Bristol, R.I., September 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – In response to the increasing popularity of collegiate sports, Roger Williams University (RWU) has announced the addition of three new varsity athletic programs: Men’s Ice Hockey, Women’s Ice Hockey, and Women’s Golf.
With these expansions, the university will now offer a total of 25 varsity sports programs. Men’s Ice Hockey and Women’s Golf will begin competition in the 2025-26 academic year, followed by Women’s Ice Hockey in 2026-27.
RWU President Ioannis N. Miaoulis emphasized the importance of athletics in the overall student experience, noting, “Involvement in athletics is an enriching experience that complements a student’s education, setting them up to soar to success both in college and beyond.
Adding these three varsity sports will provide more opportunities for our student-athletes and attract new students from across the United States and internationally.”
The university encourages students to combine academic studies with real-world work experiences and co-curricular activities like athletics, offering a comprehensive and fulfilling college experience. Collegiate sports not only promote physical fitness but also cultivate vital skills such as collaboration, communication, and leadership, which are essential for personal and professional success.
John King, RWU’s Vice President for Student Life, highlighted the rising interest in collegiate ice hockey and women’s golf, stating, “RWU is excited to build on student interest and offer these three new athletic programs for our students.
Our new ice hockey teams are the direct result of the accomplishments of our Men’s Ice Hockey Club team and interest in Women’s Hockey. We are also delighted to add a Women’s Golf team following the success of our Men’s Golf team.”
The addition of Women’s Golf follows a historic year for RWU’s Men’s Golf team, which won the Commonwealth Coast Conference title and earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Championship.
The Men’s Ice Hockey Club team, a highly competitive program, most recently qualified for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Nationals in 2020. Notably, RWU plans to maintain its Men’s Ice Hockey Club team alongside the new varsity program.
Mike Gallagher, RWU’s Interim Athletic Director, expressed excitement about expanding the university’s athletic offerings, saying, “We are excited to be able to expand our offerings for our students and provide more opportunities for our campus community to cheer on the Hawks.”
RWU’s Men’s Ice Hockey team will compete in the highly competitive Conference of New England (CNE) starting in 2025-26, making the university the ninth institution to sponsor Men’s Ice Hockey within the conference. The Women’s Ice Hockey team will begin competition in 2026-27, becoming the eighth institutional sponsor within the CNE.
With the addition of Women’s Golf, RWU will join five other CNE institutions offering the sport, bringing the total to six programs in the conference. This increase in participation will secure an automatic NCAA post-season bid for the CNE’s conference champion.
The introduction of these new athletic programs marks an exciting chapter for Roger Williams University, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and enhancing the school’s already vibrant athletics community.