair Rich Boehne said the move is just the first "in a multipronged enrollment strategy." NKU expects 250 more student-athletes to come to campus because of the expansion.
"It will improve the lives of even more students and support the university financially as well," Boehne said. "It’s a win-win."
Joe Bianco co-director of Cincinnati Attack, an all-boy's volleyball club, said the sport expansion gives their players something to shoot for.
“I think especially for 16U players, they have an opportunity to go play Division 1 volleyball in their backyard," Bianco said. “There’s a couple guys that immediately came to mind with that age level, hopefully, they’ll get that opportunity to earn a spot at NKU."
Over the last three years, 28 Cincinnati Attack players have gone on to play college volleyball. Bianco hopes that number will grow.
"Hopefully crowds will build more excitement, and hopefully some of the high school athletic directors out there are seeing what NKU is doing and will help continue to grow this game," he said.
Bianco said he hopes NKU's new program will help his players see they can have a career in volleyball.
"I hope they can go on and have a career in men’s volleyball and maybe even play in the Olympics," he said.
